lf (as in "list files") is a terminal file manager written in Go with a heavy inspiration from ranger file manager.
Publisher’s description
What is lf?
lf by Gökçehan Kara is open-source Windows software in the terminals & cli tools category. It is written in Go.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for 64-bit and 32-bit Windows. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is r42, released on July 31, 2026. The version history goes back to December 25, 2022: 15 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 4.2 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 7,850 times. The source code on GitHub (gokcehan/lf) has 9,569 stars. Similar programs include PowerShell, QPDF and Oh My Posh.
Project description on GitHub: “Terminal file manager”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Large user base
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: lf is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained.
Is lf safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
13BB576B02373610DBCFB97E483272198A1B94CADA66298A302954D87613465C· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the gokcehan/lf repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Actively maintained10
- No dangerous workflows10
- No binaries in the repository10
- Licence declared10
- Code review3
- Restricted token permissions0
- Pinned dependencies0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Fuzzing0
- Security policy0
- Signed releases0
- Static code analysis0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 15 versions ›15 versions over 4 years · about 4.2 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| r42Latest | July 31, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| r41 | February 4, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| r40 | December 10, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| r39 | December 1, 2025 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| r38 | September 19, 2025 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| r37 | August 25, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| r36 | July 18, 2025 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| r35 | April 25, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id gokcehan.lf -echoco install lf -yRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Gökçehan Kara
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/gokcehan/lf
- Written in
- Go
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- r42
- Released
- July 31, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- February 3, 2023
- Versions listed
- 15
- Updates / year
- 4.2
- Chocolatey downloads
- 7,850
- GitHub stars
- 9,569
- GitHub forks
- 388
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- gokcehan.lf
- Chocolatey package
- lf
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to lf
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Frequently asked questions
Is lf free?
Yes. lf is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is lf safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install lf with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does lf run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of lf?
The versions page lists all 15 versions with links to their official installer files, back to December 25, 2022.
Can I use lf without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to lf?
PowerShell, QPDF, Oh My Posh, fzf and Alacritty. The alternatives page compares them.
