Skip to main content

RcloneView Terminal + GUI: The Fastest and Safest Way to Use rclone (No Context Switching)

· 4 min read
Tayson
Tayson
Senior Engineer

Visual confidence meets full CLI power — in one workspace.

The old way forces you to choose: Terminal for power, GUI for comfort. RcloneView puts both in the same window so you move faster without guessing.

Rclone is powerful, but CLI-only workflows create friction: context switching, copy-pasting paths, hunting logs, and rechecking folders. RcloneView removes that drag by embedding a full rclone Terminal inside the GUI.

RcloneView app preview

Manage & Sync All Clouds in One Place

RcloneView is a cross-platform GUI for rclone. Compare folders, transfer or sync files, and automate multi-cloud workflows with a clean, visual interface.

  • One-click jobs: Copy · Sync · Compare
  • Schedulers & history for reliable automation
  • Works with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, S3, WebDAV, SFTP and more
WindowsmacOSLinux
Get Started Free →

Free core features. Plus automations available.

Why combine Terminal + GUI?​

  • CLI alone is powerful but intimidating for beginners and hard to visualize.
  • GUI alone is friendly but can hide advanced flags and debug details.
  • Together you get visual confirmation and full CLI control, without leaving the app.

What the RcloneView Terminal adds​

Built-in rclone CLI (no external shell)​

  • No separate terminal window, PATH setup, or version juggling.
  • Uses the same rclone engine RcloneView manages internally.
RcloneView Terminal tab

Smarter than a normal terminal​

  • Command discovery with autocomplete (type rclone and see all commands).
  • Full-screen expandable output for long logs.
  • Copy, paste, and copy-all for fast sharing or audit trails.
RcloneView Terminal autocomplete

Where the GUI wins​

Visual control beats guesswork​

  • Browse real folders and confirm paths before running commands.
  • Drag & drop transfers with built-in progress logs.
Two-pane explorer viewDrag and drop transfer

Predict before you run​

  • Compare to see exactly what will change.
  • Sync preview (dry run) to avoid accidental deletions.
Compare results view

Operational management​

  • Job Manager + History for repeatable workflows and audits.
  • Mount Manager for local-drive access and simplified file operations.
Job Manager runMount from Remote Explorer

Where the Terminal wins​

Fast diagnostics​

rclone about myremote:
rclone lsf myremote:projects --dirs-only --recursive
rclone listremotes

Advanced control​

  • Use flags not exposed in UI (--transfers, --checkers, --bwlimit).
  • Test backend-specific options quickly.

Real debugging​

  • -vv logs reveal API throttling, auth issues, or backend quirks.
  • Run --dry-run to validate changes before committing.

Combined workflow examples​

Example 1: Compare in GUI → Verify with Terminal​

  1. Compare folders visually in the GUI.
  2. Run a Terminal check for integrity:
rclone check source: dest: --one-way
  1. Copy the log for documentation or support.
Compare results view

Example 2: Create in Terminal → Manage in GUI​

  1. Create a remote in Terminal.
  2. See it instantly in Remote Manager and handle it visually.
Remote Manager

Example 3: Dry-run in Terminal → One-click Job​

  1. Test a Sync with --dry-run.
  2. Save the same workflow as a Job and schedule it.
Sync dry runSave sync to Jobs

CLI is the lab. GUI is the operations room.

Troubleshooting is faster with both​

  • Terminal = truth: exact rclone errors and raw logs.
  • GUI = context: which files failed, how often, and what changed.
  • Support-friendly: copy logs instantly, no repro steps needed.

Productivity and safety benefits​

  • Fewer mistakes with visual confirmation.
  • Faster work by removing context switching.
  • A safer place for beginners to learn CLI behavior.
  • Consistent workflow for teams and IT admins.

SEO FAQ​

Do I still need rclone installed separately?
No. RcloneView ships with and manages rclone for you.

Can I use all advanced rclone flags?
Yes. The Terminal supports the full rclone CLI.

Is the Terminal safe for delete or sync commands?
You can verify paths visually and run --dry-run before committing.

Is this suitable for beginners?
Especially. You see what commands do, safely and visually.

Conclusion​

Terminal + GUI is the complete rclone workflow: faster, safer, and more transparent. Stop choosing between CLI power and GUI comfort. Open the RcloneView Terminal and run rclone without friction.