Air Explorer user guide
Work with every cloud from one place
This practical guide covers the Air Explorer features available for Windows and Mac. Each topic starts with the essential steps and links to a fuller article when one is available.
Getting started
Install and update Air Explorer
Install the edition for your computer, then keep it up to date before troubleshooting an issue.
Quick steps
- Download the Windows or Mac installer from the official Download page.
- Complete the installation and open Air Explorer.
- Use Help or Air Explorer menu → Check for updates to install the latest fixes.
Learn more
Activate Air Explorer Pro
Use your activation code to enable Pro-only features such as advanced automation and command-line support.
Quick steps
- Open Pro version on Windows or the Air Explorer menu on Mac.
- Choose Enter activation code and paste the code received after purchase.
- Confirm the license information before using Pro features.
Learn more
Choose a one- or two-panel workspace
Use two panels to work between locations, or one panel when you only need to browse one account.
Quick steps
- Open View and select One panel or Two panels.
- Choose a local folder or cloud account in each visible panel.
- Open another window when you need an independent workspace.
Work with four panels
On Windows, divide the Explorer into four independent panels to keep up to four local folders or cloud accounts visible at the same time.
Quick steps
- Open View and select Four panels.
- Choose a local folder or cloud account in each panel.
- Copy or move files between the visible locations without switching windows.
Accounts and connections
Connect supported cloud services
Air Explorer connects the supported cloud, storage and server services in the same interface.
Quick steps
- Open Accounts and choose Add account.
- Select the provider, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, S3, FTP, SFTP or WebDAV.
- Follow the provider sign-in or connection form and save the account.
Learn more
Add, edit and organize accounts
Add more than one account from the same provider, edit its name or credentials, and group accounts for faster access.
Quick steps
- Open Accounts and select Add account to add another cloud or server.
- Use the account menu to edit its name, settings or sign-in details.
- Create or use account groups to keep a large account list organized.
Import or export account settings
Move saved account settings to another installation without setting up every account again.
Quick steps
- Open the Accounts manager and choose the import or export option.
- Select the accounts to include and protect the exported file if requested.
- On the other computer, import the file and complete any provider sign-in that is required again.
Learn more
Add a Google OAuth Application ID
OAuth lets Air Explorer request limited Google Drive access without receiving your Google password. A custom Application ID gives you more control over that authorization.
Quick steps
- Create an OAuth client ID and secret in your own Google Cloud project.
- In Accounts, choose Google Drive Custom Client ID and enter those credentials.
- Authorize the Google account in the browser window that opens.
Browse and organize files
Create, copy, move, rename and delete files
Use the toolbar, context menu, keyboard shortcuts or drag and drop to manage files in local folders and clouds.
Quick steps
- Select files or folders in the source panel.
- Use copy, move, rename, delete or New folder from the toolbar or context menu.
- Review the task list when the action starts a cloud transfer.
Use bookmarks, properties and quota
Save frequently used locations, inspect item properties and check the available space in each connected account.
Quick steps
- Open the folder you use often and add it to Bookmarks.
- Open Properties for file details, folder details or available account space.
- Manage or remove bookmarks from the bookmark manager when your workflow changes.
Learn more
Open, edit, play and recover cloud files
Open supported files with your local applications, play compatible videos from the cloud, and use provider history or versions when available.
Quick steps
- Select a file and choose Open or Edit from its context menu.
- For compatible cloud videos, choose the playback option instead of downloading first.
- Open the file or folder history when the cloud provider exposes previous versions.
Rename in bulk and manage the recycle bin
Apply a naming rule to a selection and review cloud recycle bins before treating deleted files as permanently lost.
Quick steps
- Select multiple files and choose Power Rename or the bulk rename action.
- Preview the new names and confirm the operation.
- Open the cloud recycle bin when you need to restore or permanently remove supported items.
Transfers and sharing
Upload, download and transfer between clouds
Move files between your computer and a cloud, or directly from one connected cloud to another through Air Explorer.
Quick steps
- Open the source and destination in one or two panels.
- Copy and paste, use the transfer arrows, or drag files to the destination.
- Watch progress, speed and pending work in the task area.
Monitor the queue and resolve conflicts
Use the task list to monitor work, pause or retry it, and choose how Air Explorer handles existing files.
Quick steps
- Start a transfer and open the task or progress view.
- Pause, resume, retry or remove tasks as needed.
- When a destination item already exists, choose the appropriate conflict action before continuing.
Compress before uploading and verify transfers
Create a ZIP archive while uploading local content and optionally verify file integrity after uploads or downloads.
Quick steps
- Select local files or folders and start an upload.
- Enable the ZIP option in the upload configuration when you want one archive.
- Enable integrity checks in Options when the provider supports the required verification.
Learn more
Create share links and manage permissions
Share supported files or folders with a link, and change access permissions when the provider exposes them.
Quick steps
- Select the cloud file or folder to share.
- Choose Share link or Permissions from the context menu.
- Copy the generated link or add the people and permission level requested by the provider.
Learn more
Search, sync and automate
Search across cloud accounts
Find files in connected clouds with text, extension, size and date filters instead of opening every folder manually.
Quick steps
- Open Search and choose the account or location to search.
- Enter a name or text term and add filters such as date, size or extension.
- Open, transfer or manage an item directly from the results.
Learn more
Create a synchronization
Compare two local or cloud folders, choose the synchronization mode and review the changes before applying them.
Quick steps
- Select the left and right folders, then choose Synchronize.
- Choose Mirror, Mirror update, Update, Bidirectional or Customized mode.
- Compare first, review the planned changes and run the synchronization.
Learn more
Filter synchronizations
Use include and exclude rules to keep unwanted files out of a synchronization.
Quick steps
- Open the synchronization configuration and choose Filter to add include or exclude rules.
- Add the file names, extensions or paths that should be included or excluded.
- Use wildcards or regular expressions only when a simple file rule is not enough.
Learn more
Compare files with Hash
Compare digital signatures to recognize identical files and skip updates when both locations support compatible hashes.
Quick steps
- Open the synchronization configuration and enable the option to compare file content when possible (Hash comparison).
- Run the comparison: when two files have the same compatible hash, Air Explorer treats their content as identical and does not update the file.
- Use Hash comparison only when both locations expose the same hash algorithm.
- If either location does not expose a compatible hash, Air Explorer continues without Hash comparison for that pair.
Save, load and run syncs in real time
Save an important configuration for later and use real-time synchronization where it is available for the selected folders.
Quick steps
- Save the configured synchronization with a recognizable name.
- Open Load saved synchronization whenever you need to run or edit it again.
- Start real-time synchronization only after reviewing its direction and filters.
Schedule tasks and review reports
Automate transfers and synchronizations, run a task on demand and inspect its last report afterward.
Quick steps
- Open Scheduler and choose Add task.
- Choose a saved transfer or synchronization and set its schedule.
- Use Run now, Stop or View last report to control and review a scheduled task.
Learn more
Security, privacy and performance
Encrypt uploads and decrypt downloads
Encrypt files before uploading and use the same password later to decrypt them after download.
Quick steps
- Enable Encrypt uploads before starting the transfer or synchronization.
- Choose a strong password and decide whether file and folder names should also be encrypted.
- Keep the password safely: encrypted content cannot be recovered without it.
Learn more
Protect local settings and access
Air Explorer stores account configuration locally, so protect the computer and optionally request a password when the application opens.
Quick steps
- Open Options or Preferences and enable the startup password option if needed.
- Use a separate command-line password when command-line support is enabled.
- Keep exported account settings and encryption passwords in a secure location.
No intermediary Air Explorer servers
Air Explorer does not route your file transfers or account configuration through its own intermediary servers.
Quick steps
- When uploading or downloading, files travel between your computer and the selected cloud.
- When transferring from one cloud to another, your computer performs the transfer path.
- Keep your device protected because its local configuration remains under your control.
Understand upload and download speed
Transfer speed depends on your internet connection, local network, cloud-provider limits, file size, parallel segments and simultaneous transfers.
Quick steps
- Check Options or Preferences for upload and download speed limits.
- Adjust simultaneous uploads and downloads gradually for your connection and provider.
- Use parallel segments for large downloads only when it improves the result for the selected service.
Learn more
Use a proxy and bandwidth schedule
Connect through the computer proxy when required and apply bandwidth limits or schedules to avoid disrupting other work.
Quick steps
- Open Options or Preferences and review the Proxy connection settings.
- Set upload or download limits for the available bandwidth.
- Enable the bandwidth scheduler when different limits are needed at different times.
Tools and settings
Configure preferences, logs and email
Adjust language, appearance, retries, hidden files, logs and optional email notifications to suit your workflow.
Quick steps
- Open Options on Windows or Preferences on Mac.
- Set the general, logging, proxy and email options you need.
- Enable detailed logs before reproducing a technical issue.
Use the command line
Use Air Explorer commands from a terminal to automate listing, searching, uploading, downloading, transferring and synchronizing.
Quick steps
- Enable Command line support in Options or Preferences; it requires Air Explorer Pro.
- On Windows, open Command Prompt or PowerShell in the Air Explorer folder and run AirExplorerCmd.exe help. You can also open the command-line help from Tools or View.
- Choose a command from the help and copy its syntax, replacing account names, paths and options with your own values.
- Test it first with a small folder or saved task, then place the verified command in a .bat or PowerShell script.
- Use a command-line password if you want to protect automated access, and include it in the command.
Available commands
For the parameters and examples of a specific command, run: AirExplorerCmd.exe <command>
accountsList the connected Air Explorer accounts.copyCopy a file or folder to another cloud location.deleteDelete a file or folder from a cloud.dirList the files and folders in a cloud folder.downloadDownload a file or folder from a cloud to your computer.mkdirCreate a new folder in a cloud.moveMove a file or folder to another cloud location.quotaShow the used and free space in an account.renameRename a file or folder in a cloud.searchSearch for files and folders in a cloud.sharelinkCreate a shared link for a file or folder.runsavedsyncLoad and run a saved synchronization.startsyncStart a synchronization between two folders.transferTransfer a file directly between clouds.uploadUpload a file or folder to a cloud.zipuploadCompress and upload a file or folder to a cloud.
Use AI Skills with a local assistant
Install the Air Explorer skill so a compatible local assistant can use your already configured accounts through the command line.
Quick steps
- Open Tools → AI Skills and choose your compatible assistant.
- Allow Air Explorer to enable command-line support when asked.
- Restart the assistant, then ask it to list your Air Explorer accounts.
Learn more
Check for updates
Update before reporting a problem because many known issues are resolved in the newest version.
Quick steps
- Open Help on Windows or the Air Explorer menu on Mac.
- Choose Check for updates.
- Install the offered update and retry the action that failed.
Help and problem reports
Collect useful information before reporting
A clear description, screenshot and detailed log make an issue much easier to reproduce and investigate.
Quick steps
- Record the Air Explorer version, operating system and cloud service involved.
- Enable detailed logs in Options or Preferences, reproduce the issue and copy the relevant entries.
- Include exact steps, the observed result and the expected result.
Report a problem, bug or suggestion
Air Explorer does not provide personalized support. We review clear reports of errors, bugs and suggestions.
Quick steps
- Check this guide, the blog and the latest application version first.
- Send a reproducible report with the details, screenshots and logs that apply.
- Describe suggestions as clearly as bugs so they can be evaluated.