Handles over 30 archive formats via external archivers (7z, rar, zip, iso, etc.). Treats archives like folders.
Far Manager 3.0 (the current stable branch) introduced a modernized plugin API with better Unicode support, 64-bit compatibility, and asynchronous operations. Old plugins from Far 1.x (16-bit era) no longer work, but almost all active plugins have been ported.
The community is still active. GitHub repositories like FarNet, FarColorer, and FarNetBox receive regular updates. The rise of Windows Terminal and WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) has actually increased interest in Far, because it works flawlessly inside Windows Terminal while offering native Windows plugin power that WSL tools cannot match. far manager plugins
| Plugin | Description |
| :--- | :--- |
| MultiArc | The built-in archive plugin that supports ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZ, and many more via external unpackers. It allows you to browse archives as if they were folders, copy files in/out, and even delete files inside archives. |
| ArcLite | A faster, simpler alternative to MultiArc for common formats. Less configuration, more speed. |
| CompareFiles | Performs binary or text comparison of two files. Shows differences highlighted in the editor. Ideal for configuration diffs or validating binary changes. |
| Checksum | Calculates and verifies CRC32, MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, or SHA-512 hashes. Select a file, press the hotkey, and it generates the hash. You can also verify checksum files (.md5, .sha). |
The real magic happens when plugins interact. Here are two power-user workflows that demonstrate the synergy. Handles over 30 archive formats via external archivers
| Feature | Far Manager + Plugins | Total Commander | Midnight Commander (Linux) | |---------|----------------------|------------------|----------------------------| | Plugin language | C, C++, Lua | Delphi, Lua, C | C, Shell | | Archive as folder | Yes (MultiArc) | Yes (native) | Partial (mc.ext) | | Git integration | GitFar (excellent) | Third-party addon | Built-in VFS | | Syntax highlighting | Colorer (editable) | Limited | Built-in | | Registry editor | Yes (RegEdit plugin) | No | N/A | | License | Open source (BSD) | Shareware | GPL |
Far Manager’s plugin system offers deeper system-level hooks (e.g., registry as file system) than most competitors. Impact : Eliminates context switching between archiver tools
These plugins treat non-folder structures as virtual file systems.
Impact: Eliminates context switching between archiver tools and file manager.
The availability of plugins has a significant impact on the user experience of Far Manager. With thousands of plugins available, users can customize their file manager to suit their specific needs, without having to modify the core application. This modular approach provides several benefits: