diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 92b3e5ee..a1dcb4e4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ turn almost any device into a file server with resumable uploads/downloads using
     * [gotchas](#gotchas) - behavior that might be unexpected
     * [cors](#cors) - cross-site request config
     * [filekeys](#filekeys) - prevent filename bruteforcing
+        * [dirkeys](#dirkeys) - share specific folders in a volume
     * [password hashing](#password-hashing) - you can hash passwords
     * [https](#https) - both HTTP and HTTPS are accepted
 * [recovering from crashes](#recovering-from-crashes)
@@ -1839,12 +1840,25 @@ cors can be configured with `--acao` and `--acam`, or the protections entirely d
 
 prevent filename bruteforcing
 
-volflag `c,fk` generates filekeys (per-file accesskeys) for all files; users which have full read-access (permission `r`) will then see URLs with the correct filekey `?k=...` appended to the end, and `g` users must provide that URL including the correct key to avoid a 404
+volflag `fk` generates filekeys (per-file accesskeys) for all files; users which have full read-access (permission `r`) will then see URLs with the correct filekey `?k=...` appended to the end, and `g` users must provide that URL including the correct key to avoid a 404
 
 by default, filekeys are generated based on salt (`--fk-salt`) + filesystem-path + file-size + inode (if not windows); add volflag `fka` to generate slightly weaker filekeys which will not be invalidated if the file is edited (only salt + path)
 
 permissions `wG` (write + upget) lets users upload files and receive their own filekeys, still without being able to see other uploads
 
+### dirkeys
+
+share specific folders in a volume  without giving away full read-access to the rest -- the visitor only needs the `g` (get) permission to view the link
+
+volflag `dk` generates dirkeys (per-directory accesskeys) for all folders, granting read-access to that folder; by default only that folder itself, no subfolders
+
+volflag `dks` lets people enter subfolders as well, and also enables download-as-zip/tar
+
+dirkeys are generated based on another salt (`--dk-salt`) + filesystem-path and have a few limitations:
+* the key does not change if the contents of the folder is modified
+  * if you need a new dirkey, either change the salt or rename the folder
+* linking to a textfile (so it opens in the textfile viewer) is not possible if recipient doesn't have read-access
+
 
 ## password hashing
 
diff --git a/copyparty/__main__.py b/copyparty/__main__.py
index a115eeaf..6d81fbb6 100755
--- a/copyparty/__main__.py
+++ b/copyparty/__main__.py
@@ -274,6 +274,19 @@ def get_fk_salt() -> str:
     return ret.decode("utf-8")
 
 
+def get_dk_salt() -> str:
+    fp = os.path.join(E.cfg, "dk-salt.txt")
+    try:
+        with open(fp, "rb") as f:
+            ret = f.read().strip()
+    except:
+        ret = base64.b64encode(os.urandom(30))
+        with open(fp, "wb") as f:
+            f.write(ret + b"\n")
+
+    return ret.decode("utf-8")
+
+
 def get_ah_salt() -> str:
     fp = os.path.join(E.cfg, "ah-salt.txt")
     try:
@@ -1131,13 +1144,14 @@ def add_safety(ap):
     ap2.add_argument("--acam", metavar="V[,V]", type=u, default="GET,HEAD", help="Access-Control-Allow-Methods; list of methods to accept from offsite ('*' behaves like \033[33m--acao\033[0m's description)")
 
 
-def add_salt(ap, fk_salt, ah_salt):
+def add_salt(ap, fk_salt, dk_salt, ah_salt):
     ap2 = ap.add_argument_group('salting options')
     ap2.add_argument("--ah-alg", metavar="ALG", type=u, default="none", help="account-pw hashing algorithm; one of these, best to worst: \033[32margon2 scrypt sha2 none\033[0m (each optionally followed by alg-specific comma-sep. config)")
     ap2.add_argument("--ah-salt", metavar="SALT", type=u, default=ah_salt, help="account-pw salt; ignored if \033[33m--ah-alg\033[0m is none (default)")
     ap2.add_argument("--ah-gen", metavar="PW", type=u, default="", help="generate hashed password for \033[33mPW\033[0m, or read passwords from STDIN if \033[33mPW\033[0m is [\033[32m-\033[0m]")
     ap2.add_argument("--ah-cli", action="store_true", help="launch an interactive shell which hashes passwords without ever storing or displaying the original passwords")
     ap2.add_argument("--fk-salt", metavar="SALT", type=u, default=fk_salt, help="per-file accesskey salt; used to generate unpredictable URLs for hidden files")
+    ap2.add_argument("--dk-salt", metavar="SALT", type=u, default=dk_salt, help="per-directory accesskey salt; used to generate unpredictable URLs to share folders with users who only have the 'get' permission")
     ap2.add_argument("--warksalt", metavar="SALT", type=u, default="hunter2", help="up2k file-hash salt; serves no purpose, no reason to change this (but delete all databases if you do)")
 
 
@@ -1319,6 +1333,7 @@ def run_argparse(
     cert_path = os.path.join(E.cfg, "cert.pem")
 
     fk_salt = get_fk_salt()
+    dk_salt = get_dk_salt()
     ah_salt = get_ah_salt()
 
     # alpine peaks at 5 threads for some reason,
@@ -1350,7 +1365,7 @@ def run_argparse(
     add_tftp(ap)
     add_smb(ap)
     add_safety(ap)
-    add_salt(ap, fk_salt, ah_salt)
+    add_salt(ap, fk_salt, dk_salt, ah_salt)
     add_optouts(ap)
     add_shutdown(ap)
     add_yolo(ap)
diff --git a/copyparty/authsrv.py b/copyparty/authsrv.py
index ecaf63fa..a846dce8 100644
--- a/copyparty/authsrv.py
+++ b/copyparty/authsrv.py
@@ -555,7 +555,12 @@ class VFS(object):
             # no vfs nodes in the list of real inodes
             real = [x for x in real if x[0] not in self.nodes]
 
+            dbv = self.dbv or self
             for name, vn2 in sorted(self.nodes.items()):
+                if vn2.dbv == dbv and self.flags.get("dk"):
+                    virt_vis[name] = vn2
+                    continue
+
                 ok = False
                 zx = vn2.axs
                 axs = [zx.uread, zx.uwrite, zx.umove, zx.udel, zx.uget]
@@ -1681,6 +1686,13 @@ class AuthSrv(object):
                 vol.flags["fk"] = int(fk) if fk is not True else 8
                 have_fk = True
 
+            dk = vol.flags.get("dk")
+            dks = vol.flags.get("dks")
+            if dks and not dk:
+                dk = dks
+            if dk:
+                vol.flags["dk"] = int(dk) if dk is not True else 8
+
         if have_fk and re.match(r"^[0-9\.]+$", self.args.fk_salt):
             self.log("filekey salt: {}".format(self.args.fk_salt))
 
diff --git a/copyparty/httpcli.py b/copyparty/httpcli.py
index a1a5088a..267a2739 100644
--- a/copyparty/httpcli.py
+++ b/copyparty/httpcli.py
@@ -1966,7 +1966,12 @@ class HttpCli(object):
 
         v = self.uparam[k]
 
-        vn, rem = self.asrv.vfs.get(self.vpath, self.uname, True, False)
+        if self._use_dirkey():
+            vn = self.vn
+            rem = self.rem
+        else:
+            vn, rem = self.asrv.vfs.get(self.vpath, self.uname, True, False)
+
         zs = self.parser.require("files", 1024 * 1024)
         if not zs:
             raise Pebkac(422, "need files list")
@@ -2870,6 +2875,27 @@ class HttpCli(object):
 
         return file_lastmod, True
 
+    def _use_dirkey(self, ap: str = "") -> bool:
+        if self.can_read or not self.can_get:
+            return False
+
+        req = self.uparam.get("k") or ""
+        if not req:
+            return False
+
+        dk_len = self.vn.flags.get("dk")
+        if not dk_len:
+            return False
+
+        ap = ap or self.vn.canonical(self.rem)
+        zs = self.gen_fk(2, self.args.dk_salt, ap, 0, 0)[:dk_len]
+        if req == zs:
+            return True
+
+        t = "wrong dirkey, want %s, got %s\n  vp: %s\n  ap: %s"
+        self.log(t % (zs, req, self.req, ap), 6)
+        return False
+
     def _expand(self, txt: str, phs: list[str]) -> str:
         for ph in phs:
             if ph.startswith("hdr."):
@@ -3557,7 +3583,7 @@ class HttpCli(object):
 
             dst = dst[len(top) + 1 :]
 
-        ret = self.gen_tree(top, dst)
+        ret = self.gen_tree(top, dst, self.uparam.get("k", ""))
         if self.is_vproxied:
             parents = self.args.R.split("/")
             for parent in reversed(parents):
@@ -3567,18 +3593,25 @@ class HttpCli(object):
         self.reply(zs.encode("utf-8"), mime="application/json")
         return True
 
-    def gen_tree(self, top: str, target: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    def gen_tree(self, top: str, target: str, dk: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
         ret: dict[str, Any] = {}
         excl = None
         if target:
             excl, target = (target.split("/", 1) + [""])[:2]
-            sub = self.gen_tree("/".join([top, excl]).strip("/"), target)
+            sub = self.gen_tree("/".join([top, excl]).strip("/"), target, dk)
             ret["k" + quotep(excl)] = sub
 
         vfs = self.asrv.vfs
+        dk_sz = False
+        if dk:
+            vn, rem = vfs.get(top, self.uname, False, False)
+            if vn.flags.get("dks") and self._use_dirkey(vn.canonical(rem)):
+                dk_sz = vn.flags.get("dk")
+
         dots = False
+        fsroot = ""
         try:
-            vn, rem = vfs.get(top, self.uname, True, False)
+            vn, rem = vfs.get(top, self.uname, not dk_sz, False)
             fsroot, vfs_ls, vfs_virt = vn.ls(
                 rem,
                 self.uname,
@@ -3601,6 +3634,14 @@ class HttpCli(object):
 
         dirs = [quotep(x) for x in dirs if x != excl]
 
+        if dk_sz and fsroot:
+            kdirs = []
+            for dn in dirs:
+                ap = os.path.join(fsroot, dn)
+                zs = self.gen_fk(2, self.args.dk_salt, ap, 0, 0)[:dk_sz]
+                kdirs.append(dn + "?k=" + zs)
+            dirs = kdirs
+
         for x in vfs_virt:
             if x != excl:
                 try:
@@ -3865,6 +3906,7 @@ class HttpCli(object):
             self.out_headers["X-Robots-Tag"] = "noindex, nofollow"
 
         is_dir = stat.S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)
+        is_dk = False
         fk_pass = False
         icur = None
         if is_dir and (e2t or e2d):
@@ -3873,7 +3915,7 @@ class HttpCli(object):
                 icur = idx.get_cur(dbv.realpath)
 
         th_fmt = self.uparam.get("th")
-        if self.can_read:
+        if self.can_read or (self.can_get and vn.flags.get("dk")):
             if th_fmt is not None:
                 nothumb = "dthumb" in dbv.flags
                 if is_dir:
@@ -3979,8 +4021,11 @@ class HttpCli(object):
 
             return self.tx_file(abspath)
 
-        elif is_dir and not self.can_read and not self.can_write:
-            return self.tx_404(True)
+        elif is_dir and not self.can_read:
+            if self._use_dirkey(abspath):
+                is_dk = True
+            elif not self.can_write:
+                return self.tx_404(True)
 
         srv_info = []
 
@@ -4002,7 +4047,7 @@ class HttpCli(object):
         srv_infot = "</span> // <span>".join(srv_info)
 
         perms = []
-        if self.can_read:
+        if self.can_read or is_dk:
             perms.append("read")
         if self.can_write:
             perms.append("write")
@@ -4130,7 +4175,7 @@ class HttpCli(object):
         if not self.conn.hsrv.prism:
             j2a["no_prism"] = True
 
-        if not self.can_read:
+        if not self.can_read and not is_dk:
             if is_ls:
                 return self.tx_ls(ls_ret)
 
@@ -4183,8 +4228,12 @@ class HttpCli(object):
         ):
             ls_names = exclude_dotfiles(ls_names)
 
+        add_dk = vf.get("dk")
         add_fk = vf.get("fk")
         fk_alg = 2 if "fka" in vf else 1
+        if add_dk:
+            zs = self.gen_fk(2, self.args.dk_salt, abspath, 0, 0)[:add_dk]
+            ls_ret["dk"] = cgv["dk"] = zs
 
         dirs = []
         files = []
@@ -4212,6 +4261,12 @@ class HttpCli(object):
                 href += "/"
                 if self.args.no_zip:
                     margin = "DIR"
+                elif add_dk:
+                    zs = absreal(fspath)
+                    margin = '<a href="%s?k=%s&zip" rel="nofollow">zip</a>' % (
+                        quotep(href),
+                        self.gen_fk(2, self.args.dk_salt, zs, 0, 0)[:add_dk],
+                    )
                 else:
                     margin = '<a href="%s?zip" rel="nofollow">zip</a>' % (quotep(href),)
             elif fn in hist:
@@ -4252,6 +4307,11 @@ class HttpCli(object):
                         0 if ANYWIN else inf.st_ino,
                     )[:add_fk],
                 )
+            elif add_dk and is_dir:
+                href = "%s?k=%s" % (
+                    quotep(href),
+                    self.gen_fk(2, self.args.dk_salt, fspath, 0, 0)[:add_dk],
+                )
             else:
                 href = quotep(href)
 
@@ -4270,6 +4330,9 @@ class HttpCli(object):
                 files.append(item)
                 item["rd"] = rem
 
+        if is_dk and not vf.get("dks"):
+            dirs = []
+
         if (
             self.cookies.get("idxh") == "y"
             and "ls" not in self.uparam
diff --git a/copyparty/web/baguettebox.js b/copyparty/web/baguettebox.js
index cc5b2674..45e72d22 100644
--- a/copyparty/web/baguettebox.js
+++ b/copyparty/web/baguettebox.js
@@ -394,8 +394,7 @@ window.baguetteBox = (function () {
     }
 
     function dlpic() {
-        var url = findfile()[3].href;
-        url += (url.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?' : '&') + 'cache';
+        var url = addq(findfile()[3].href, 'cache');
         dl_file(url);
     }
 
@@ -682,7 +681,7 @@ window.baguetteBox = (function () {
                 options.captions.call(currentGallery, imageElement) :
                 imageElement.getAttribute('data-caption') || imageElement.title;
 
-        imageSrc += imageSrc.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?cache' : '&cache';
+        imageSrc = addq(imageSrc, 'cache');
 
         if (is_vid && index != currentIndex)
             return;  // no preload
diff --git a/copyparty/web/browser.js b/copyparty/web/browser.js
index fad6c764..56d4a1d8 100644
--- a/copyparty/web/browser.js
+++ b/copyparty/web/browser.js
@@ -1400,7 +1400,7 @@ var ACtx = !IPHONE && (window.AudioContext || window.webkitAudioContext),
 	ACB = sread('au_cbv') || 1,
 	noih = /[?&]v\b/.exec('' + location),
 	hash0 = location.hash,
-	mp;
+	dk, mp;
 
 
 var mpl = (function () {
@@ -1540,7 +1540,7 @@ var mpl = (function () {
 		if (!c)
 			return url;
 
-		return url + (url.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?' : '&') + 'th=' + (can_ogg ? 'opus' : 'caf');
+		return addq(url, 'th=') + (can_ogg ? 'opus' : 'caf');
 	};
 
 	r.pp = function () {
@@ -1591,7 +1591,7 @@ var mpl = (function () {
 			}
 
 			if (cover) {
-				cover += (cover.indexOf('?') === -1 ? '?' : '&') + 'th=j';
+				cover = addq(cover, 'th=j');
 				tags.artwork = [{ "src": cover, type: "image/jpeg" }];
 			}
 		}
@@ -1682,8 +1682,8 @@ function MPlayer() {
 			link = tds[1].getElementsByTagName('a');
 
 		link = link[link.length - 1];
-		var url = noq_href(link),
-			m = re_audio.exec(url);
+		var url = link.getAttribute('href'),
+			m = re_audio.exec(url.split('?')[0]);
 
 		if (m) {
 			var tid = link.getAttribute('id');
@@ -1795,8 +1795,7 @@ function MPlayer() {
 		var t0 = Date.now(),
 			fname = uricom_dec(url.split('/').pop());
 
-		url = mpl.acode(url);
-		url += (url.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?' : '&') + 'cache=987&_=' + ACB;
+		url = addq(mpl.acode(url), 'cache=987&_=' + ACB);
 		mpl.preload_url = full ? url : null;
 
 		if (mpl.waves)
@@ -2379,8 +2378,7 @@ function dl_song() {
 		return toast.inf(10, L.f_dls);
 	}
 
-	var url = mp.tracks[mp.au.tid];
-	url += (url.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?' : '&') + 'cache=987&_=' + ACB;
+	var url = addq(mp.tracks[mp.au.tid], 'cache=987&_=' + ACB);
 	dl_file(url);
 }
 
@@ -3042,8 +3040,7 @@ function play(tid, is_ev, seek) {
 		widget.open();
 	}
 
-	var url = mpl.acode(mp.tracks[tid]);
-	url += (url.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?' : '&') + 'cache=987&_=' + ACB;
+	var url = addq(mpl.acode(mp.tracks[tid]), 'cache=987&_=' + ACB);
 
 	if (mp.au.rsrc == url)
 		mp.au.currentTime = 0;
@@ -4219,7 +4216,7 @@ var showfile = (function () {
 	};
 
 	r.active = function () {
-		return location.search.indexOf('doc=') + 1;
+		return !!/[?&]doc=/.exec(location.search);
 	};
 
 	r.getlang = function (fn) {
@@ -4260,12 +4257,15 @@ var showfile = (function () {
 	};
 
 	r.show = function (url, no_push) {
-		var xhr = new XHR();
+		var xhr = new XHR(),
+			m = /[?&](k=[^&]+)/.exec(url);
+
+		url = url.split('?')[0] + (m ? '?' + m[1] : '');
 		xhr.url = url;
 		xhr.fname = uricom_dec(url.split('/').pop());
 		xhr.no_push = no_push;
 		xhr.ts = Date.now();
-		xhr.open('GET', url.split('?')[0], true);
+		xhr.open('GET', url, true);
 		xhr.onprogress = loading;
 		xhr.onload = xhr.onerror = load_cb;
 		xhr.send();
@@ -4303,14 +4303,14 @@ var showfile = (function () {
 		var url = doc[0],
 			lnh = doc[1],
 			txt = doc[2],
-			name = url.split('/').pop(),
+			name = url.split('?')[0].split('/').pop(),
 			tname = uricom_dec(name),
 			lang = r.getlang(name),
 			is_md = lang == 'md';
 
 		ebi('files').style.display = ebi('gfiles').style.display = ebi('lazy').style.display = ebi('pro').style.display = ebi('epi').style.display = 'none';
 		ebi('dldoc').setAttribute('href', url);
-		ebi('editdoc').setAttribute('href', url + (url.indexOf('?') > 0 ? '&' : '?') + 'edit');
+		ebi('editdoc').setAttribute('href', addq(url, 'edit'));
 		ebi('editdoc').style.display = (has(perms, 'write') && (is_md || has(perms, 'delete'))) ? '' : 'none';
 
 		var wr = ebi('bdoc'),
@@ -4361,7 +4361,7 @@ var showfile = (function () {
 		wintitle(tname + ' \u2014 ');
 		document.documentElement.scrollTop = 0;
 		var hfun = no_push ? hist_replace : hist_push;
-		hfun(get_evpath() + '?doc=' + url.split('/').pop());
+		hfun(get_evpath() + '?doc=' + name);  // can't dk: server wants dk and js needs fk
 
 		qsr('#docname');
 		el = mknod('span', 'docname');
@@ -4563,7 +4563,7 @@ var thegrid = (function () {
 			if (!force)
 				return;
 
-			hist_push(get_evpath());
+			hist_push(get_evpath() + (dk ? '?k=' + dk : ''));
 			wintitle();
 		}
 
@@ -4795,10 +4795,10 @@ var thegrid = (function () {
 				ref = ao.getAttribute('id'),
 				isdir = href.endsWith('/'),
 				ac = isdir ? ' class="dir"' : '',
-				ihref = href;
+				ihref = ohref;
 
 			if (r.thumbs) {
-				ihref += '?th=' + (have_webp ? 'w' : 'j');
+				ihref = addq(ihref, 'th=') + (have_webp ? 'w' : 'j');
 				if (!r.crop)
 					ihref += 'f';
 				if (r.x3)
@@ -4834,7 +4834,7 @@ var thegrid = (function () {
 				}
 				ihref = SR + '/.cpr/ico/' + ext;
 			}
-			ihref += (ihref.indexOf('?') > 0 ? '&' : '?') + 'cache=i&_=' + ACB;
+			ihref = addq(ihref, 'cache=i&_=' + ACB);
 			if (CHROME)
 				ihref += "&raster";
 
@@ -5937,12 +5937,15 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 	};
 
 	function get_tree(top, dst, rst) {
-		var xhr = new XHR();
+		var xhr = new XHR(),
+			m = /[?&](k=[^&]+)/.exec(dst),
+			k = m ? '&' + m[1] : dk ? '&k=' + dk : '';
+
 		xhr.top = top;
 		xhr.dst = dst;
 		xhr.rst = rst;
 		xhr.ts = Date.now();
-		xhr.open('GET', dst + '?tree=' + top + (r.dots ? '&dots' : ''), true);
+		xhr.open('GET', addq(dst, 'tree=') + top + (r.dots ? '&dots' : '') + k, true);
 		xhr.onload = xhr.onerror = recvtree;
 		xhr.send();
 		enspin('#tree');
@@ -6019,14 +6022,20 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 
 	function reload_tree() {
 		var cdir = r.nextdir || get_vpath(),
+			cevp = get_evpath(),
 			links = QSA('#treeul a+a'),
 			nowrap = QS('#tree.nowrap') && QS('#hovertree.on'),
 			act = null;
 
 		for (var a = 0, aa = links.length; a < aa; a++) {
-			var href = uricom_dec(links[a].getAttribute('href')),
+			var qhref = links[a].getAttribute('href'),
+				ehref = qhref.split('?')[0],
+				href = uricom_dec(ehref),
 				cl = '';
 
+			if (dk && ehref == cevp && !/[?&]k=/.exec(qhref))
+				links[a].setAttribute('href', addq(qhref, 'k=') + dk);
+
 			if (href == cdir) {
 				act = links[a];
 				cl = 'hl';
@@ -6125,13 +6134,16 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 		if (IE && !history.pushState)
 			return window.location = url;
 
-		var xhr = new XHR();
+		var xhr = new XHR(),
+			m = /[?&](k=[^&]+)/.exec(url),
+			k = m ? '&' + m[1] : dk ? '&k=' + dk : '';
+
 		xhr.top = url.split('?')[0];
 		xhr.back = back
 		xhr.hpush = hpush;
 		xhr.hydrate = hydrate;
 		xhr.ts = Date.now();
-		xhr.open('GET', xhr.top + '?ls' + (r.dots ? '&dots' : ''), true);
+		xhr.open('GET', xhr.top + '?ls' + (r.dots ? '&dots' : '') + k, true);
 		xhr.onload = xhr.onerror = recvls;
 		xhr.send();
 
@@ -6193,6 +6205,7 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 		read_dsort(res.dsort);
 		dcrop = res.dcrop;
 		dth3x = res.dth3x;
+		dk = res.dk;
 
 		srvinf = res.srvinf;
 		try {
@@ -6201,14 +6214,14 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 		catch (ex) { }
 
 		if (this.hpush && !showfile.active())
-			hist_push(this.top);
+			hist_push(this.top + (dk ? '?k=' + dk : ''));
 
 		if (!this.back) {
 			var dirs = [];
 			for (var a = 0; a < res.dirs.length; a++)
 				dirs.push(res.dirs[a].href.split('/')[0].split('?')[0]);
 
-			rendertree({ "a": dirs }, this.ts, ".", get_evpath());
+			rendertree({ "a": dirs }, this.ts, ".", get_evpath() + (dk ? '?k=' + dk : ''));
 		}
 
 		r.gentab(this.top, res);
@@ -6309,7 +6322,7 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 			if (lang) {
 				showfile.files.push({ 'id': id, 'name': fname });
 				if (lang == 'md')
-					tn.href += tn.href.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?v' : '&v';
+					tn.href = addq(tn.href, 'v');
 			}
 
 			if (tn.lead == '-')
@@ -6385,7 +6398,7 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 				url = url.href;
 				var mt = m[0] == 'a' ? 'audio' : /\.(webm|mkv)($|\?)/i.exec(url) ? 'video' : 'image'
 				if (mt == 'image') {
-					url += url.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?cache' : '&cache';
+					url = addq(url, 'cache');
 					console.log(url);
 					new Image().src = url;
 				}
@@ -6488,7 +6501,9 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 		keys.sort(function (a, b) { return a.localeCompare(b); });
 		for (var a = 0; a < keys.length; a++) {
 			var kk = keys[a],
-				ks = kk.slice(1),
+				m = /(\?k=[^\n]+)/.exec(kk),
+				kdk = m ? m[1] : '',
+				ks = kk.replace(kdk, '').slice(1),
 				ded = ks.endsWith('\n'),
 				k = uricom_sdec(ded ? ks.replace(/\n$/, '') : ks),
 				hek = esc(k[0]),
@@ -6496,7 +6511,7 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 				url = '/' + (top ? top + uek : uek) + '/',
 				sym = res[kk] ? '-' : '+',
 				link = '<a href="#">' + sym + '</a><a href="' +
-					url + '">' + hek + '</a>';
+					url + kdk + '">' + hek + '</a>';
 
 			if (res[kk]) {
 				var subtree = parsetree(res[kk], url.slice(1));
@@ -6537,16 +6552,24 @@ var treectl = (function () {
 		if (!e.state)
 			return;
 
-		var url = new URL(e.state, "https://" + document.location.host);
-		var hbase = url.pathname;
-		var cbase = document.location.pathname;
-		if (url.search.indexOf('doc=') + 1 && hbase == cbase)
+		var url = new URL(e.state, "https://" + location.host),
+			req = url.pathname,
+			hbase = req,
+			cbase = location.pathname,
+			mdoc = /[?&]doc=/.exec('' + url),
+			mdk = /[?&](k=[^&]+)/.exec('' + url);
+
+		if (mdoc && hbase == cbase)
 			return showfile.show(hbase + showfile.sname(url.search), true);
 
-		r.goto(url.pathname, false, true);
+		if (mdk)
+			req += '?' + mdk[1];
+
+		r.goto(req, false, true);
 	};
 
-	hist_replace(get_evpath() + location.hash);
+	var evp = get_evpath() + (dk ? '?k=' + dk : '');
+	hist_replace(evp + location.hash);
 	r.onscroll = onscroll;
 	return r;
 })();
@@ -7171,11 +7194,11 @@ var arcfmt = (function () {
 			if (!/^(zip|tar|pax|tgz|txz)$/.exec(txt))
 				continue;
 
-			var ofs = href.lastIndexOf('?');
-			if (ofs < 0)
+			var m = /(.*[?&])(tar|zip)([^&]*)(.*)$/.exec(href);
+			if (!m)
 				throw new Error('missing arg in url');
 
-			o.setAttribute("href", href.slice(0, ofs + 1) + arg);
+			o.setAttribute("href", m[1] + arg + m[4]);
 			o.textContent = fmt.split('_')[0];
 		}
 		ebi('selzip').textContent = fmt.split('_')[0];
@@ -7238,13 +7261,20 @@ var msel = (function () {
 			vbase = get_evpath();
 
 		for (var a = 0, aa = links.length; a < aa; a++) {
-			var href = noq_href(links[a]).replace(/\/$/, ""),
+			var qhref = links[a].getAttribute('href'),
+				href = qhref.split('?')[0].replace(/\/$/, ""),
 				item = {};
 
 			item.id = links[a].getAttribute('id');
 			item.sel = clgot(links[a].closest('tr'), 'sel');
 			item.vp = href.indexOf('/') !== -1 ? href : vbase + href;
 
+			if (dk) {
+				var m = /[?&](k=[^&]+)/.exec(qhref);
+				item.q = m ? '?' + m[1] : '';
+			}
+			else item.q = '';
+
 			r.all.push(item);
 			if (item.sel)
 				r.sel.push(item);
@@ -7361,6 +7391,9 @@ var msel = (function () {
 			frm = mknod('form'),
 			txt = [];
 
+		if (dk)
+			arg += '&k=' + dk;
+
 		for (var a = 0; a < sel.length; a++)
 			txt.push(vsplit(sel[a].vp)[1]);
 
@@ -7385,7 +7418,7 @@ var msel = (function () {
 		ev(e);
 		var sel = r.getsel();
 		for (var a = 0; a < sel.length; a++)
-			dl_file(sel[a].vp);
+			dl_file(sel[a].vp + sel[a].q);
 	};
 	r.render = function () {
 		var tds = QSA('#files tbody td+td+td'),
@@ -7934,7 +7967,7 @@ var unpost = (function () {
 
 	function linklist() {
 		var ret = [],
-			base = document.location.origin.replace(/\/$/, '');
+			base = location.origin.replace(/\/$/, '');
 
 		for (var a = 0; a < r.files.length; a++)
 			ret.push(base + r.files[a].vp);
@@ -8111,8 +8144,9 @@ ebi('files').onclick = ebi('docul').onclick = function (e) {
 	tgt = e.target.closest('a[hl]');
 	if (tgt) {
 		var a = ebi(tgt.getAttribute('hl')),
+			href = a.getAttribute('href'),
 			fun = function () {
-				showfile.show(noq_href(a), tgt.getAttribute('lang'));
+				showfile.show(href, tgt.getAttribute('lang'));
 			},
 			szs = ft2dict(a.closest('tr'))[0].sz,
 			sz = parseInt(szs.replace(/[, ]/g, ''));
diff --git a/copyparty/web/util.js b/copyparty/web/util.js
index c7e5e44f..571902d5 100644
--- a/copyparty/web/util.js
+++ b/copyparty/web/util.js
@@ -740,6 +740,11 @@ function vjoin(p1, p2) {
 }
 
 
+function addq(url, q) {
+    return url + (url.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?' : '&') + (q === undefined ? '' : q);
+}
+
+
 function uricom_enc(txt, do_fb_enc) {
     try {
         return encodeURIComponent(txt);
@@ -1885,7 +1890,7 @@ function md_thumbs(md) {
             float = has(flags, 'l') ? 'left' : has(flags, 'r') ? 'right' : '';
 
         if (!/[?&]cache/.exec(url))
-            url += (url.indexOf('?') < 0 ? '?' : '&') + 'cache=i';
+            url = addq(url, 'cache=i');
 
         md[a] = '<a href="' + url + '" class="mdth mdth' + float.slice(0, 1) + '"><img src="' + url + '&th=w" alt="' + alt + '" /></a>' + md[a].slice(o2 + 1);
     }
diff --git a/tests/test_dots.py b/tests/test_dots.py
index df1d4ab3..11fd30b5 100644
--- a/tests/test_dots.py
+++ b/tests/test_dots.py
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals
 
 import io
 import os
+import time
+import json
+import pprint
 import shutil
 import tarfile
 import tempfile
@@ -62,7 +65,9 @@ class TestHttpCli(unittest.TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(self.curl("?tar", "x")[1][:17], "\nJ2EOT")
 
-        # search
+        ##
+        ## search
+
         up2k = Up2k(self)
         u2idx = U2idx(self)
         allvols = list(self.asrv.vfs.all_vols.values())
@@ -87,15 +92,55 @@ class TestHttpCli(unittest.TestCase):
         xe = "a/da/f4 a/f3 f0 t/f1"
         self.assertEqual(x, xe)
 
+        ##
+        ## dirkeys
+
+        os.mkdir("v")
+        with open("v/f1.txt", "wb") as f:
+            f.write(b"a")
+        os.rename("a", "v/a")
+        os.rename(".b", "v/.b")
+
+        vcfg = [
+            ".::r.,u1:g,u2:c,dk",
+            "v/a:v/a:r.,u1:g,u2:c,dk",
+            "v/.b:v/.b:r.,u1:g,u2:c,dk"
+        ]
+        self.args = Cfg(v=vcfg, a=["u1:u1", "u2:u2"])
+        self.asrv = AuthSrv(self.args, self.log)
+        zj = json.loads(self.curl("?ls", "u1")[1])
+        url = "?k=" + zj["dk"]
+        # should descend into folders, but not other volumes:
+        self.assertEqual(self.tardir(url, "u2"), "f0 t/f1 v/f1.txt")
+
+        zj = json.loads(self.curl("v?ls", "u1")[1])
+        url = "v?k=" + zj["dk"]
+        self.assertEqual(self.tarsel(url, "u2", ["f1.txt", "a", ".b"]), "f1.txt")
+
     def tardir(self, url, uname):
-        h, b = self.curl("/" + url + "?tar", uname, True)
+        top = url.split("?")[0]
+        top = ("top" if not top else top.lstrip(".").split("/")[0]) + "/"
+        url += ("&" if "?" in url else "?") + "tar"
+        h, b = self.curl(url, uname, True)
         tar = tarfile.open(fileobj=io.BytesIO(b), mode="r|").getnames()
-        top = ("top" if not url else url.lstrip(".").split("/")[0]) + "/"
-        assert len(tar) == len([x for x in tar if x.startswith(top)])
+        if len(tar) != len([x for x in tar if x.startswith(top)]):
+            raise Exception("bad-prefix:", tar)
         return " ".join([x[len(top) :] for x in tar])
 
-    def curl(self, url, uname, binary=False):
-        conn = tu.VHttpConn(self.args, self.asrv, self.log, hdr(url, uname))
+    def tarsel(self, url, uname, sel):
+        url += ("&" if "?" in url else "?") + "tar"
+        zs = '--XD\r\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name="act"\r\n\r\nzip\r\n--XD\r\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name="files"\r\n\r\n'
+        zs += "\r\n".join(sel) + '\r\n--XD--\r\n'
+        zb = zs.encode("utf-8")
+        hdr = "POST /%s HTTP/1.1\r\nPW: %s\r\nConnection: close\r\nContent-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=XD\r\nContent-Length: %d\r\n\r\n"
+        req = (hdr % (url, uname, len(zb))).encode("utf-8") + zb
+        h, b = self.curl("/" + url, uname, True, req)
+        tar = tarfile.open(fileobj=io.BytesIO(b), mode="r|").getnames()
+        return " ".join(tar)
+
+    def curl(self, url, uname, binary=False, req=b""):
+        req = req or hdr(url, uname)
+        conn = tu.VHttpConn(self.args, self.asrv, self.log, req)
         HttpCli(conn).run()
         if binary:
             h, b = conn.s._reply.split(b"\r\n\r\n", 1)
diff --git a/tests/util.py b/tests/util.py
index 415ac5a0..23396062 100644
--- a/tests/util.py
+++ b/tests/util.py
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ class Cfg(Namespace):
             c=c,
             E=E,
             dbd="wal",
+            dk_salt="b" * 16,
             fk_salt="a" * 16,
             idp_gsep=re.compile("[|:;+,]"),
             iobuf=256 * 1024,