Written 30 Aug 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card.

See folders as a tree

After SSH works, tree shows nested folders so you can see what is inside without clicking around. You don't need a file manager for this.

Unpack a zip you already have unpacks a zip. See what's in a folder lists one folder. Tonight you see nested folders as a tree. After unpack of a zip or tar, nested folders are hard to see with one ls. tree draws nested folders so you see what is inside without clicking around. You don't need a file manager, Finder, Explorer, Nautilus, or a NAS browser for this.

Skip until SSH already works

SSH from the couch should already get you a prompt. If you just unpacked a zip, that is unpack a zip you already have. If you only need names in one folder, that is see what's in a folder. Skip this whole note if you only need a house share other computers browse. That is a folder the house can open. Skip if you need a USB copy of the house folder. That is a backup of the house folder.

What this is

tree prints folders and files as a tree. You type tree, then a path in home. Nested folders are visible in one look. Start with a tiny practice folder, not a tree of whole home.

It is not a list of one folder. That is see what's in a folder. It is not a search by name. That is find a file by name. It is not unpack of a zip. That is unpack a zip you already have.

Show a practice tree in home

SSH in.

Make sure home is where you sit:

pwd

You want a path that ends in your login name.

If the path is wrong, run this:

cd ~

Make a tiny practice tree in home only:

mkdir -p ~/tree-me/a/b

echo hi > ~/tree-me/a/b/hi.txt

Show nested folders:

tree ~/tree-me

You want a, b, and hi.txt drawn as a tree.

If tree says command not found, install tree, then try again:

sudo apt install tree

That install is not a reason to use a GUI file manager.

Skip tree /, tree /etc, and tree of whole home for this practice.

Skip tree -a of home for this practice if that dumps .ssh. Prefer skip listing ~/.ssh.

When you are done practicing, throw away the practice files. Careful delete only. That is delete a file carefully:

rm -i ~/tree-me/a/b/hi.txt

Delete practice folders the same careful way after they are empty. Skip rm -rf.

Useful extras, still home only

Skip paths under /etc, SSH folders, or paths you don't own. Practice only in home.

Want depth limited so the tree stays short?

tree -L 2 ~/tree-me

-L 2 means two levels deep. Deeper folders stay hidden.

Want folders only, no files?

tree -d ~/tree-me

-d means directories only.

Skip GUI file managers for this practice. tree is enough for this look. Skip NAS browsers. This tree does not need a NAS.

Keep SSH on the house network: keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

What this is not

This is not a list of one folder. That is see what's in a folder. It is not a search by name. That is find a file by name. It is not unpack of a zip. That is unpack a zip you already have.

What next

Need how big one folder is? See how big one folder is. Just unpacked a zip? Unpack a zip you already have.

Skip

Skip if SSH still fails. Finish SSH from the couch first.
Skip paths under /etc, SSH folders, or paths you don't own. Practice only in home.
Skip tree /, tree /etc, and tree of whole home for this practice.
Skip tree -a of home for this practice if that dumps .ssh. Prefer skip listing ~/.ssh.
Skip GUI file managers, Finder, Explorer, Nautilus, and NAS browsers for this practice.
Skip rm -rf. Careful delete only: delete a file carefully.
Skip opening SSH to the internet. That is keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.
Skip if you actually need the USB backup. That is a backup of the house folder.
Skip if you only need a house share other computers browse. That is a folder the house can open.

Sources

Debian: tree. Ubuntu: tree. Official man pages only. For the login, see SSH from the couch. For unpack of a zip, see unpack a zip you already have. For pack, see pack files into one archive. For list of one folder, see see what's in a folder.

Also on this topic

SSH from the couchType commands on the computer from your laptop, on the house network. Password login first. Don't open this to the internet. Unpack a zip you already haveAfter SSH works, unzip unpacks a zip so files come out of a zip you already have. You don't need a zip app for this. Pack files into one archiveAfter SSH works, tar packs files into one archive so you can copy one file instead of a folder. You don't need a zip app for this. See what's in a folderAfter SSH works, ls lists folder contents so you know what names are there. You don't need a file manager for this. Find a file by nameAfter SSH works, find searches the computer for a file by name so you don't have to open every folder. You don't need a file manager for this. See how big one folder isAfter SSH works, du shows how big one folder is so you know before you copy or delete. You don't need a file manager for this. See which folders are eating the diskBefore you buy a bigger drive or a NAS, ask which folders are taking the room. Browse folders then copy one fileAfter SSH works, sftp browses folders so you can pick a file and copy it. You don't need FileZilla or a NAS for this. Copy a file to the computer from your laptopAfter SSH works, scp moves one file without a USB stick. A short name makes the typing shorter. You don't need a NAS for this. Delete a file carefullyAfter SSH works, delete one file with rm -i. Ask first. Skip rm -rf. You don't need a NAS for this. Turn off password login once the key worksAfter the laptop key login is boring, tell SSH to stop accepting the password. The key is how you get in. A keyboard on the computer is the backup now. Keep the computer on the house networkSSH and Pi-hole belong on the house network. Skip this if you never opened the router settings. Don't forward port 22.