KDE restores Dolphin columns view, shipping decision due November 12
The Miller-column view returns to Dolphin after being dropped in 2011; users can test it now by building the file manager with kde-builder.
KDE has announced that a columns view has returned to the Dolphin file manager, according to KDE Blogs. The restored view uses Miller columns, in which opening a folder shows its contents in the next column alongside the current one.
Users can activate the columns view by pressing Ctrl+4. Those who want to try it before any release can build Dolphin with kde-builder and run it from that build.
KDE said it will make a final decision on November 12th about whether the feature arrives in Dolphin 26.12. xda-developers.com reported on the announcement.
How the view was lost
Dolphin had a column view from KDE 4.0, built on Qt's QColumnView. In 2011, when developer Peter Penz moved the views to the new KItemViews engine for Dolphin 2.0, the column view was not ported and was removed.
Bug 387455, titled "Column view in Dolphin", was opened in 2017 and, with 32 people in CC, became one of the most requested features. Earlier in 2026, Nvidia cards got a boost on KDE after two years of work.
Quick answers
How do I open the columns view in Dolphin?
Press Ctrl+4 to activate the columns view.
Will the Dolphin columns view be in Dolphin 26.12?
KDE will make a final decision on November 12th about whether the feature arrives in Dolphin 26.12.
When was Dolphin's column view removed?
It was removed in 2011, when Peter Penz moved the views to the KItemViews engine for Dolphin 2.0 and the column view was not ported.