feat(gui): restore folder places and add keyboard Back

Back, Forward and Up in My files restore the folder's scroll offset and
selection as they were when it was left; opening a folder any other way
still starts at the top.

Closing the photo viewer scrolls the grid to the photo it showed last.

Alt+Left and Backspace go back a level in Shared with me and Computers
and leave an open album or place; Escape leaves an album or place too,
after ending selection mode. The shortcuts window lists it.

A fresh Photos load, or leaving the grid for Albums or Places, ends a
scrubber jump that was still paging.

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/main.rs

@@ -457,6 +457,8 @@ fn build_window(app: &adw::Application) {
             files: browser_widgets.files.clone(),
             history: RefCell::new(Vec::new()),
             future: RefCell::new(Vec::new()),
+            places: RefCell::new(HashMap::new()),
+            restore: RefCell::new(None),
             crumb: browser_widgets.crumb.clone(),
             content: browser_widgets.content.clone(),
             status: browser_widgets.status.clone(),
@@ -1548,6 +1550,7 @@ fn show_shortcuts(window: &adw::ApplicationWindow) {
                 ("<Control>minus", gettext_noop("Smaller thumbnails")),
                 ("<Control>0", gettext_noop("Reset thumbnail size")),
                 ("<Control>a", gettext_noop("Select all")),
+                ("Escape <Alt>Left", gettext_noop("Back")),
             ],
         ),
         (
@@ -1584,8 +1587,17 @@ fn install_shortcuts(ui: &Rc<Ui>, window: &adw::ApplicationWindow) {
     controller.connect_key_pressed(move |_, key, _, state| {
         let ctrl = state.contains(gtk4::gdk::ModifierType::CONTROL_MASK);
         let alt = state.contains(gtk4::gdk::ModifierType::ALT_MASK);
-        let on_browser = ui.stack.visible_child_name().as_deref() == Some("browser");
-        let on_trash = ui.stack.visible_child_name().as_deref() == Some("trash");
+        let page = ui.stack.visible_child_name();
+        let on_browser = page.as_deref() == Some("browser");
+        let on_trash = page.as_deref() == Some("trash");
+        let on_gallery = page.as_deref() == Some("gallery");
+        // Pages with a level to go back to, besides My files' own history.
+        let in_collection = on_gallery && ui.gallery.in_collection();
+        let in_shared_folder =
+            page.as_deref() == Some("shared") && !ui.shared.nav.borrow().is_empty();
+        let in_device_folder =
+            page.as_deref() == Some("devices") && !ui.devices.nav.borrow().is_empty();
+        let back_key = (key == gtk4::gdk::Key::Left && alt) || key == gtk4::gdk::Key::BackSpace;
         match key {
             // Refresh works on every page, so it is matched before the
             // browser-only bindings.
@@ -1642,6 +1654,21 @@ fn install_shortcuts(ui: &Rc<Ui>, window: &adw::ApplicationWindow) {
             gtk4::gdk::Key::BackSpace if on_browser => {
                 ui.browser.actions.activate_action("back", None)
             }
+            // Selection mode ends before Escape leaves anything; the grid
+            // handles this itself while it has the focus.
+            gtk4::gdk::Key::Escape if on_gallery && ui.gallery.selecting.get() => {
+                set_selection_mode(&ui, false)
+            }
+            // An album or a place is a level below Photos, as a folder is
+            // below its parent: Back leaves it, and so does Escape.
+            _ if in_collection
+                && !ui.gallery.selecting.get()
+                && (back_key || key == gtk4::gdk::Key::Escape) =>
+            {
+                ui.gallery.back.emit_clicked()
+            }
+            _ if in_shared_folder && back_key => shared_back(&ui),
+            _ if in_device_folder && back_key => devices_back(&ui),
             gtk4::gdk::Key::u | gtk4::gdk::Key::U if ctrl && on_browser => prompt_upload(&ui),
             gtk4::gdk::Key::Menu if visible_file_list(&ui).is_some() => {
                 if let Some(list) = visible_file_list(&ui) {

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/browser.rs

@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 use crate::activation::{DriveActivation, drive_activation, mounted_path, present_within};
 use crate::*;
 
+/// How a folder in My files was left: scrolled `offset` px down, with the
+/// entries named `selected` highlighted.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, PartialEq)]
+pub(crate) struct FolderPlace {
+    pub(crate) offset: f64,
+    pub(crate) selected: Vec<String>,
+}
+
 pub(crate) struct BrowserState {
     // Files (browser) page.
     /// The grid and list; the model is repopulated per directory.
@@ -10,6 +18,13 @@ pub(crate) struct BrowserState {
     /// breadcrumb.
     pub(crate) history: RefCell<Vec<String>>,
     pub(crate) future: RefCell<Vec<String>>,
+    /// Where each folder left by Back, Forward, Up or a descent was scrolled
+    /// and what was selected in it, by path. Back, Forward and Up put the
+    /// folder back that way; opening it afresh starts at the top.
+    pub(crate) places: RefCell<HashMap<String, FolderPlace>>,
+    /// The folder whose [`Self::places`] entry the next listing restores, set
+    /// by Back, Forward and Up.
+    pub(crate) restore: RefCell<Option<String>>,
     /// Clickable breadcrumb trail (a button per path segment); rebuilt per load
     /// by [`repaint_crumb`] so each ancestor folder navigates on click.
     pub(crate) crumb: gtk4::Box,
@@ -1556,8 +1571,29 @@ pub(crate) fn sort_entries(entries: &mut [DirEntry], view: FilesView) {
     });
 }
 
+/// Remember how the folder on screen is scrolled and what is selected in it,
+/// for Back, Forward or Up to bring it back that way. Only a listing of the
+/// folder itself counts; search hits are not its rows.
+fn remember_place(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
+    let path = ui.browser.path.borrow().clone();
+    if ui.browser.listed.borrow().as_deref() != Some(path.as_str()) {
+        return;
+    }
+    let files = &ui.browser.files;
+    let place = FolderPlace {
+        offset: files.scroll_offset(),
+        selected: files
+            .selected()
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|entry| entry.name)
+            .collect(),
+    };
+    ui.browser.places.borrow_mut().insert(path, place);
+}
+
 /// Open the folder on screen in a new place, remembering where we were.
 pub(crate) fn browse_to(ui: &Rc<Ui>, target: String) {
+    remember_place(ui);
     let left = ui.browser.path.replace(target.clone());
     if left != target {
         ui.browser.history.borrow_mut().push(left);
@@ -1582,6 +1618,8 @@ fn browse_back(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
     let Some(previous) = ui.browser.history.borrow_mut().pop() else {
         return;
     };
+    remember_place(ui);
+    *ui.browser.restore.borrow_mut() = Some(previous.clone());
     let left = ui.browser.path.replace(previous);
     ui.browser.future.borrow_mut().push(left);
     load_browser(ui);
@@ -1592,6 +1630,8 @@ fn browse_forward(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
         return;
     };
     ui.browser.search.set_text("");
+    remember_place(ui);
+    *ui.browser.restore.borrow_mut() = Some(next.clone());
     let left = ui.browser.path.replace(next);
     ui.browser.history.borrow_mut().push(left);
     load_browser(ui);
@@ -1604,6 +1644,7 @@ fn browse_up(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
     }
     ui.browser.search.set_text("");
     let parent = path.rfind('/').map(|i| &path[..i]).unwrap_or_default();
+    *ui.browser.restore.borrow_mut() = Some(parent.to_string());
     browse_to(ui, parent.to_string());
 }
 
@@ -3003,8 +3044,15 @@ pub(crate) fn repaint_browser(ui: &Rc<Ui>, entries: &[DirEntry]) {
     // Only the rows that changed are swapped, so a refresh keeps the
     // selection, the scroll position and the thumbnails already drawn.
     replace_items(&ui.browser.files.model, &sorted);
+    // Back, Forward and Up return to a folder as it was left; any other way
+    // in starts at the top.
+    let restore = ui.browser.restore.take().filter(|target| *target == path);
     if another_folder {
-        ui.browser.files.scroll_to_top();
+        let place = restore.and_then(|path| ui.browser.places.borrow().get(&path).cloned());
+        match place {
+            Some(place) => ui.browser.files.restore(place.offset, &place.selected),
+            None => ui.browser.files.scroll_to_top(),
+        }
     }
 }
 

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/devices.rs

@@ -190,10 +190,9 @@ pub(crate) fn wire_devices(ui: &Rc<Ui>, widgets: &DevicesWidgets) {
         }));
 
     let ui_back = ui.clone();
-    widgets.back.connect_clicked(move |_| {
-        ui_back.devices.nav.borrow_mut().pop();
-        load_devices(&ui_back);
-    });
+    widgets
+        .back
+        .connect_clicked(move |_| devices_back(&ui_back));
     let ui_retry = ui.clone();
     widgets
         .retry
@@ -211,6 +210,14 @@ pub(crate) fn devices_status(ui: &Rc<Ui>, icon: &str, title: &str, description:
     ui.devices.content.set_visible_child_name("status");
 }
 
+/// Back out of a computer's folder to the level above: the page's Back button, and
+/// Alt+Left or Backspace. A no-op at the top.
+pub(crate) fn devices_back(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
+    if ui.devices.nav.borrow_mut().pop().is_some() {
+        load_devices(ui);
+    }
+}
+
 /// Load the view [`DevicesState::nav`] points at: the device list, or a folder
 /// of another computer's backup.
 pub(crate) fn load_devices(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/photo_viewer.rs

@@ -1428,8 +1428,10 @@ pub(crate) fn open_photo_viewer(ui: &Rc<Ui>, initial_uid: String) -> gtk4::Windo
     // kept every closed lightbox, its window and its full-size photo in memory
     // for the life of the app.
     let keep = RefCell::new(Some(viewer.clone()));
+    let ui_close = ui.clone();
     window.connect_close_request(move |_| {
         if let Some(viewer) = keep.borrow_mut().take() {
+            reveal_photo(&ui_close, &viewer.uid.borrow());
             stop_video(&viewer);
             disarm_slide(&viewer);
             if let Some(source) = viewer.chrome_source.borrow_mut().take() {

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/photos.rs

@@ -3288,6 +3288,16 @@ fn top_anchor(ui: &Rc<Ui>) -> Option<(String, f32)> {
         .or(first)
 }
 
+/// Scroll the grid just far enough to show photo `uid`, as the lightbox
+/// closes: paging with the arrow keys may have left the grid far behind.
+pub(crate) fn reveal_photo(ui: &Rc<Ui>, uid: &str) {
+    if let Some(row) = row_of_photo(&ui.gallery.groups, uid) {
+        ui.gallery
+            .list
+            .scroll_to(row, gtk4::ListScrollFlags::NONE, None);
+    }
+}
+
 /// Which row of the rendered model holds `uid`, if any.
 fn row_of_photo(store: &gio::ListStore, uid: &str) -> Option<u32> {
     (0..store.n_items()).find(|i| {
@@ -4035,6 +4045,8 @@ pub(crate) fn load_gallery(ui: &Rc<Ui>, append: bool) {
     // be read again when they switch back to it.
     if !photo_grid_shown(ui) {
         ui.gallery.timeline_stale.set(true);
+        // A scrubber jump was paging the grid the user has just left.
+        ui.gallery.jump.set(None);
         return;
     }
     if ui.gallery.loading.get() {
@@ -4052,6 +4064,9 @@ pub(crate) fn load_gallery(ui: &Rc<Ui>, append: bool) {
     let place = ui.gallery.place.borrow().as_ref().map(|p| p.id);
     let collection = album.is_some() || place.is_some();
     if !append {
+        // A scrubber jump looks for a month of the listing being replaced:
+        // another filter, album or place has its own months, if any.
+        ui.gallery.jump.set(None);
         // Fresh load: clear the timeline and show Loading until the first page lands.
         ui.gallery.model.remove_all();
         gallery_status(

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/shared.rs

@@ -279,10 +279,7 @@ pub(crate) fn wire_shared(ui: &Rc<Ui>, widgets: &SharedWidgets) {
         }));
 
     let ui_back = ui.clone();
-    widgets.back.connect_clicked(move |_| {
-        ui_back.shared.nav.borrow_mut().pop();
-        load_shared(&ui_back);
-    });
+    widgets.back.connect_clicked(move |_| shared_back(&ui_back));
     let ui_retry = ui.clone();
     widgets
         .retry
@@ -318,6 +315,14 @@ pub(crate) fn shared_status(ui: &Rc<Ui>, icon: &str, title: &str, description: &
     ui.shared.content.set_visible_child_name("status");
 }
 
+/// Back out of a shared folder to the level above: the page's Back button, and
+/// Alt+Left or Backspace. A no-op at the top.
+pub(crate) fn shared_back(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
+    if ui.shared.nav.borrow_mut().pop().is_some() {
+        load_shared(ui);
+    }
+}
+
 /// Fetch the top level (shared-with-me, invitations, saved links) in parallel
 /// and repaint the page once all three land.
 ///

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/widgets/file_list.rs

@@ -237,6 +237,36 @@ impl FileList {
             .scroll_to(0, None, gtk4::ListScrollFlags::NONE, None);
     }
 
+    /// How far the view on screen is scrolled, in px from the top.
+    pub(crate) fn scroll_offset(&self) -> f64 {
+        self.views
+            .visible_child()
+            .and_downcast::<gtk4::ScrolledWindow>()
+            .map_or(0.0, |scroll| scroll.vadjustment().value())
+    }
+
+    /// Select the entries named `selected` and scroll the view on screen to
+    /// `offset`, as they were when the folder was left. The scroll waits for
+    /// an idle, when the views have measured the rows just put in.
+    pub(crate) fn restore(&self, offset: f64, selected: &[String]) {
+        self.selection.unselect_all();
+        for i in 0..self.selection.n_items() {
+            if entry_at(Some(&self.selection), i)
+                .is_some_and(|entry| selected.contains(&entry.name))
+            {
+                self.selection.select_item(i, false);
+            }
+        }
+        let Some(scroll) = self
+            .views
+            .visible_child()
+            .and_downcast::<gtk4::ScrolledWindow>()
+        else {
+            return;
+        };
+        glib::idle_add_local_once(move || scroll.vadjustment().set_value(offset));
+    }
+
     /// Whether the list, rather than the grid, is on screen.
     pub(crate) fn shows_list(&self) -> bool {
         self.views.visible_child_name().as_deref() == Some("list")

docs/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@ Existing folders stay device backups. Older builds cannot open the upgraded data
   tell photos apart by their thumbnail. Ctrl+scroll, Ctrl+plus, Ctrl+minus and Ctrl+0
   change it too, and the size is remembered between runs.
 
+- **Back takes you to where you were.** Back, Forward and Up in My files return to a folder
+  scrolled where it was left, with the same items selected, and closing the photo viewer scrolls
+  the grid to the photo it was showing. Alt+Left and Backspace go back a level in Shared with me
+  and Computers and leave an open album or place in Photos, as Escape does too.
+
 ### Changed
 
 - **`proton-sdk` and `proton-drive-rs` 0.11.0.** Timestamps are converted where they enter
@@ -131,6 +136,9 @@ Existing folders stay device backups. Older builds cannot open the upgraded data
 - **A search in My files stays.** It was replaced by the folder's listing whenever files
   changed, on refresh and on coming back to the page, while the query stayed in the box.
 
+- **A date jump in Photos stops when you look elsewhere.** A jump still loading the timeline
+  kept going after another filter, album or place was opened.
+
 ## [3.7.0] — 2026-11-02
 
 Schema: **44**, unchanged.