Add, Delete, and Filter Files in GitKraken Desktop

Last updated: March 2026

Use this page to create files, create folders, delete files, and filter repository contents from inside GitKraken Desktop. It covers both Command Palette and context-menu workflows, plus the View all files mode you need when you want to delete or locate files outside the current staged or changed set.

Requirements and limits

• Workflow scope: File and folder creation, deletion, and filtering inside an existing repository
• Create-file access: Command Palette or Commit Panel context menu
• Folder creation behavior: Include / in the new filename to create a folder and file at the same time
• Delete-file limitation: To delete arbitrary repository files, enable View all files first
• Filter behavior: The Filter Files bar appears only when View all files is enabled

Quick Start

To create a file:

1. Press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the Command Palette.
2. Type Create File and press Enter.
3. Enter a filename and press Enter. To create a folder at the same time, include a / in the name (e.g., src/utils.js).

To create a file using the context menu:

1. Right-click the empty space in the Commit Panel.
2. Select Create File.

To delete a file:

1. Right-click the file in the Commit Panel.
2. Select Delete file.

To delete any file in the repository (not just staged files), first enable View all files in the Commit Panel. Once enabled, right-click any file and select Delete file. A Filter Files bar also appears when View all files is on, letting you type a filename or extension to locate files quickly.

How to add a file using the Command Palette

1. Press Ctrl/Cmd + P to open the Command Palette.
2. Type Create File and press Enter.

3. Type the desired filename and press Enter.

To create a folder and a file at once, include a forward slash (/) in the file name:

How to add a file using the context menu

You can also add files via the Commit Panel:

1. Right-click the empty space in the Commit Panel.
2. Select Create File from the context menu.

How to delete a file from the Commit Panel

1. In the Commit Panel, right-click the file you want to delete.
2. Select Delete file from the context menu.

How to delete any file in the repository

1. Enable the View all files option.
2. Right-click the file you want to remove.
3. Select Delete file from the context menu.

How to filter files

When View all files is enabled, a Filter Files bar appears.

• Type a filename or extension to quickly find and jump to specific files.