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How to set any file manager in Linux to show the duration (Length feature in Windows Explorer) of audio and video files across all folders?

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  • I need that indication to individual files like in Windows (customizable) across ALL or at least whichever folder that contains audio and video files. If this is NOT possible, at least I should be able to do that individually/manually. Sep 8, 2019 at 9:22
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    Avoid adding more information to your question in comments. Please edit your original question.
    – FedKad
    Sep 8, 2019 at 9:27
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    but it is already there. Right click on a music file in File Manager, select Properties > Audio and it gives you the duration... Same applies for Videos too.
    – graham
    Sep 8, 2019 at 9:29
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    Since readers of your question may not have access to a Windows system, please include an image of what you see using a Windows file manager.
    – DK Bose
    Sep 8, 2019 at 11:01
  • It’s supposed to be in the status bar at the bottom in Windows: sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/…
    – caw
    Sep 8, 2019 at 23:40

2 Answers 2

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This feature already exists in a standard Ubuntu installation which includes totem which is installed by default.

Right click on a music or video file in File Manager ('Files' application or 'Nautilus') select the Properties tab → Audio (or in the case of video, 'Audio/Video') and it gives you the duration in minutes and seconds.

enter image description here

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    The question seems to be about folder view for files (plural). Dec 24, 2020 at 7:27
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This is what you can have in Kubuntu 19.04 which uses Dolphin as the default file manager:

Dolphin in Kubuntu 19.04 automatically showing the duration

Dolphin in Kubuntu 19.04 automatically showing the duration


And this is how it looks in Ubuntu 18.04 running Dolphin:

Ubuntu 18.04 with Dolphin showing duration of videos


To get Dolphin to show the duration of media files, you need to right click in the header row (containing Name, Size, Modified, etc) and then choose duration as shown in the image below:

Adding a column for duration in Dolphin

You may also need to enable baloo, which is a file indexer used by KDE Plasma. To do so, run balooctl enable from a terminal.

And if you don't want to see the preview pane on the right-hand of the file manager, use F11 to hide/show it.

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    This is what I am looking for! BTB, I installed Dolphin in Ubuntu 19.04. The option is missing! Sep 9, 2019 at 11:51
  • @BSVijayAnand see the edited answer. Or explain in greater detail just what isn't working.
    – DK Bose
    Sep 9, 2019 at 13:38
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    I did as shown in the pic - Right Click'ed on the header, went to Audio>Duration and enabled/ticked it, but the Duration column is not showing anything - total blank! Both audio and video files duration is not being shown. I also ran "balooctl enable" command - it said File Indexer is already running. Sep 9, 2019 at 14:25
  • Are there a lot of files? Maybe the system needs some time?
    – DK Bose
    Sep 9, 2019 at 14:36
  • No! Even 3-4 media files' Duration is not being shown. Sep 10, 2019 at 19:16

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