diff --git a/src/backend/ssh/file-manager.ts b/src/backend/ssh/file-manager.ts
index 0860a472..39405257 100644
--- a/src/backend/ssh/file-manager.ts
+++ b/src/backend/ssh/file-manager.ts
@@ -1512,8 +1512,34 @@ app.get("/ssh/file_manager/ssh/listFiles", (req, res) => {
       });
 
       stream.on("close", (code) => {
-        sshConn.activeOperations--;
         if (code !== 0) {
+          const isPermissionDenied =
+            errorData.toLowerCase().includes("permission denied") ||
+            errorData.toLowerCase().includes("access denied");
+
+          if (isPermissionDenied) {
+            // If we have sudo password, retry with sudo
+            if (sshConn.sudoPassword) {
+              fileLogger.info(
+                `Permission denied for listFiles, retrying with sudo: ${sshPath}`,
+              );
+              tryWithSudo();
+              return;
+            }
+
+            // No sudo password - tell frontend to request one
+            sshConn.activeOperations--;
+            fileLogger.warn(
+              `Permission denied for listFiles, sudo required: ${sshPath}`,
+            );
+            return res.status(403).json({
+              error: `Permission denied: Cannot access ${sshPath}`,
+              needsSudo: true,
+              path: sshPath,
+            });
+          }
+
+          sshConn.activeOperations--;
           fileLogger.error(
             `SSH listFiles command failed with code ${code}: ${errorData.replace(/\n/g, " ").trim()}`,
           );
@@ -1521,6 +1547,7 @@ app.get("/ssh/file_manager/ssh/listFiles", (req, res) => {
             .status(500)
             .json({ error: `Command failed: ${errorData}` });
         }
+        sshConn.activeOperations--;
 
         const lines = data.split("\n").filter((line) => line.trim());
         const files = [];
@@ -1578,6 +1605,127 @@ app.get("/ssh/file_manager/ssh/listFiles", (req, res) => {
     });
   };
 
+  const tryWithSudo = () => {
+    const escapedPath = sshPath.replace(/'/g, "'\"'\"'");
+    const escapedPassword = sshConn.sudoPassword!.replace(/'/g, "'\"'\"'");
+    const sudoCommand = `echo '${escapedPassword}' | sudo -S ls -la '${escapedPath}' 2>&1`;
+
+    sshConn.client.exec(sudoCommand, (err, stream) => {
+      if (err) {
+        sshConn.activeOperations--;
+        fileLogger.error("SSH sudo listFiles error:", err);
+        return res.status(500).json({ error: err.message });
+      }
+
+      let data = "";
+      let errorData = "";
+
+      stream.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => {
+        data += chunk.toString();
+      });
+
+      stream.stderr.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => {
+        errorData += chunk.toString();
+      });
+
+      stream.on("close", (code) => {
+        sshConn.activeOperations--;
+
+        // Filter out sudo password prompt from output
+        data = data.replace(/\[sudo\] password for .+?:\s*/g, "");
+
+        // Check for sudo authentication failure
+        if (
+          data.toLowerCase().includes("sorry, try again") ||
+          data.toLowerCase().includes("incorrect password") ||
+          errorData.toLowerCase().includes("sorry, try again")
+        ) {
+          // Clear invalid sudo password
+          sshConn.sudoPassword = undefined;
+          return res.status(403).json({
+            error: "Sudo authentication failed. Please try again.",
+            needsSudo: true,
+            sudoFailed: true,
+            path: sshPath,
+          });
+        }
+
+        if (code !== 0 && !data.trim()) {
+          fileLogger.error(
+            `SSH sudo listFiles failed with code ${code}: ${errorData.replace(/\n/g, " ").trim()}`,
+          );
+          return res
+            .status(500)
+            .json({ error: `Sudo command failed: ${errorData || data}` });
+        }
+
+        const lines = data.split("\n").filter((line) => line.trim());
+        const files: Array<{
+          name: string;
+          type: string;
+          size: number | undefined;
+          modified: string;
+          permissions: string;
+          owner: string;
+          group: string;
+          linkTarget: string | undefined;
+          path: string;
+          executable: boolean;
+        }> = [];
+
+        for (let i = 1; i < lines.length; i++) {
+          const line = lines[i];
+          const parts = line.split(/\s+/);
+          if (parts.length >= 9) {
+            const permissions = parts[0];
+            const owner = parts[2];
+            const group = parts[3];
+            const size = parseInt(parts[4], 10);
+
+            let dateStr = "";
+            const nameStartIndex = 8;
+
+            if (parts[5] && parts[6] && parts[7]) {
+              dateStr = `${parts[5]} ${parts[6]} ${parts[7]}`;
+            }
+
+            const name = parts.slice(nameStartIndex).join(" ");
+            const isDirectory = permissions.startsWith("d");
+            const isLink = permissions.startsWith("l");
+
+            if (name === "." || name === "..") continue;
+
+            let actualName = name;
+            let linkTarget = undefined;
+            if (isLink && name.includes(" -> ")) {
+              const linkParts = name.split(" -> ");
+              actualName = linkParts[0];
+              linkTarget = linkParts[1];
+            }
+
+            files.push({
+              name: actualName,
+              type: isDirectory ? "directory" : isLink ? "link" : "file",
+              size: isDirectory ? undefined : size,
+              modified: dateStr,
+              permissions,
+              owner,
+              group,
+              linkTarget,
+              path: `${sshPath.endsWith("/") ? sshPath : sshPath + "/"}${actualName}`,
+              executable:
+                !isDirectory && !isLink
+                  ? isExecutableFile(permissions, actualName)
+                  : false,
+            });
+          }
+        }
+
+        res.json({ files, path: sshPath });
+      });
+    });
+  };
+
   trySFTP();
 });
 
diff --git a/src/locales/translated/en.json b/src/locales/translated/en.json
index e319cfd7..3eebfd6d 100644
--- a/src/locales/translated/en.json
+++ b/src/locales/translated/en.json
@@ -1371,6 +1371,10 @@
     "downloadSuccess": "File downloaded successfully",
     "downloadFailed": "File download failed",
     "permissionDenied": "Permission denied",
+    "sudoAuthFailed": "Sudo authentication failed. Please check your password.",
+    "accessDirectory": "access this directory",
+    "deleteOperation": "delete these items",
+    "sudoOperationFailed": "Sudo operation failed",
     "checkDockerLogs": "Check the Docker logs for detailed error information",
     "internalServerError": "Internal server error occurred",
     "serverError": "Server Error",
diff --git a/src/locales/translated/zh.json b/src/locales/translated/zh.json
index 8aeb6027..dd4fd94f 100644
--- a/src/locales/translated/zh.json
+++ b/src/locales/translated/zh.json
@@ -1370,7 +1370,11 @@
     "uploadFailed": "文件上傳失敗",
     "downloadSuccess": "文件下載成功",
     "downloadFailed": "文件下載失敗",
-    "permissionDenied": "沒有權限",
+    "permissionDenied": "没有权限",
+    "sudoAuthFailed": "Sudo 认证失败，请检查密码",
+    "accessDirectory": "访问此目录",
+    "deleteOperation": "删除这些项目",
+    "sudoOperationFailed": "Sudo 操作失败",
     "checkDockerLogs": "查看 Docker 日誌以取得詳細的錯誤訊息",
     "internalServerError": "發生內部伺服器錯誤",
     "serverError": "伺服器錯誤",
diff --git a/src/ui/desktop/apps/features/file-manager/FileManager.tsx b/src/ui/desktop/apps/features/file-manager/FileManager.tsx
index 145c3bf0..7028e09b 100644
--- a/src/ui/desktop/apps/features/file-manager/FileManager.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/desktop/apps/features/file-manager/FileManager.tsx
@@ -166,10 +166,11 @@ function FileManagerContent({ initialHost, onClose }: FileManagerProps) {
   );
 
   const [sudoDialogOpen, setSudoDialogOpen] = useState(false);
-  const [pendingSudoOperation, setPendingSudoOperation] = useState<{
-    type: "delete";
-    files: FileItem[];
-  } | null>(null);
+  const [pendingSudoOperation, setPendingSudoOperation] = useState<
+    | { type: "delete"; files: FileItem[] }
+    | { type: "navigate"; path: string }
+    | null
+  >(null);
 
   const { selectedFiles, clearSelection, setSelection } = useFileSelection();
 
@@ -400,14 +401,14 @@ function FileManagerContent({ initialHost, onClose }: FileManagerProps) {
   }
 
   const loadDirectory = useCallback(
-    async (path: string) => {
+    async (path: string): Promise<boolean> => {
       if (!sshSessionId) {
         console.error("Cannot load directory: no SSH session ID");
-        return;
+        return false;
       }
 
       if (isLoading && currentLoadingPathRef.current !== path) {
-        return;
+        return false;
       }
 
       currentLoadingPathRef.current = path;
@@ -419,7 +420,7 @@ function FileManagerContent({ initialHost, onClose }: FileManagerProps) {
         const response = await listSSHFiles(sshSessionId, path);
 
         if (currentLoadingPathRef.current !== path) {
-          return;
+          return false;
         }
 
         const files = Array.isArray(response)
@@ -428,29 +429,55 @@ function FileManagerContent({ initialHost, onClose }: FileManagerProps) {
 
         setFiles(files);
         clearSelection();
+        return true;
       } catch (error: unknown) {
         if (currentLoadingPathRef.current === path) {
+          const axiosError = error as {
+            response?: {
+              status?: number;
+              data?: { needsSudo?: boolean; error?: string; sudoFailed?: boolean };
+            };
+            message?: string;
+          };
+
+          // Check if this is a permission denied error that needs sudo
+          if (axiosError.response?.data?.needsSudo) {
+            console.log("Permission denied, sudo required for:", path);
+
+            // Only show dialog if not already in a sudo retry flow
+            if (!sudoDialogOpen) {
+              setPendingSudoOperation({ type: "navigate", path });
+              setSudoDialogOpen(true);
+            }
+
+            if (axiosError.response.data.sudoFailed) {
+              toast.error(t("fileManager.sudoAuthFailed"));
+            } else {
+              toast.error(t("fileManager.permissionDenied"));
+            }
+            return false;
+          }
+
           console.error("Failed to load directory:", error);
 
+          // Show more specific error message
+          const errorMessage =
+            axiosError.response?.data?.error || axiosError.message || String(error);
+
           if (initialLoadDoneRef.current) {
-            toast.error(
-              t("fileManager.failedToLoadDirectory") +
-                ": " +
-                (error.message || error),
-            );
+            toast.error(t("fileManager.failedToLoadDirectory") + ": " + errorMessage);
           }
 
           if (
-            error.message?.includes("connection") ||
-            error.message?.includes("SSH")
+            errorMessage?.includes("connection") ||
+            errorMessage?.includes("SSH")
           ) {
             handleCloseWithError(
-              t("fileManager.failedToLoadDirectory") +
-                ": " +
-                (error.message || error),
+              t("fileManager.failedToLoadDirectory") + ": " + errorMessage,
             );
           }
         }
+        return false;
       } finally {
         if (currentLoadingPathRef.current === path) {
           setIsLoading(false);
@@ -458,7 +485,7 @@ function FileManagerContent({ initialHost, onClose }: FileManagerProps) {
         }
       }
     },
-    [sshSessionId, isLoading, clearSelection, t],
+    [sshSessionId, isLoading, clearSelection, t, sudoDialogOpen],
   );
 
   const debouncedLoadDirectory = useCallback(
@@ -778,14 +805,35 @@ function FileManagerContent({ initialHost, onClose }: FileManagerProps) {
         );
         handleRefreshDirectory();
         clearSelection();
+      } else if (pendingSudoOperation.type === "navigate") {
+        // Retry navigation with sudo password now set
+        const success = await loadDirectory(pendingSudoOperation.path);
+        if (success) {
+          setCurrentPath(pendingSudoOperation.path);
+          setPendingSudoOperation(null);
+        }
+        // If failed, loadDirectory already handles showing the error/dialog
+        return;
       }
 
       setPendingSudoOperation(null);
     } catch (error: unknown) {
-      const axiosError = error as { message?: string };
+      const axiosError = error as {
+        response?: { data?: { needsSudo?: boolean; sudoFailed?: boolean } };
+        message?: string;
+      };
+
+      // If sudo auth failed, keep dialog open for retry
+      if (axiosError.response?.data?.sudoFailed) {
+        toast.error(t("fileManager.sudoAuthFailed"));
+        setSudoDialogOpen(true);
+        return;
+      }
+
       toast.error(
         axiosError.message || t("fileManager.sudoOperationFailed"),
       );
+      setPendingSudoOperation(null);
     }
   }
 
@@ -2236,7 +2284,9 @@ function FileManagerContent({ initialHost, onClose }: FileManagerProps) {
         operation={
           pendingSudoOperation?.type === "delete"
             ? t("fileManager.deleteOperation")
-            : undefined
+            : pendingSudoOperation?.type === "navigate"
+              ? t("fileManager.accessDirectory")
+              : undefined
         }
       />
     </div>