LocalView Help & FAQ

What is LocalView?

LocalView is a Windows desktop application for browsing, previewing, and managing files on your local computer. It combines a file browser, media player, file previewer, batch tools, and optional network utilities into one app. It is published by SureWhyNot, LLC and available on the Microsoft Store.

Is LocalView a replacement for File Explorer?

Not exactly — LocalView is designed to complement File Explorer with faster browsing, instant file previews, tabs, split panes, and integrated tools. For system file operations (right-click context menus, integrated drag-to-desktop, etc.), Windows File Explorer remains the OS-native tool. LocalView is best for working with files — reviewing, previewing, organizing, and managing them quickly.

Does LocalView work offline?

Yes. LocalView's core file browsing and preview features work entirely offline. No internet connection is required to browse folders, preview files, or use batch tools. Optional network features (SSH, TFTP, Telnet) require network connectivity to the destination device, but they do not require internet access.

Does LocalView require an account?

No. LocalView does not require you to create an account, log in, or connect any service. Open the app and start using it.

How do I open a folder?

Use the folder panel on the left to navigate your drives and directories. You can also type a path directly in the address bar, use the command palette, or open a pinned folder from your Quick Access list.

How do I preview a file?

Click on any file in the file list. The preview pane on the right will display the file content automatically. Supported types include images, video, audio, PDF, text, code, Markdown, JSON, CSV, fonts, and more.

How do I change the theme?

Open Settings (gear icon or command palette → Settings). Under Appearance, choose from the available themes. Changes apply immediately.

How do I change the app size?

Hold Ctrl and scroll your mouse wheel up or down inside LocalView. This scales the entire app interface. You can also set a default scale in Settings → Appearance.

How do tabs work?

LocalView supports multiple tabs, each with its own folder location. Open a new tab from the tab bar or with the keyboard shortcut. Switch between tabs to jump between different locations without losing your place in any of them.

How does split view work?

Click the split pane button in the toolbar to open a second file panel side by side. Each panel has its own folder location, tab bar, and file list. You can browse two different locations at once, drag files between panels, or compare folder contents.

How do I pin folders?

Right-click any folder and choose "Pin to Quick Access," or drag a folder to the sidebar. Pinned folders appear in the left sidebar for one-click navigation.

How do I search or filter files?

Use the search bar at the top of the file list to filter files by name in the current folder. For a broader search, use the command palette (search across folders) or the file search tool in the toolbar.

How do I copy, move, rename, or delete files?

Right-click any file or selection of files to access the context menu with copy, cut, paste, rename, and delete options. Standard keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V, F2, Delete) also work.

How do I copy a file path?

Right-click a file and choose "Copy Path" or "Copy as Path." This puts the full file path on your clipboard so you can paste it wherever you need it.

How do I use the command palette?

Open the command palette with the keyboard shortcut shown in the toolbar (usually Ctrl+P or Ctrl+K). Type to search for folders, files, or app commands. This is the fastest way to navigate and trigger actions without touching the mouse.

How do I customize Quick Actions?

Open Settings → Quick Actions (or right-click the Quick Actions toolbar). Add, remove, and reorder the actions you use most. Changes take effect immediately.

What file types can LocalView preview?

LocalView can preview:

• Images: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, WebP, SVG, TIFF, HEIC, and more
• Video: MP4, MOV, WebM, and formats supported by the Windows media stack
• Audio: MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, OGG, and more
• Documents: PDF
• Text & Code: TXT, MD (Markdown), JSON, CSV, XML, HTML, and most plain-text source code formats
• Fonts: TTF, OTF, WOFF, WOFF2
• Archives: Browse inside ZIP files

If a file type is not supported for preview, LocalView displays a placeholder and lets you open the file with its default system app.

Why does a video not play?

LocalView uses the Windows media stack for video playback. Some formats (such as AVI, MKV, WMV, or HEVC) may not play if your Windows installation does not have the required codec. Installing the free HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, or a codec pack such as K-Lite, can resolve most playback issues. If the codec is not available, LocalView will fall back to opening the file in your default video player.

Can LocalView preview PDFs?

Yes. LocalView displays PDFs directly in the preview pane. You can scroll through pages and zoom in and out. Password-protected PDFs will prompt you to enter the password before displaying.

Can LocalView preview Markdown, JSON, CSV, text, and code?

Yes. Markdown files are rendered with formatting. JSON is displayed with syntax highlighting. CSV is shown in a clean table view. Text files and source code are shown with syntax highlighting where the language can be detected.

Can LocalView preview fonts?

Yes. Click a font file (TTF, OTF, WOFF, WOFF2) to see a preview of the typeface with sample characters and weights.

Why are some thumbnails missing?

Thumbnails are generated by Windows for supported file types. If thumbnails are not showing, check that thumbnail generation is enabled in Windows File Explorer settings (View → Options → View tab → uncheck "Always show icons, never thumbnails"). Some file types do not support thumbnails on Windows by default.

How do I pop out media?

While a video or audio file is playing in the preview pane, click the Pop Out button (or right-click the player). This opens the media in a separate floating window so you can keep browsing files while the media continues to play.

How do I change playback speed?

Use the playback speed control in the media player toolbar. Options typically include 0.5×, 0.75×, 1×, 1.25×, 1.5×, and 2×.

Can I keep browsing while media plays?

Yes. Pop out the media player (see above) to a separate window and keep browsing in the main LocalView window. The media continues playing independently.

How do I capture a video frame?

Pause the video at the frame you want and use the capture button in the media player toolbar. The frame is saved as an image file to a location you choose.

How do I use picture-in-picture?

Pop out the media window and then use the picture-in-picture control in that window. This will minimize the media player to a small overlay that stays on top of other windows.

How do I batch rename files?

Select multiple files (Ctrl+click or Shift+click), then right-click and choose "Batch Rename," or find it in the toolbar or command palette. Set your naming pattern, preview the result, and apply when ready.

How do I find duplicates?

Open the Duplicate Finder from the toolbar or command palette. Select a folder to scan. LocalView compares files by content (not just name) and presents matches grouped together so you can decide which copies to keep.

How do I resize images in batch?

Select one or more image files, right-click, and choose "Resize Images." Set the target dimensions or percentage, choose output format and quality, and apply. Output files are saved to a location you specify.

What is the PowerShell pane?

LocalView includes an embedded PowerShell pane that opens in the current folder. It lets you run PowerShell commands alongside your file browser without switching to a separate terminal window.

Does PowerShell start automatically?

No. The PowerShell pane only opens when you explicitly launch it. LocalView does not run PowerShell in the background.

Does PowerShell close when LocalView closes?

Yes. The embedded PowerShell pane is part of LocalView. When LocalView closes, the PowerShell session inside it closes too. No PowerShell process is left running after the app exits.

Does PowerShell run as administrator?

No. The PowerShell pane runs at the same privilege level as LocalView, which is standard user by default. If you need an elevated PowerShell session, launch it separately from the Start menu using "Run as administrator."

How do I use SSH?

Open the SSH panel from the toolbar or command palette. Enter the hostname or IP address, port (default 22), and your credentials. LocalView will open an SSH session in a panel within the app.

Why does SSH say "connection refused"?

This means the target host is either unreachable or does not have SSH enabled on the port you specified. Verify: the IP address or hostname is correct, the SSH service is running on the target device, and the port is correct (default 22). Firewalls between your machine and the target can also block the connection.

How do I use Telnet?

Open the Telnet panel and enter the hostname and port. Telnet is an unencrypted protocol — only use it on trusted networks or for devices that do not support SSH (such as some older network gear).

How do I use Serial console?

Open the Serial panel, select the COM port (visible in Windows Device Manager), set the baud rate, data bits, stop bits, and parity to match your device's serial settings (Cisco devices typically use 9600 8N1). Click Connect.

What is TFTP?

TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) is a simple file transfer protocol commonly used to transfer firmware, configuration files, and OS images to network devices such as routers, switches, and firewalls. It operates over UDP port 69.

What is LocalView's TFTP server for?

LocalView includes a temporary TFTP server for serving local files to network devices. Common use cases include uploading IOS images to Cisco switches and routers, transferring configs, and supporting lab environments built with EVE-NG, GNS3, VMware, or Nutanix.

Does TFTP start automatically?

No. You must manually start the TFTP server from within LocalView each time you want to use it. It does not start at app launch, on system startup, or on its own at any time.

Does TFTP run in the background after I stop it or close LocalView?

No. The TFTP server stops as soon as you stop it in the UI or close LocalView. It does not leave any background process running.

How do I send a file to a Cisco switch?

Start the TFTP server in LocalView and select the file you want to serve. Note your Windows PC's IP address. On the Cisco device, use a command like:

LocalView provides the copy-ready command in the TFTP panel once the server is started.

Why can't my device reach the TFTP server?

Common causes:

• Windows Firewall is blocking UDP port 69 — add an inbound rule to allow it temporarily
• The device and your PC are not on the same subnet or reachable via routing
• The TFTP server was not started before the device tried to connect
• Your PC has multiple network interfaces and the device is reaching a different IP than expected — check which IP your PC shows to that network

What firewall rule is needed?

To allow inbound TFTP traffic: go to Windows Defender Firewall → Advanced Settings → Inbound Rules → New Rule → Port → UDP → 69 → Allow the connection. Remove or disable the rule when you are done using TFTP.

Can LocalView receive files over TFTP?

LocalView's TFTP server is primarily designed for serving files to network devices. Whether it supports receiving files (TFTP put) depends on your LocalView version. Check the TFTP panel in the app for available options.

Does LocalView upload my files?

No. LocalView does not upload your files to any server. Your files stay on your machine.

Does LocalView track me?

No. LocalView does not track you or your activity.

Does LocalView use telemetry?

No. LocalView does not include usage telemetry.

Does LocalView sell data?

No. LocalView does not collect data and therefore does not sell it.

Does LocalView use cloud sync?

No. LocalView does not sync your files or settings to the cloud.

Does LocalView require an account?

No. LocalView does not require any account.

Does LocalView use ads?

No. LocalView does not include advertisements.

App will not launch

Restart Windows and try again. If the app still does not launch, uninstall it from Windows Settings → Apps and reinstall from the Microsoft Store. If the problem continues, contact support.

File will not open

LocalView previews files in the preview pane — it does not "open" files in the traditional sense. Click the file to see the preview. If the file type is not supported for preview, right-click and choose "Open With" to use a system app.

Preview is blank

If the preview pane is blank after clicking a file, the file may be empty, corrupted, or a type that is not currently previewed. Try another file to confirm the issue is specific to that file. If the preview pane is always blank, close and reopen LocalView.

Video falls back to external player

LocalView uses the Windows media stack. If a video codec is not installed, LocalView will launch the file in your default system video player instead of showing it in the preview pane. Install additional codecs (such as HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store) to expand in-app playback support.

How do I reset settings?

Go to Settings → Advanced → Reset Settings. This clears pinned folders, theme, layout state, and other preferences. Your files are not affected.

How do I reinstall LocalView cleanly?

Go to Windows Settings → Apps → find LocalView → Uninstall. Then reinstall from the Microsoft Store. If you also want to clear saved settings and preferences, go to Settings → Advanced → Reset Settings before uninstalling, or manually delete the LocalView app data folder from %LOCALAPPDATA% after uninstalling.

File associations are not working

LocalView does not change your Windows file associations. If you double-click a file type in Windows Explorer and it opens in the wrong app, fix the association in Windows Settings → Default Apps. Inside LocalView, clicking a file opens the preview pane — not the system default app.

TFTP cannot bind to port 69

UDP port 69 is a privileged port. If LocalView cannot bind to it, another application may already be using it, or a permission issue is preventing the bind. Check for other TFTP servers running on your system (such as SolarWinds TFTP Server or tftpd64). Close them and try again. If needed, try running LocalView as administrator.

SSH connection refused

Verify the target host is reachable (ping the IP), that SSH is running on the target (port 22 by default), and that no firewall is blocking the connection. See the SSH / Telnet / Serial section above for more detail.