FileShift

Reorder files and folders in Obsidian's File Explorer using drag and drop. No filename prefixes, no hacks — just drag items where you want them.

Features

• Drag & drop files and folders to reorder them within the same parent
• Move files into folders — drag to center of a folder to move it there (Obsidian native behavior preserved)
• Persistent order — survives restarts, saved in plugin data
• Toggle on/off via ribbon icon or command palette
• Works with virtual scroll — uses Obsidian's internal vChildren API for reliable rendering
• Zero file modifications — order is stored in plugin config, not in filenames

Installation

Via BRAT (recommended)

1. Install BRAT plugin
2. Add this repo: Qctsu/obsidian-file-shift
3. Enable "FileShift" in Community Plugins

Manual

1. Download main.js, manifest.json, and styles.css from the latest release
2. Create folder .obsidian/plugins/file-shift/ in your vault
3. Copy the files there
4. Enable "FileShift" in Community Plugins settings

Usage

1. Click the ↕ ribbon icon (or use command palette: "Toggle custom ordering on/off")
2. Drag files/folders to reorder them
3. Reorder: drop on top/bottom edge of an item → reorder indicator (line above/below)
4. Move into folder: drop on center of a folder → highlight indicator, file moves into that folder
5. Order persists automatically

Commands

Command	Description
Toggle custom ordering on/off	Enable/disable FileShift
Reset all custom ordering	Clear all saved orders, revert to default sort

How it works

When active, the plugin:

• Intercepts drag events in the file explorer (capture phase)
• Uses 3-zone detection on folders: top 25% = reorder above, middle 50% = move into folder (Obsidian native), bottom 25% = reorder below
• Uses Obsidian's vChildren.setChildren() API + InfinityScroll invalidation for reliable DOM updates
• Stores order per-folder in data.json

Compatibility

• Obsidian 1.7.2+ (uses vChildren / InfinityScroll APIs)
• Desktop only (tested on Windows, should work on macOS/Linux)

License

MIT