diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/finders/find-file.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/finders/find-file.lua
index 55e2f23d337..4f5d8089a85 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/finders/find-file.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/finders/find-file.lua
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function M.fn(path)
   local profile = log.profile_start("find file %s", path_real)
 
   -- refresh the contents of all parents, expanding groups as needed
-  if utils.get_node_from_path(path_real) == nil then
+  if explorer:get_node_from_path(path_real) == nil then
     explorer:refresh_parent_nodes_for_path(vim.fn.fnamemodify(path_real, ":h"))
   end
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/item.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/item.lua
index 8aacaae3b56..449cb2212c0 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/item.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/item.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-local utils = require("nvim-tree.utils")
 local view = require("nvim-tree.view")
 local core = require("nvim-tree.core")
 local diagnostics = require("nvim-tree.diagnostics")
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ end
 ---@param skip_gitignored boolean? default false
 local function move(explorer, where, what, skip_gitignored)
   local first_node_line = core.get_nodes_starting_line()
-  local nodes_by_line = utils.get_nodes_by_line(explorer.nodes, first_node_line)
+  local nodes_by_line = explorer:get_nodes_by_line(first_node_line)
   local iter_start, iter_end, iter_step, cur, first, nex
 
   local cursor = explorer:get_cursor_position()
@@ -191,7 +190,7 @@ local function move_prev_recursive(explorer, what, skip_gitignored)
       if node_init.name == ".." then -- root node
         view.set_cursor({ 1, 0 })    -- move to root node (position 1)
       else
-        local node_init_line = utils.find_node_line(node_init)
+        local node_init_line = explorer:find_node_line(node_init)
         if node_init_line < 0 then
           return
         end
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/parent.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/parent.lua
index 32ca8398116..555bd6e1105 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/parent.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/parent.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 local view = require("nvim-tree.view")
-local utils = require("nvim-tree.utils")
-
 local DirectoryNode = require("nvim-tree.node.directory")
 
 local M = {}
@@ -29,7 +27,7 @@ function M.fn(should_close)
       return
     end
 
-    local _, line = utils.find_node(parent.explorer.nodes, function(n)
+    local _, line = parent.explorer:find_node(function(n)
       return n.absolute_path == parent.absolute_path
     end)
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/sibling.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/sibling.lua
index cf5b492d387..bfb5b5e2fa0 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/sibling.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/sibling.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-local utils = require("nvim-tree.utils")
 local core = require("nvim-tree.core")
 local Iterator = require("nvim-tree.iterators.node-iterator")
 
@@ -12,9 +11,14 @@ function M.fn(direction)
       return
     end
 
+    local explorer = core.get_explorer()
+    if not explorer then
+      return
+    end
+
     local first, last, next, prev = nil, nil, nil, nil
     local found = false
-    local parent = node.parent or core.get_explorer()
+    local parent = node.parent or explorer
     Iterator.builder(parent and parent.nodes or {})
       :recursor(function()
         return nil
@@ -45,7 +49,7 @@ function M.fn(direction)
     end
 
     if target_node then
-      utils.focus_file(target_node.absolute_path)
+      explorer:focus_node_or_parent(target_node)
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/tree/modifiers/collapse.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/tree/modifiers/collapse.lua
index 62da5f9ab4c..51a15f3d464 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/tree/modifiers/collapse.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/tree/modifiers/collapse.lua
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ local function collapse(node, opts)
     :iterate()
 
   explorer.renderer:draw()
-  utils.focus_node_or_parent(node_at_cursor)
+  explorer:focus_node_or_parent(node_at_cursor)
 end
 
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/filters.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/filters.lua
index 62230687e40..fda0a79fbaf 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/filters.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/filters.lua
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ function Filters:toggle(type)
   local node = self.explorer:get_node_at_cursor()
   self.explorer:reload_explorer()
   if node then
-    utils.focus_node_or_parent(node)
+    self.explorer:focus_node_or_parent(node)
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua
index 58972164afe..afd1b182cee 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ function Explorer:get_node_at_cursor()
     return self
   end
 
-  return utils.get_nodes_by_line(self.nodes, core.get_nodes_starting_line())[cursor[1]]
+  return self:get_nodes_by_line(core.get_nodes_starting_line())[cursor[1]]
 end
 
 function Explorer:place_cursor_on_node()
@@ -551,6 +551,114 @@ function Explorer:place_cursor_on_node()
   end
 end
 
+-- Find the line number of a node.
+---@param node Node?
+---@return integer -1 not found
+function Explorer:find_node_line(node)
+  if not node then
+    return -1
+  end
+
+  local first_node_line = core.get_nodes_starting_line()
+  local nodes_by_line = self:get_nodes_by_line(first_node_line)
+  local iter_start, iter_end = first_node_line, #nodes_by_line
+
+  for line = iter_start, iter_end, 1 do
+    if nodes_by_line[line] == node then
+      return line
+    end
+  end
+
+  return -1
+end
+
+-- get the node in the tree state depending on the absolute path of the node
+-- (grouped or hidden too)
+---@param path string
+---@return Node|nil
+---@return number|nil
+function Explorer:get_node_from_path(path)
+  if self.absolute_path == path then
+    return self
+  end
+
+  return Iterator.builder(self.nodes)
+    :hidden()
+    :matcher(function(node)
+      return node.absolute_path == path or node.link_to == path
+    end)
+    :recursor(function(node)
+      if node.group_next then
+        return { node.group_next }
+      end
+      if node.nodes then
+        return node.nodes
+      end
+    end)
+    :iterate()
+end
+
+---Focus node passed as parameter if visible, otherwise focus first visible parent.
+---If none of the parents is visible focus root.
+---If node is nil do nothing.
+---@param node Node? node to focus
+function Explorer:focus_node_or_parent(node)
+  while node do
+    local found_node, i = self:find_node(function(node_)
+      return node_.absolute_path == node.absolute_path
+    end)
+
+    if found_node or node.parent == nil then
+      view.set_cursor({ i + 1, 1 })
+      break
+    end
+
+    node = node.parent
+  end
+end
+
+--- Get the node and index of the node from the tree that matches the predicate.
+--- The explored nodes are those displayed on the view.
+---@param fn fun(node: Node): boolean
+---@return table|nil
+---@return number
+function Explorer:find_node(fn)
+  local node, i = Iterator.builder(self.nodes)
+    :matcher(fn)
+    :recursor(function(node)
+      return node.group_next and { node.group_next } or (node.open and #node.nodes > 0 and node.nodes)
+    end)
+    :iterate()
+  i = view.is_root_folder_visible() and i or i - 1
+  if node and node.explorer.live_filter.filter then
+    i = i + 1
+  end
+  return node, i
+end
+
+--- Return visible nodes indexed by line
+---@param line_start number
+---@return table
+function Explorer:get_nodes_by_line(line_start)
+  local nodes_by_line = {}
+  local line = line_start
+
+  Iterator.builder(self.nodes)
+    :applier(function(node)
+      if node.group_next then
+        return
+      end
+      nodes_by_line[line] = node
+      line = line + 1
+    end)
+    :recursor(function(node)
+      return node.group_next and { node.group_next } or (node.open and #node.nodes > 0 and node.nodes)
+    end)
+    :iterate()
+
+  return nodes_by_line
+end
+
 ---Api.tree.get_nodes
 ---@return nvim_tree.api.Node
 function Explorer:get_nodes()
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/live-filter.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/live-filter.lua
index 62a7dd9ef64..43e683165b2 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/live-filter.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/live-filter.lua
@@ -220,9 +220,9 @@ function LiveFilter:clear_filter()
   self.explorer.renderer:draw()
 
   if node then
-    utils.focus_file(node.absolute_path)
+    self.explorer:focus_node_or_parent(node)
   elseif last_node then
-    utils.focus_file(last_node.absolute_path)
+    self.explorer:focus_node_or_parent(last_node)
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua
index 663e57c39a1..6277a6a4f78 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua
@@ -233,7 +233,13 @@ local function reload_tree_at(toplevel)
   end
 
   log.line("watcher", "git event executing '%s'", toplevel)
-  local root_node = utils.get_node_from_path(toplevel)
+
+  local explorer = require("nvim-tree.core").get_explorer()
+  if not explorer then
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  local root_node = explorer:get_node_from_path(toplevel)
   if not root_node then
     return
   end
@@ -252,7 +258,7 @@ local function reload_tree_at(toplevel)
       end)
       :iterate()
 
-    root_node.explorer.renderer:draw()
+    explorer.renderer:draw()
   end)
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/marks/init.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/marks/init.lua
index c940f999983..22ac572dee0 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/marks/init.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/marks/init.lua
@@ -227,9 +227,9 @@ function Marks:navigate(up)
   end
 
   if up then
-    utils.focus_node_or_parent(prev or last)
+    self.explorer:focus_node_or_parent(prev or last)
   else
-    utils.focus_node_or_parent(next or first)
+    self.explorer:focus_node_or_parent(next or first)
   end
 end
 
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ function Marks:navigate_select()
     if node and not node:is(DirectoryNode) and not utils.get_win_buf_from_path(node.absolute_path) then
       open_file.fn("edit", node.absolute_path)
     elseif node then
-      utils.focus_file(node.absolute_path)
+      self.explorer:focus_node_or_parent(node)
     end
   end)
 end
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/utils.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/utils.lua
index b51e29ac49e..b98301e6701 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/utils.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-local Iterator = require("nvim-tree.iterators.node-iterator")
-
 local M = {
   debouncers = {},
 }
@@ -114,48 +112,6 @@ end
 
 M.path_separator = path_separator
 
---- Get the node and index of the node from the tree that matches the predicate.
---- The explored nodes are those displayed on the view.
----@param nodes Node[]
----@param fn fun(node: Node): boolean
----@return table|nil
----@return number
-function M.find_node(nodes, fn)
-  local node, i = Iterator.builder(nodes)
-    :matcher(fn)
-    :recursor(function(node)
-      return node.group_next and { node.group_next } or (node.open and #node.nodes > 0 and node.nodes)
-    end)
-    :iterate()
-  i = require("nvim-tree.view").is_root_folder_visible() and i or i - 1
-  if node and node.explorer.live_filter.filter then
-    i = i + 1
-  end
-  return node, i
-end
-
--- Find the line number of a node.
--- Return -1 is node is nil or not found.
----@param node Node?
----@return integer
-function M.find_node_line(node)
-  if not node then
-    return -1
-  end
-
-  local first_node_line = require("nvim-tree.core").get_nodes_starting_line()
-  local nodes_by_line = M.get_nodes_by_line(require("nvim-tree.core").get_explorer().nodes, first_node_line)
-  local iter_start, iter_end = first_node_line, #nodes_by_line
-
-  for line = iter_start, iter_end, 1 do
-    if nodes_by_line[line] == node then
-      return line
-    end
-  end
-
-  return -1
-end
-
 ---@param extmarks vim.api.keyset.get_extmark_item[] as per vim.api.nvim_buf_get_extmarks
 ---@return number
 function M.extmarks_length(extmarks)
@@ -171,39 +127,6 @@ function M.extmarks_length(extmarks)
   return length
 end
 
--- get the node in the tree state depending on the absolute path of the node
--- (grouped or hidden too)
----@param path string
----@return Node|nil
----@return number|nil
-function M.get_node_from_path(path)
-  local explorer = require("nvim-tree.core").get_explorer()
-
-  -- tree may not yet be loaded
-  if not explorer then
-    return
-  end
-
-  if explorer.absolute_path == path then
-    return explorer
-  end
-
-  return Iterator.builder(explorer.nodes)
-    :hidden()
-    :matcher(function(node)
-      return node.absolute_path == path or node.link_to == path
-    end)
-    :recursor(function(node)
-      if node.group_next then
-        return { node.group_next }
-      end
-      if node.nodes then
-        return node.nodes
-      end
-    end)
-    :iterate()
-end
-
 M.default_format_hidden_count = function(hidden_count, simple)
   local parts = {}
   local total_count = 0
@@ -224,30 +147,6 @@ M.default_format_hidden_count = function(hidden_count, simple)
   return nil
 end
 
---- Return visible nodes indexed by line
----@param nodes_all Node[]
----@param line_start number
----@return table
-function M.get_nodes_by_line(nodes_all, line_start)
-  local nodes_by_line = {}
-  local line = line_start
-
-  Iterator.builder(nodes_all)
-    :applier(function(node)
-      if node.group_next then
-        return
-      end
-      nodes_by_line[line] = node
-      line = line + 1
-    end)
-    :recursor(function(node)
-      return node.group_next and { node.group_next } or (node.open and #node.nodes > 0 and node.nodes)
-    end)
-    :iterate()
-
-  return nodes_by_line
-end
-
 function M.rename_loaded_buffers(old_path, new_path)
   -- delete new if it exists
   for _, buf in pairs(vim.api.nvim_list_bufs()) do
@@ -469,38 +368,6 @@ function M.debounce(context, timeout, callback)
   end)
 end
 
-function M.focus_file(path)
-  local _, i = M.find_node(require("nvim-tree.core").get_explorer().nodes, function(node)
-    return node.absolute_path == path
-  end)
-  require("nvim-tree.view").set_cursor({ i + 1, 1 })
-end
-
----Focus node passed as parameter if visible, otherwise focus first visible parent.
----If none of the parents is visible focus root.
----If node is nil do nothing.
----@param node Node? node to focus
-function M.focus_node_or_parent(node)
-  local explorer = require("nvim-tree.core").get_explorer()
-
-  if explorer == nil then
-    return
-  end
-
-  while node do
-    local found_node, i = M.find_node(explorer.nodes, function(node_)
-      return node_.absolute_path == node.absolute_path
-    end)
-
-    if found_node or node.parent == nil then
-      require("nvim-tree.view").set_cursor({ i + 1, 1 })
-      break
-    end
-
-    node = node.parent
-  end
-end
-
 ---@param path string
 ---@return integer|nil
 ---@return integer|nil