Linux · System Tools
Filelight
Filelight visualises disk usage with concentric rings, letting you spot and delete large files easily.
- License
- GPL-2.0+
- Latest version
- 26.04.3 (July 2, 2026)
- Developer
- KDE
- Installs
- 8,473 (Flathub, 30 days)
What is Filelight?
Filelight is a KDE‑based tool that has been around since the early 2010s, steadily updated to support modern filesystems and remote mounts. It replaces the Windows utility WinDirStat by offering a clear, colour‑coded ring diagram that shows folder sizes at a glance. The interface is lightweight and integrates with popular KDE file managers. For users who prefer a graphical, non‑command‑line approach, Filelight feels familiar yet more polished than many legacy Windows tools.
The application targets system administrators, power users, and casual desktop users who need to free disk space quickly. Its visual model makes it easy to identify large directories without digging through the file tree. Unlike WinDirStat’s flat list, Filelight’s rings give an instant sense of hierarchy.
Compared with Windows tools, Filelight is faster to start, consumes less memory, and offers direct deletion from the diagram. The colour schemes are configurable, and the integration with Dolphin and Konqueror lets you delete items directly from the file manager.
Best for: Users who want a quick visual overview of disk usage and easy deletion of large files.
Key features of Filelight
- Scan local, remote, and removable disks
- Concentric ring visualisation of folder sizes
- Direct deletion of files/folders from the diagram
- Integration with Dolphin, Konqueror, Krusader
- Configurable colour schemes
- Detailed file/folder information on hover
- Supports multiple languages
- Open source under GPL-2.0+
Pros
- Fast and lightweight
Cons
- No command‑line interface
Windows programs Filelight replaces
How to install Filelight on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.kde.filelightsudo apt install filelightsudo apt install filelightsudo dnf install filelightsudo pacman -S filelightsudo zypper install filelightTips for Windows users
If you’re coming from WinDirStat, the ring diagram replaces the treemap view; use the mouse wheel to zoom, click a ring to drill down, and right‑click to delete. Filelight works with the same file formats as the Windows tool, so no conversion is needed. The workflow is similar: scan a drive, inspect the diagram, then delete from the interface or via the integrated file manager.
Recent releases
- 26.04.3 —
- 26.04.2 —
- 26.04.1 —
- 26.04.0 —
Filelight: frequently asked questions
Does Filelight support network shares?
Yes, it can scan SMB/CIFS shares and other remote filesystems as long as they are mounted.
Can I delete files directly from Filelight?
Yes, right‑clicking a ring or file in the list opens a delete dialog.
Is Filelight available on all Linux distributions?
It is packaged for Arch, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, and Ubuntu, and can also be installed via Flathub.
What are the system requirements?
It runs on KDE Plasma or any desktop that supports Qt; a modest amount of RAM (≈200 MB) is sufficient.
Updated