diff --git a/weed/filer/abstract_sql/abstract_sql_store.go b/weed/filer/abstract_sql/abstract_sql_store.go
index bd1ac9734..f5dcf6e03 100644
--- a/weed/filer/abstract_sql/abstract_sql_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/abstract_sql/abstract_sql_store.go
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func (store *AbstractSqlStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpat
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *AbstractSqlStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *AbstractSqlStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 	sqlText := store.SqlListExclusive
 	if includeStartFile {
 		sqlText = store.SqlListInclusive
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func (store *AbstractSqlStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context,
 
 	rows, err := store.getTxOrDB(ctx).QueryContext(ctx, sqlText, util.HashStringToLong(string(dirPath)), startFileName, string(dirPath), prefix+"%", limit+1)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
+		return lastFileName, fmt.Errorf("list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
 	}
 	defer rows.Close()
 
@@ -189,30 +189,29 @@ func (store *AbstractSqlStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context,
 		var data []byte
 		if err = rows.Scan(&name, &data); err != nil {
 			glog.V(0).Infof("scan %s : %v", dirPath, err)
-			return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("scan %s: %v", dirPath, err)
+			return lastFileName, fmt.Errorf("scan %s: %v", dirPath, err)
 		}
+		lastFileName = name
 
 		entry := &filer.Entry{
 			FullPath: util.NewFullPath(string(dirPath), name),
 		}
 		if err = entry.DecodeAttributesAndChunks(util.MaybeDecompressData(data)); err != nil {
 			glog.V(0).Infof("scan decode %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
-			return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("scan decode %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
+			return lastFileName, fmt.Errorf("scan decode %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 		}
 
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
-	}
+		if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+			break
+		}
 
-	hasMore = int64(len(entries)) == limit+1
-	if hasMore {
-		entries = entries[:limit]
 	}
 
-	return entries, hasMore, nil
+	return lastFileName, nil
 }
 
-func (store *AbstractSqlStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "")
+func (store *AbstractSqlStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "", nil)
 }
 
 func (store *AbstractSqlStore) Shutdown() {
diff --git a/weed/filer/cassandra/cassandra_store.go b/weed/filer/cassandra/cassandra_store.go
index 06fb3af46..fd2ce91a6 100644
--- a/weed/filer/cassandra/cassandra_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/cassandra/cassandra_store.go
@@ -168,11 +168,11 @@ func (store *CassandraStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpath
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *CassandraStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return nil, false, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
+func (store *CassandraStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return lastFileName, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
 }
 
-func (store *CassandraStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *CassandraStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 
 	if _, ok := store.isSuperLargeDirectory(string(dirPath)); ok {
 		return // nil, filer.ErrUnsupportedSuperLargeDirectoryListing
@@ -190,23 +190,21 @@ func (store *CassandraStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath u
 		entry := &filer.Entry{
 			FullPath: util.NewFullPath(string(dirPath), name),
 		}
+		lastFileName = name
 		if decodeErr := entry.DecodeAttributesAndChunks(util.MaybeDecompressData(data)); decodeErr != nil {
 			err = decodeErr
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 			break
 		}
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
+		if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+			break
+		}
 	}
 	if err := iter.Close(); err != nil {
 		glog.V(0).Infof("list iterator close: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	hasMore = int64(len(entries)) == limit+1
-	if hasMore {
-		entries = entries[:limit]
-	}
-
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
 func (store *CassandraStore) Shutdown() {
diff --git a/weed/filer/elastic/v7/elastic_store.go b/weed/filer/elastic/v7/elastic_store.go
index 0e055e1fc..1e7f55599 100644
--- a/weed/filer/elastic/v7/elastic_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/elastic/v7/elastic_store.go
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ func (store *ElasticStore) RollbackTransaction(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *ElasticStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return nil, false, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
+func (store *ElasticStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return lastFileName, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
 }
 
 func (store *ElasticStore) InsertEntry(ctx context.Context, entry *filer.Entry) (err error) {
@@ -187,26 +187,28 @@ func (store *ElasticStore) deleteEntry(ctx context.Context, index, id string) (e
 }
 
 func (store *ElasticStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpath weed_util.FullPath) (err error) {
-	if entries, _, err := store.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, fullpath, "", false, math.MaxInt32); err == nil {
-		for _, entry := range entries {
-			store.DeleteEntry(ctx, entry.FullPath)
+	_, err = store.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, fullpath, "", false, math.MaxInt32, func(entry *filer.Entry) bool {
+		if err := store.DeleteEntry(ctx, entry.FullPath); err != nil {
+			glog.Errorf("elastic delete %s: %v.", entry.FullPath, err)
+			return false
 		}
-	}
-	return nil
+		return true
+	})
+	return
 }
 
-func (store *ElasticStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *ElasticStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 	if string(dirPath) == "/" {
-		return store.listRootDirectoryEntries(ctx, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit)
+		return store.listRootDirectoryEntries(ctx, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, eachEntryFunc)
 	}
-	return store.listDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit)
+	return store.listDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, eachEntryFunc)
 }
 
-func (store *ElasticStore) listRootDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *ElasticStore) listRootDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 	indexResult, err := store.client.CatIndices().Do(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.Errorf("list indices %v.", err)
-		return entries, false, err
+		return
 	}
 	for _, index := range indexResult {
 		if index.Index == indexKV {
@@ -216,32 +218,33 @@ func (store *ElasticStore) listRootDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, startFi
 			if entry, err := store.FindEntry(ctx,
 				weed_util.FullPath("/"+strings.Replace(index.Index, indexPrefix, "", 1))); err == nil {
 				fileName := getFileName(entry.FullPath)
+				lastFileName = fileName
 				if fileName == startFileName && !inclusive {
 					continue
 				}
 				limit--
 				if limit < 0 {
-					hasMore = true
 					break
 				}
-				entries = append(entries, entry)
+				if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+					break
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	return entries, hasMore, nil
+	return
 }
 
 func (store *ElasticStore) listDirectoryEntries(
-	ctx context.Context, fullpath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64,
-) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+	ctx context.Context, fullpath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 	first := true
 	index := getIndex(fullpath)
 	nextStart := ""
 	parentId := weed_util.Md5String([]byte(fullpath))
-	if _, err := store.client.Refresh(index).Do(ctx); err != nil {
+	if _, err = store.client.Refresh(index).Do(ctx); err != nil {
 		if elastic.IsNotFound(err) {
 			store.client.CreateIndex(index).Do(ctx)
-			return entries, hasMore, nil
+			return
 		}
 	}
 	for {
@@ -249,7 +252,7 @@ func (store *ElasticStore) listDirectoryEntries(
 		if (startFileName == "" && first) || inclusive {
 			if result, err = store.search(ctx, index, parentId); err != nil {
 				glog.Errorf("search (%s,%s,%t,%d) %v.", string(fullpath), startFileName, inclusive, limit, err)
-				return entries, hasMore, err
+				return
 			}
 		} else {
 			fullPath := string(fullpath) + "/" + startFileName
@@ -259,7 +262,7 @@ func (store *ElasticStore) listDirectoryEntries(
 			after := weed_util.Md5String([]byte(fullPath))
 			if result, err = store.searchAfter(ctx, index, parentId, after); err != nil {
 				glog.Errorf("searchAfter (%s,%s,%t,%d) %v.", string(fullpath), startFileName, inclusive, limit, err)
-				return entries, hasMore, err
+				return
 			}
 		}
 		first = false
@@ -271,22 +274,21 @@ func (store *ElasticStore) listDirectoryEntries(
 			if err := jsoniter.Unmarshal(hit.Source, esEntry); err == nil {
 				limit--
 				if limit < 0 {
-					hasMore = true
-					return entries, hasMore, nil
+					return lastFileName, nil
 				}
 				nextStart = string(esEntry.Entry.FullPath)
 				fileName := getFileName(esEntry.Entry.FullPath)
+				lastFileName = fileName
 				if fileName == startFileName && !inclusive {
 					continue
 				}
-				entries = append(entries, esEntry.Entry)
+				if !eachEntryFunc(esEntry.Entry) {
+					break
+				}
 			}
 		}
-		if len(result.Hits.Hits) < store.maxPageSize {
-			break
-		}
 	}
-	return entries, hasMore, nil
+	return
 }
 
 func (store *ElasticStore) search(ctx context.Context, index, parentId string) (result *elastic.SearchResult, err error) {
diff --git a/weed/filer/etcd/etcd_store.go b/weed/filer/etcd/etcd_store.go
index b7acc2049..8159c634d 100644
--- a/weed/filer/etcd/etcd_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/etcd/etcd_store.go
@@ -139,17 +139,17 @@ func (store *EtcdStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpath weed_
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *EtcdStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return nil, false, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
+func (store *EtcdStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return lastFileName, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
 }
 
-func (store *EtcdStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *EtcdStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 	directoryPrefix := genDirectoryKeyPrefix(dirPath, "")
 
 	resp, err := store.client.Get(ctx, string(directoryPrefix),
 		clientv3.WithPrefix(), clientv3.WithSort(clientv3.SortByKey, clientv3.SortDescend))
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
+		return lastFileName, fmt.Errorf("list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
 	}
 
 	for _, kv := range resp.Kvs {
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@ func (store *EtcdStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_u
 		if fileName == startFileName && !includeStartFile {
 			continue
 		}
+		lastFileName = fileName
 		limit--
 		if limit < 0 {
-			hasMore = true
 			break
 		}
 		entry := &filer.Entry{
@@ -173,10 +173,12 @@ func (store *EtcdStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_u
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 			break
 		}
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
+		if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+			break
+		}
 	}
 
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
 func genKey(dirPath, fileName string) (key []byte) {
diff --git a/weed/filer/filer.go b/weed/filer/filer.go
index dd0fcf2cf..e59887763 100644
--- a/weed/filer/filer.go
+++ b/weed/filer/filer.go
@@ -281,22 +281,19 @@ func (f *Filer) FindEntry(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath) (entry *Entry, e
 
 }
 
-func (f *Filer) doListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*Entry, hasMore bool, expiredCount int64, lastFileName string, err error) {
-	listedEntries, listHasMore, listErr := f.Store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix)
-	hasMore = listHasMore
-	if listErr != nil {
-		return listedEntries, hasMore, expiredCount, "", listErr
-	}
-	for _, entry := range listedEntries {
-		lastFileName = entry.Name()
+func (f *Filer) doListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (expiredCount int64, lastFileName string, err error) {
+	lastFileName, err = f.Store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix, func(entry *Entry) bool {
 		if entry.TtlSec > 0 {
 			if entry.Crtime.Add(time.Duration(entry.TtlSec) * time.Second).Before(time.Now()) {
 				f.Store.DeleteOneEntry(ctx, entry)
 				expiredCount++
-				continue
+				return true
 			}
 		}
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
+		return eachEntryFunc(entry)
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return expiredCount, lastFileName, err
 	}
 	return
 }
diff --git a/weed/filer/filer_search.go b/weed/filer/filer_search.go
index 0fa57dd06..8c9688ceb 100644
--- a/weed/filer/filer_search.go
+++ b/weed/filer/filer_search.go
@@ -32,49 +32,76 @@ func (f *Filer) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, start
 	var missedCount int64
 	var lastFileName string
 
-	entries, hasMore, missedCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListPatternMatchedEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix, restNamePattern)
+	missedCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListPatternMatchedEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit+1, prefix, restNamePattern, func(entry *Entry) bool {
+		entries = append(entries, entry)
+		return true
+	})
 
 	for missedCount > 0 && err == nil {
-		var makeupEntries []*Entry
-		makeupEntries, hasMore, missedCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListPatternMatchedEntries(ctx, p, lastFileName, false, missedCount, prefix, restNamePattern)
-		for _, entry := range makeupEntries {
+		missedCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListPatternMatchedEntries(ctx, p, lastFileName, false, missedCount+1, prefix, restNamePattern, func(entry *Entry) bool {
 			entries = append(entries, entry)
-		}
+			return true
+		})
+	}
+
+	hasMore = int64(len(entries)) >= limit+1
+	if hasMore {
+		entries = entries[:limit]
 	}
 
 	return entries, hasMore, err
 }
 
-func (f *Filer) doListPatternMatchedEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, prefix, restNamePattern string) (matchedEntries []*Entry, hasMore bool, missedCount int64, lastFileName string, err error) {
-	var foundEntries []*Entry
+// For now, prefix and namePattern are mutually exclusive
+func (f *Filer) StreamListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, prefix string, namePattern string, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	if strings.HasSuffix(string(p), "/") && len(p) > 1 {
+		p = p[0 : len(p)-1]
+	}
 
-	foundEntries, hasMore, lastFileName, err = f.doListValidEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix)
-	if err != nil {
-		return
+	prefixInNamePattern, restNamePattern := splitPattern(namePattern)
+	if prefixInNamePattern != "" {
+		prefix = prefixInNamePattern
+	}
+	var missedCount int64
+
+	missedCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListPatternMatchedEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix, restNamePattern, eachEntryFunc)
+
+	for missedCount > 0 && err == nil {
+		missedCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListPatternMatchedEntries(ctx, p, lastFileName, false, missedCount, prefix, restNamePattern, eachEntryFunc)
 	}
+
+	return
+}
+
+func (f *Filer) doListPatternMatchedEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, prefix, restNamePattern string, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (missedCount int64, lastFileName string, err error) {
+
 	if len(restNamePattern) == 0 {
-		return foundEntries, false, 0, lastFileName, nil
+		lastFileName, err = f.doListValidEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix, eachEntryFunc)
+		return 0, lastFileName, err
 	}
-	for _, entry := range foundEntries {
+
+	lastFileName, err = f.doListValidEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix, func(entry *Entry) bool {
 		nameToTest := strings.ToLower(entry.Name())
 		if matched, matchErr := filepath.Match(restNamePattern, nameToTest[len(prefix):]); matchErr == nil && matched {
-			matchedEntries = append(matchedEntries, entry)
+			if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+				return false
+			}
 		} else {
 			missedCount++
 		}
+		return true
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return
 	}
 	return
 }
 
-func (f *Filer) doListValidEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*Entry, hasMore bool, lastFileName string, err error) {
-	var makeupEntries []*Entry
+func (f *Filer) doListValidEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 	var expiredCount int64
-	entries, hasMore, expiredCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListDirectoryEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix)
+	expiredCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListDirectoryEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix, eachEntryFunc)
 	for expiredCount > 0 && err == nil {
-		makeupEntries, hasMore, expiredCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListDirectoryEntries(ctx, p, lastFileName, false, expiredCount, prefix)
-		if err == nil {
-			entries = append(entries, makeupEntries...)
-		}
+		expiredCount, lastFileName, err = f.doListDirectoryEntries(ctx, p, lastFileName, false, expiredCount, prefix, eachEntryFunc)
 	}
 	return
 }
diff --git a/weed/filer/filerstore.go b/weed/filer/filerstore.go
index a28c4d01b..8955a25c7 100644
--- a/weed/filer/filerstore.go
+++ b/weed/filer/filerstore.go
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ var (
 	ErrKvNotFound                            = errors.New("kv: not found")
 )
 
+type ListEachEntryFunc func(entry *Entry) bool
+
 type FilerStore interface {
 	// GetName gets the name to locate the configuration in filer.toml file
 	GetName() string
@@ -24,8 +26,8 @@ type FilerStore interface {
 	FindEntry(context.Context, util.FullPath) (entry *Entry, err error)
 	DeleteEntry(context.Context, util.FullPath) (err error)
 	DeleteFolderChildren(context.Context, util.FullPath) (err error)
-	ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) ([]*Entry, bool, error)
-	ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) ([]*Entry, bool, error)
+	ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error)
+	ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error)
 
 	BeginTransaction(ctx context.Context) (context.Context, error)
 	CommitTransaction(ctx context.Context) error
diff --git a/weed/filer/filerstore_translate_path.go b/weed/filer/filerstore_translate_path.go
index 0e2ddd914..00bf82ed4 100644
--- a/weed/filer/filerstore_translate_path.go
+++ b/weed/filer/filerstore_translate_path.go
@@ -106,32 +106,24 @@ func (t *FilerStorePathTranlator) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fp u
 	return t.actualStore.DeleteFolderChildren(ctx, newFullPath)
 }
 
-func (t *FilerStorePathTranlator) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) ([]*Entry, bool, error) {
+func (t *FilerStorePathTranlator) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (string, error) {
 
 	newFullPath := t.translatePath(dirPath)
 
-	entries, hasMore, err := t.actualStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, newFullPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, hasMore, err
-	}
-	for _, entry := range entries {
+	return t.actualStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, newFullPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, func(entry *Entry) bool {
 		entry.FullPath = dirPath[:len(t.storeRoot)-1] + entry.FullPath
-	}
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+		return eachEntryFunc(entry)
+	})
 }
 
-func (t *FilerStorePathTranlator) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) ([]*Entry, bool, error) {
+func (t *FilerStorePathTranlator) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (string, error) {
 
 	newFullPath := t.translatePath(dirPath)
 
-	entries, hasMore, err := t.actualStore.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, newFullPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, prefix)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, hasMore, err
-	}
-	for _, entry := range entries {
+	return t.actualStore.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, newFullPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, prefix, func(entry *Entry) bool {
 		entry.FullPath = dirPath[:len(t.storeRoot)-1] + entry.FullPath
-	}
-	return entries, hasMore, nil
+		return eachEntryFunc(entry)
+	})
 }
 
 func (t *FilerStorePathTranlator) BeginTransaction(ctx context.Context) (context.Context, error) {
diff --git a/weed/filer/filerstore_wrapper.go b/weed/filer/filerstore_wrapper.go
index 2bb7793f0..64baac371 100644
--- a/weed/filer/filerstore_wrapper.go
+++ b/weed/filer/filerstore_wrapper.go
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fp util.
 	return actualStore.DeleteFolderChildren(ctx, fp)
 }
 
-func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) ([]*Entry, bool, error) {
+func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (string, error) {
 	actualStore := fsw.getActualStore(dirPath + "/")
 	stats.FilerStoreCounter.WithLabelValues(actualStore.GetName(), "list").Inc()
 	start := time.Now()
@@ -203,18 +203,14 @@ func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath
 	}()
 
 	glog.V(4).Infof("ListDirectoryEntries %s from %s limit %d", dirPath, startFileName, limit)
-	entries, hasMore, err := actualStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, hasMore, err
-	}
-	for _, entry := range entries {
+	return actualStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, func(entry *Entry) bool {
 		fsw.maybeReadHardLink(ctx, entry)
 		filer_pb.AfterEntryDeserialization(entry.Chunks)
-	}
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+		return eachEntryFunc(entry)
+	})
 }
 
-func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) ([]*Entry, bool, error) {
+func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 	actualStore := fsw.getActualStore(dirPath + "/")
 	stats.FilerStoreCounter.WithLabelValues(actualStore.GetName(), "prefixList").Inc()
 	start := time.Now()
@@ -222,48 +218,52 @@ func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context,
 		stats.FilerStoreHistogram.WithLabelValues(actualStore.GetName(), "prefixList").Observe(time.Since(start).Seconds())
 	}()
 	glog.V(4).Infof("ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries %s from %s prefix %s limit %d", dirPath, startFileName, prefix, limit)
-	entries, hasMore, err := actualStore.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, prefix)
+	lastFileName, err = actualStore.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, prefix, eachEntryFunc)
 	if err == ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed {
-		entries, hasMore, err = fsw.prefixFilterEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, prefix)
-	}
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, hasMore, err
-	}
-	for _, entry := range entries {
-		fsw.maybeReadHardLink(ctx, entry)
-		filer_pb.AfterEntryDeserialization(entry.Chunks)
+		lastFileName, err = fsw.prefixFilterEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, prefix, func(entry *Entry) bool {
+			fsw.maybeReadHardLink(ctx, entry)
+			filer_pb.AfterEntryDeserialization(entry.Chunks)
+			return eachEntryFunc(entry)
+		})
 	}
-	return entries, hasMore, nil
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
-func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) prefixFilterEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) prefixFilterEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 	actualStore := fsw.getActualStore(dirPath + "/")
-	entries, hasMore, err = actualStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, hasMore, err
-	}
 
 	if prefix == "" {
+		return actualStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, eachEntryFunc)
+	}
+
+	var notPrefixed []*Entry
+	lastFileName, err = actualStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, func(entry *Entry) bool {
+		notPrefixed = append(notPrefixed, entry)
+		return true
+	})
+	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
 
 	count := int64(0)
-	var lastFileName string
-	notPrefixed := entries
-	entries = nil
 	for count < limit && len(notPrefixed) > 0 {
 		for _, entry := range notPrefixed {
-			lastFileName = entry.Name()
 			if strings.HasPrefix(entry.Name(), prefix) {
 				count++
-				entries = append(entries, entry)
+				if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+					return
+				}
 				if count >= limit {
 					break
 				}
 			}
 		}
 		if count < limit {
-			notPrefixed, hasMore, err = actualStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, lastFileName, false, limit)
+			notPrefixed = notPrefixed[:0]
+			_, err = actualStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, lastFileName, false, limit, func(entry *Entry) bool {
+				notPrefixed = append(notPrefixed, entry)
+				return true
+			})
 			if err != nil {
 				return
 			}
diff --git a/weed/filer/hbase/hbase_store.go b/weed/filer/hbase/hbase_store.go
index c93374b15..2e4491515 100644
--- a/weed/filer/hbase/hbase_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/hbase/hbase_store.go
@@ -148,20 +148,18 @@ func (store *HbaseStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, path util.Ful
 	return
 }
 
-func (store *HbaseStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) ([]*filer.Entry, bool, error) {
-	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "")
+func (store *HbaseStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (string, error) {
+	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "", eachEntryFunc)
 }
 
-func (store *HbaseStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) ([]*filer.Entry, bool, error) {
+func (store *HbaseStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 	family := map[string][]string{store.cfMetaDir: {COLUMN_NAME}}
 	expectedPrefix := []byte(dirPath.Child(prefix))
 	scan, err := hrpc.NewScanRange(ctx, store.table, expectedPrefix, nil, hrpc.Families(family))
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, err
+		return lastFileName, err
 	}
 
-	var hasMore bool
-	var entries []*filer.Entry
 	scanner := store.Client.Scan(scan)
 	defer scanner.Close()
 	for {
@@ -170,7 +168,7 @@ func (store *HbaseStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPa
 			break
 		}
 		if err != nil {
-			return entries, hasMore, err
+			return lastFileName, err
 		}
 		if len(res.Cells) == 0 {
 			continue
@@ -187,6 +185,8 @@ func (store *HbaseStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPa
 			continue
 		}
 
+		lastFileName = fileName
+
 		value := cell.Value
 
 		if fileName == startFileName && !includeStartFile {
@@ -195,7 +195,6 @@ func (store *HbaseStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPa
 
 		limit--
 		if limit < 0 {
-			hasMore = true
 			break
 		}
 		entry := &filer.Entry{
@@ -206,10 +205,12 @@ func (store *HbaseStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPa
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 			break
 		}
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
+		if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+			break
+		}
 	}
 
-	return entries, hasMore, nil
+	return lastFileName, nil
 }
 
 func (store *HbaseStore) BeginTransaction(ctx context.Context) (context.Context, error) {
diff --git a/weed/filer/leveldb/leveldb_store.go b/weed/filer/leveldb/leveldb_store.go
index c968ca2da..f0ae64769 100644
--- a/weed/filer/leveldb/leveldb_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/leveldb/leveldb_store.go
@@ -162,11 +162,11 @@ func (store *LevelDBStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpath we
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *LevelDBStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "")
+func (store *LevelDBStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "", eachEntryFunc)
 }
 
-func (store *LevelDBStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *LevelDBStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 
 	directoryPrefix := genDirectoryKeyPrefix(dirPath, prefix)
 	lastFileStart := directoryPrefix
@@ -187,9 +187,9 @@ func (store *LevelDBStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dir
 		if fileName == startFileName && !includeStartFile {
 			continue
 		}
+		lastFileName = fileName
 		limit--
 		if limit < 0 {
-			hasMore = true
 			break
 		}
 		entry := &filer.Entry{
@@ -200,11 +200,13 @@ func (store *LevelDBStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dir
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 			break
 		}
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
+		if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+			break
+		}
 	}
 	iter.Release()
 
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
 func genKey(dirPath, fileName string) (key []byte) {
diff --git a/weed/filer/leveldb2/leveldb2_store.go b/weed/filer/leveldb2/leveldb2_store.go
index cc0d67eac..965721460 100644
--- a/weed/filer/leveldb2/leveldb2_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/leveldb2/leveldb2_store.go
@@ -171,11 +171,11 @@ func (store *LevelDB2Store) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpath w
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *LevelDB2Store) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "")
+func (store *LevelDB2Store) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "", eachEntryFunc)
 }
 
-func (store *LevelDB2Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *LevelDB2Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 
 	directoryPrefix, partitionId := genDirectoryKeyPrefix(dirPath, prefix, store.dbCount)
 	lastFileStart := directoryPrefix
@@ -196,9 +196,9 @@ func (store *LevelDB2Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, di
 		if fileName == startFileName && !includeStartFile {
 			continue
 		}
+		lastFileName = fileName
 		limit--
 		if limit < 0 {
-			hasMore = true
 			break
 		}
 		entry := &filer.Entry{
@@ -211,11 +211,13 @@ func (store *LevelDB2Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, di
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 			break
 		}
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
+		if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+			break
+		}
 	}
 	iter.Release()
 
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
 func genKey(dirPath, fileName string, dbCount int) (key []byte, partitionId int) {
diff --git a/weed/filer/leveldb3/leveldb3_store.go b/weed/filer/leveldb3/leveldb3_store.go
index afbcabaa6..24e00edc7 100644
--- a/weed/filer/leveldb3/leveldb3_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/leveldb3/leveldb3_store.go
@@ -286,15 +286,15 @@ func (store *LevelDB3Store) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpath w
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *LevelDB3Store) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "")
+func (store *LevelDB3Store) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "", eachEntryFunc)
 }
 
-func (store *LevelDB3Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *LevelDB3Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 
 	db, _, shortPath, err := store.findDB(dirPath, true)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("findDB %s : %v", dirPath, err)
+		return lastFileName, fmt.Errorf("findDB %s : %v", dirPath, err)
 	}
 
 	directoryPrefix := genDirectoryKeyPrefix(shortPath, prefix)
@@ -316,9 +316,9 @@ func (store *LevelDB3Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, di
 		if fileName == startFileName && !includeStartFile {
 			continue
 		}
+		lastFileName = fileName
 		limit--
 		if limit < 0 {
-			hasMore = true
 			break
 		}
 		entry := &filer.Entry{
@@ -331,11 +331,13 @@ func (store *LevelDB3Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, di
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 			break
 		}
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
+		if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+			break
+		}
 	}
 	iter.Release()
 
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
 func genKey(dirPath, fileName string) (key []byte) {
diff --git a/weed/filer/mongodb/mongodb_store.go b/weed/filer/mongodb/mongodb_store.go
index 2e9556f1f..1ef5056f4 100644
--- a/weed/filer/mongodb/mongodb_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/mongodb/mongodb_store.go
@@ -178,11 +178,11 @@ func (store *MongodbStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpath ut
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *MongodbStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return nil, false, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
+func (store *MongodbStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return lastFileName, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
 }
 
-func (store *MongodbStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *MongodbStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 
 	var where = bson.M{"directory": string(dirPath), "name": bson.M{"$gt": startFileName}}
 	if includeStartFile {
@@ -190,38 +190,37 @@ func (store *MongodbStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath uti
 			"$gte": startFileName,
 		}
 	}
-	optLimit := int64(limit + 1)
+	optLimit := int64(limit)
 	opts := &options.FindOptions{Limit: &optLimit, Sort: bson.M{"name": 1}}
 	cur, err := store.connect.Database(store.database).Collection(store.collectionName).Find(ctx, where, opts)
 	for cur.Next(ctx) {
 		var data Model
 		err := cur.Decode(&data)
 		if err != nil && err != mongo.ErrNoDocuments {
-			return nil, false, err
+			return lastFileName, err
 		}
 
 		entry := &filer.Entry{
 			FullPath: util.NewFullPath(string(dirPath), data.Name),
 		}
+		lastFileName = data.Name
 		if decodeErr := entry.DecodeAttributesAndChunks(util.MaybeDecompressData(data.Meta)); decodeErr != nil {
 			err = decodeErr
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 			break
 		}
 
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
-	}
+		if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+			break
+		}
 
-	hasMore = int64(len(entries)) == limit+1
-	if hasMore {
-		entries = entries[:limit]
 	}
 
 	if err := cur.Close(ctx); err != nil {
 		glog.V(0).Infof("list iterator close: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
 func (store *MongodbStore) Shutdown() {
diff --git a/weed/filer/redis/universal_redis_store.go b/weed/filer/redis/universal_redis_store.go
index 8399b4e99..30d11a7f4 100644
--- a/weed/filer/redis/universal_redis_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/redis/universal_redis_store.go
@@ -125,16 +125,16 @@ func (store *UniversalRedisStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, full
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *UniversalRedisStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return nil, false, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
+func (store *UniversalRedisStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return lastFileName, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
 }
 
-func (store *UniversalRedisStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *UniversalRedisStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 
 	dirListKey := genDirectoryListKey(string(dirPath))
 	members, err := store.Client.SMembers(ctx, dirListKey).Result()
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
+		return lastFileName, fmt.Errorf("list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
 	}
 
 	// skip
@@ -160,15 +160,15 @@ func (store *UniversalRedisStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirP
 	})
 
 	// limit
-	if limit < int64(len(entries)) {
+	if limit < int64(len(members)) {
 		members = members[:limit]
-		hasMore = true
 	}
 
 	// fetch entry meta
 	for _, fileName := range members {
 		path := util.NewFullPath(string(dirPath), fileName)
 		entry, err := store.FindEntry(ctx, path)
+		lastFileName = fileName
 		if err != nil {
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", path, err)
 			if err == filer_pb.ErrNotFound {
@@ -182,11 +182,13 @@ func (store *UniversalRedisStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirP
 					continue
 				}
 			}
-			entries = append(entries, entry)
+			if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+				break
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
 func genDirectoryListKey(dir string) (dirList string) {
diff --git a/weed/filer/redis2/universal_redis_store.go b/weed/filer/redis2/universal_redis_store.go
index 7b4e9d325..aab3d1f4a 100644
--- a/weed/filer/redis2/universal_redis_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/redis2/universal_redis_store.go
@@ -149,11 +149,11 @@ func (store *UniversalRedis2Store) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, ful
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *UniversalRedis2Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return nil, false, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
+func (store *UniversalRedis2Store) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return lastFileName, filer.ErrUnsupportedListDirectoryPrefixed
 }
 
-func (store *UniversalRedis2Store) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *UniversalRedis2Store) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 
 	dirListKey := genDirectoryListKey(string(dirPath))
 	start := int64(0)
@@ -163,20 +163,16 @@ func (store *UniversalRedis2Store) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dir
 			start++
 		}
 	}
-	members, err := store.Client.ZRange(ctx, dirListKey, start, start+int64(limit)-1+1).Result()
+	members, err := store.Client.ZRange(ctx, dirListKey, start, start+int64(limit)-1).Result()
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
-	}
-
-	hasMore = int64(len(entries)) == limit+1
-	if hasMore {
-		members = members[:len(members)-1]
+		return lastFileName, fmt.Errorf("list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
 	}
 
 	// fetch entry meta
 	for _, fileName := range members {
 		path := util.NewFullPath(string(dirPath), fileName)
 		entry, err := store.FindEntry(ctx, path)
+		lastFileName = fileName
 		if err != nil {
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", path, err)
 			if err == filer_pb.ErrNotFound {
@@ -190,11 +186,13 @@ func (store *UniversalRedis2Store) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dir
 					continue
 				}
 			}
-			entries = append(entries, entry)
+			if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+				break
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	return entries, hasMore, err
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
 func genDirectoryListKey(dir string) (dirList string) {
diff --git a/weed/filer/rocksdb/rocksdb_store.go b/weed/filer/rocksdb/rocksdb_store.go
index 98023e82e..70c301725 100644
--- a/weed/filer/rocksdb/rocksdb_store.go
+++ b/weed/filer/rocksdb/rocksdb_store.go
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func (store *RocksDBStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpath we
 
 	iter := store.db.NewIterator(ro)
 	defer iter.Close()
-	_, err = enumerate(iter, directoryPrefix, nil, false, -1, func(key, value []byte) bool {
+	err = enumerate(iter, directoryPrefix, nil, false, -1, func(key, value []byte) bool {
 		batch.Delete(key)
 		return true
 	})
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ func (store *RocksDBStore) DeleteFolderChildren(ctx context.Context, fullpath we
 	return nil
 }
 
-func enumerate(iter *gorocksdb.Iterator, prefix, lastKey []byte, includeLastKey bool, limit int64, fn func(key, value []byte) bool) (hasMore bool, err error) {
+func enumerate(iter *gorocksdb.Iterator, prefix, lastKey []byte, includeLastKey bool, limit int64, fn func(key, value []byte) bool) (err error) {
 
 	if len(lastKey) == 0 {
 		iter.Seek(prefix)
@@ -196,7 +196,6 @@ func enumerate(iter *gorocksdb.Iterator, prefix, lastKey []byte, includeLastKey
 		if limit > 0 {
 			i++
 			if i > limit {
-				hasMore = true
 				break
 			}
 		}
@@ -216,16 +215,16 @@ func enumerate(iter *gorocksdb.Iterator, prefix, lastKey []byte, includeLastKey
 	}
 
 	if err := iter.Err(); err != nil {
-		return hasMore, fmt.Errorf("prefix scan iterator: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("prefix scan iterator: %v", err)
 	}
-	return hasMore, nil
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (store *RocksDBStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
-	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "")
+func (store *RocksDBStore) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
+	return store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, "", eachEntryFunc)
 }
 
-func (store *RocksDBStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string) (entries []*filer.Entry, hasMore bool, err error) {
+func (store *RocksDBStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath weed_util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) (lastFileName string, err error) {
 
 	directoryPrefix := genDirectoryKeyPrefix(dirPath, prefix)
 	lastFileStart := directoryPrefix
@@ -239,7 +238,7 @@ func (store *RocksDBStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dir
 
 	iter := store.db.NewIterator(ro)
 	defer iter.Close()
-	hasMore, err = enumerate(iter, directoryPrefix, lastFileStart, includeStartFile, limit, func(key, value []byte) bool {
+	err = enumerate(iter, directoryPrefix, lastFileStart, includeStartFile, limit, func(key, value []byte) bool {
 		fileName := getNameFromKey(key)
 		if fileName == "" {
 			return true
@@ -247,6 +246,7 @@ func (store *RocksDBStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dir
 		entry := &filer.Entry{
 			FullPath: weed_util.NewFullPath(string(dirPath), fileName),
 		}
+		lastFileName = fileName
 
 		// println("list", entry.FullPath, "chunks", len(entry.Chunks))
 		if decodeErr := entry.DecodeAttributesAndChunks(value); decodeErr != nil {
@@ -254,14 +254,16 @@ func (store *RocksDBStore) ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx context.Context, dir
 			glog.V(0).Infof("list %s : %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 			return false
 		}
-		entries = append(entries, entry)
+		if !eachEntryFunc(entry) {
+			return false
+		}
 		return true
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return entries, false, fmt.Errorf("prefix list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
+		return lastFileName, fmt.Errorf("prefix list %s : %v", dirPath, err)
 	}
 
-	return entries, false, err
+	return lastFileName, err
 }
 
 func genKey(dirPath, fileName string) (key []byte) {
diff --git a/weed/filesys/dir.go b/weed/filesys/dir.go
index f2fbd99d3..2cc332635 100644
--- a/weed/filesys/dir.go
+++ b/weed/filesys/dir.go
@@ -319,14 +319,14 @@ func (dir *Dir) ReadDirAll(ctx context.Context) (ret []fuse.Dirent, err error) {
 		glog.Errorf("dir ReadDirAll %s: %v", dirPath, err)
 		return nil, fuse.EIO
 	}
-	listedEntries, listErr := dir.wfs.metaCache.ListDirectoryEntries(context.Background(), util.FullPath(dir.FullPath()), "", false, int64(math.MaxInt32))
+	listErr := dir.wfs.metaCache.ListDirectoryEntries(context.Background(), util.FullPath(dir.FullPath()), "", false, int64(math.MaxInt32), func(entry *filer.Entry) bool {
+		processEachEntryFn(entry.ToProtoEntry(), false)
+		return true
+	})
 	if listErr != nil {
 		glog.Errorf("list meta cache: %v", listErr)
 		return nil, fuse.EIO
 	}
-	for _, cachedEntry := range listedEntries {
-		processEachEntryFn(cachedEntry.ToProtoEntry(), false)
-	}
 	return
 }
 
diff --git a/weed/filesys/meta_cache/meta_cache.go b/weed/filesys/meta_cache/meta_cache.go
index c16c4a938..f4e4d7d6e 100644
--- a/weed/filesys/meta_cache/meta_cache.go
+++ b/weed/filesys/meta_cache/meta_cache.go
@@ -117,22 +117,22 @@ func (mc *MetaCache) DeleteEntry(ctx context.Context, fp util.FullPath) (err err
 	return mc.localStore.DeleteEntry(ctx, fp)
 }
 
-func (mc *MetaCache) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64) ([]*filer.Entry, error) {
+func (mc *MetaCache) ListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, dirPath util.FullPath, startFileName string, includeStartFile bool, limit int64, eachEntryFunc filer.ListEachEntryFunc) error {
 	mc.RLock()
 	defer mc.RUnlock()
 
 	if !mc.visitedBoundary.HasVisited(dirPath) {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsynchronized dir: %v", dirPath)
+		return fmt.Errorf("unsynchronized dir: %v", dirPath)
 	}
 
-	entries, _, err := mc.localStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	for _, entry := range entries {
+	_, err := mc.localStore.ListDirectoryEntries(ctx, dirPath, startFileName, includeStartFile, limit, func(entry *filer.Entry) bool {
 		mc.mapIdFromFilerToLocal(entry)
+		return eachEntryFunc(entry)
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
-	return entries, err
+	return err
 }
 
 func (mc *MetaCache) Shutdown() {
diff --git a/weed/server/filer_grpc_server.go b/weed/server/filer_grpc_server.go
index 5cdf44e96..b0563d8bd 100644
--- a/weed/server/filer_grpc_server.go
+++ b/weed/server/filer_grpc_server.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) LookupDirectoryEntry(ctx context.Context, req *filer_pb.L
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func (fs *FilerServer) ListEntries(req *filer_pb.ListEntriesRequest, stream filer_pb.SeaweedFiler_ListEntriesServer) error {
+func (fs *FilerServer) ListEntries(req *filer_pb.ListEntriesRequest, stream filer_pb.SeaweedFiler_ListEntriesServer) (err error) {
 
 	glog.V(4).Infof("ListEntries %v", req)
 
@@ -60,23 +60,12 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) ListEntries(req *filer_pb.ListEntriesRequest, stream file
 
 	lastFileName := req.StartFromFileName
 	includeLastFile := req.InclusiveStartFrom
+	var listErr error
 	for limit > 0 {
-		entries, hasMore, err := fs.filer.ListDirectoryEntries(stream.Context(), util.FullPath(req.Directory), lastFileName, includeLastFile, int64(paginationLimit), req.Prefix, "")
-
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if len(entries) == 0 {
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		includeLastFile = false
-
-		for _, entry := range entries {
-
-			lastFileName = entry.Name()
-
-			if err := stream.Send(&filer_pb.ListEntriesResponse{
+		var hasEntries bool
+		lastFileName, listErr = fs.filer.StreamListDirectoryEntries(stream.Context(), util.FullPath(req.Directory), lastFileName, includeLastFile, int64(paginationLimit), req.Prefix, "", func(entry *filer.Entry) bool {
+			hasEntries = true
+			if err = stream.Send(&filer_pb.ListEntriesResponse{
 				Entry: &filer_pb.Entry{
 					Name:            entry.Name(),
 					IsDirectory:     entry.IsDirectory(),
@@ -88,19 +77,28 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) ListEntries(req *filer_pb.ListEntriesRequest, stream file
 					Content:         entry.Content,
 				},
 			}); err != nil {
-				return err
+				return false
 			}
 
 			limit--
 			if limit == 0 {
-				return nil
+				return false
 			}
-		}
+			return true
+		})
 
-		if !hasMore {
-			break
+		if listErr != nil {
+			return listErr
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if !hasEntries {
+			return nil
 		}
 
+		includeLastFile = false
+
 	}
 
 	return nil