How to create a new file / directory using ranger?

To create a directory in ranger, just type

:mkdir exampledir

or,

:touch examplefile

The accepted answer is correct, but someone might prefer to get these commands typed just by pressing one key. As @jaustin describes in his answer, one need to have keys mapped in ~/.config/ranger/rc.conf config file.

If you copied default configuration files by

ranger --copy-config=all

then you already have the shortest access to mkdir / touch:

• F7 - mkdir (config: map <F7> console mkdir%space)
• Insert - touch (config: map <INSERT> console touch%space)

Mine current version of Ranger is 1.9.2.

BTW: extra space at the end of map c console touch␣ doesn't work. Only map c console touch%space will work.

You can use :touch somefile, but I prefer it mapped to a key.

:map c console touch  (note the extra space at the end)

Place this at the bottom of your ~/.config/ranger/rc.conf minus the leading :