diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fcb96126..f0a9752e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ use { "nvim-telescope/telescope-file-browser.nvim" }
 Plug "nvim-telescope/telescope-file-browser.nvim"
 ```
 
+### Optional Dependencies
+
+`telescope-file-browser` optionally levers [fd](https://github.com/sharkdp/fd) if installed primarily for more async but also generally faster file and folder browsing, which is most noticeable in larger repositories.
+
 # Setup and Configuration
 
 You configure the `telescope-file-browser` like any other `telescope.nvim` picker. See `:h telescope-file-browser.picker` for the full set of options dedicated to the picker. In addition, you of course can map `theme` and `mappings` as you are accustomed to from `telescope.nvim`.
diff --git a/doc/telescope-file-browser.txt b/doc/telescope-file-browser.txt
index 9542f893..17442bd6 100644
--- a/doc/telescope-file-browser.txt
+++ b/doc/telescope-file-browser.txt
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ fb_picker.file_browser({opts})                      *fb_picker.file_browser()*
                                        (default: )
         {hidden}            (boolean)  determines whether to show hidden files
                                        or not (default: false)
-        {respect_gitignore} (boolean)  whether to respect_gitignore; induces
-                                       slow-down w/ plenary finder (default:
-                                       false)
+        {respect_gitignore} (boolean)  induces slow-down w/ plenary finder
+                                       (default: false, true if `fd`
+                                       available)
 
 
 
@@ -245,3 +245,67 @@ fb_actions.select_all({prompt_bufnr})                *fb_actions.select_all()*
 
 
 
+================================================================================
+                                                *telescope-file-browser.finders*
+
+The file browser finders power the picker with both a file and folder browser.
+
+fb_finders.browse_files({opts})                    *fb_finders.browse_files()*
+    Returns a finder that is populated with files and folders in `path`.
+    - Notes:
+     - Uses `fd` if available for more async-ish browsing and speed-ups
+
+
+    Parameters: ~
+        {opts} (table)  options to pass to the finder
+
+    Fields: ~
+        {path}   (string)   root dir to browse from
+        {depth}  (number)   file tree depth to display, `false` for unlimited
+                            (default: 1)
+        {hidden} (boolean)  determines whether to show hidden files or not
+                            (default: false)
+
+
+fb_finders.browse_folders({opts})                *fb_finders.browse_folders()*
+    Returns a finder that is populated with (sub-)folders of `cwd`.
+    - Notes:
+     - Uses `fd` if available for more async-ish browsing and speed-ups
+
+
+    Parameters: ~
+        {opts} (table)  options to pass to the finder
+
+    Fields: ~
+        {cwd}    (string)   root dir to browse from
+        {depth}  (number)   file tree depth to display (default: 1)
+        {hidden} (boolean)  determines whether to show hidden files or not
+                            (default: false)
+
+
+fb_finders.finder({opts})                                *fb_finders.finder()*
+    Returns a finder that combines |fb_finders.browse_files| and
+    |fb_finders.browse_folders| into a unified finder.
+
+
+    Parameters: ~
+        {opts} (table)  options to pass to the picker
+
+    Fields: ~
+        {path}              (string)   root dir to file_browse from (default:
+                                       vim.loop.cwd())
+        {cwd}               (string)   root dir (default: vim.loop.cwd())
+        {files}             (boolean)  start in file (true) or folder (false)
+                                       browser (default: true)
+        {depth}             (number)   file tree depth to display (default: 1)
+        {dir_icon}          (string)   change the icon for a directory.
+                                       (default: )
+        {hidden}            (boolean)  determines whether to show hidden files
+                                       or not (default: false)
+        {respect_gitignore} (boolean)  induces slow-down w/ plenary finder
+                                       (default: false, true if `fd`
+                                       available)
+
+
+
+ vim:tw=78:ts=8:ft=help:norl:
diff --git a/lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/finders.lua b/lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/finders.lua
index 95f09b8f..6b25eedf 100644
--- a/lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/finders.lua
+++ b/lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/finders.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 local fb_make_entry = require "telescope._extensions.file_browser.make_entry"
 
+local async_oneshot_finder = require "telescope.finders.async_oneshot_finder"
 local finders = require "telescope.finders"
 
 local scan = require "plenary.scandir"
@@ -15,54 +16,87 @@ local Path = require "plenary.path"
 local os_sep = Path.path.sep
 
 local fb_finders = {}
+local has_fd = vim.fn.executable "fd" == 1
 
 --- Returns a finder that is populated with files and folders in `path`.
+--- - Notes:
+---  - Uses `fd` if available for more async-ish browsing and speed-ups
 ---@param opts table: options to pass to the finder
 ---@field path string: root dir to browse from
----@field depth number: file tree depth to display (default: 1)
+---@field depth number: file tree depth to display, `false` for unlimited (default: 1)
 ---@field hidden boolean: determines whether to show hidden files or not (default: false)
 fb_finders.browse_files = function(opts)
   opts = opts or {}
-  local data = scan.scan_dir(opts.path, {
-    add_dirs = opts.add_dirs,
-    depth = opts.depth,
-    hidden = opts.hidden,
-    respect_gitignore = opts.respect_gitignore,
-  })
-  if opts.path ~= os_sep then
-    table.insert(data, 1, Path:new(opts.path):parent():absolute())
-  end
   -- returns copy with properly set cwd for entry maker
-  return finders.new_table { results = data, entry_maker = opts.entry_maker { cwd = opts.path } }
+  local entry_maker = opts.entry_maker { cwd = opts.path }
+  if has_fd then
+    local args = { "-a" }
+    if opts.hidden then
+      table.insert(args, "-H")
+    end
+    if opts.respect_gitignore == false then
+      table.insert(args, "--no-ignore-vcs")
+    end
+    if type(opts.depth) == "number" then
+      table.insert(args, "--maxdepth")
+      table.insert(args, opts.depth)
+    end
+    return async_oneshot_finder {
+      fn_command = function()
+        return { command = "fd", args = args }
+      end,
+      entry_maker = entry_maker,
+      results = { entry_maker(Path:new(opts.path):parent():absolute()) },
+      cwd = opts.path,
+    }
+  else
+    local data = scan.scan_dir(opts.path, {
+      add_dirs = opts.add_dirs,
+      depth = opts.depth,
+      hidden = opts.hidden,
+    })
+    if opts.path ~= os_sep then
+      table.insert(data, 1, Path:new(opts.path):parent():absolute())
+    end
+    return finders.new_table { results = data, entry_maker = entry_maker }
+  end
 end
 
 --- Returns a finder that is populated with (sub-)folders of `cwd`.
+--- - Notes:
+---  - Uses `fd` if available for more async-ish browsing and speed-ups
 ---@param opts table: options to pass to the finder
 ---@field cwd string: root dir to browse from
 ---@field depth number: file tree depth to display (default: 1)
 ---@field hidden boolean: determines whether to show hidden files or not (default: false)
 fb_finders.browse_folders = function(opts)
-  -- TODO(fdschmidt93): how to add current folder in `fd`
-  -- if vim.fn.executable "fd" == 1 then
-  --   local cmd = { "fd", "-t", "d", "-a" }
-  --   if opts.hidden then
-  --     table.insert(cmd, "-H")
-  --   end
-  --   if not opts.respect_gitignore then
-  --     table.insert(cmd, "-I")
-  --   end
-  --   return finders.new_oneshot_job(
-  --     cmd,
-  --     { entry_maker = opts.entry_maker { cwd = opts.cwd, fd_finder = true }, cwd = opts.cwd }
-  --   )
-  -- else
-  local data = scan.scan_dir(opts.cwd, {
-    hidden = opts.hidden,
-    only_dirs = true,
-    respect_gitignore = opts.respect_gitignore,
-  })
-  table.insert(data, 1, opts.cwd)
-  return finders.new_table { results = data, entry_maker = opts.entry_maker { cwd = opts.cwd } }
+  -- returns copy with properly set cwd for entry maker
+  local entry_maker = opts.entry_maker { cwd = opts.cwd }
+  if has_fd then
+    local args = { "-t", "d", "-a" }
+    if opts.hidden then
+      table.insert(args, "-H")
+    end
+    if opts.respect_gitignore == false then
+      table.insert(args, "--no-ignore-vcs")
+    end
+    return async_oneshot_finder {
+      fn_command = function()
+        return { command = "fd", args = args }
+      end,
+      entry_maker = entry_maker,
+      results = { entry_maker(opts.cwd) },
+      cwd = opts.cwd,
+    }
+  else
+    local data = scan.scan_dir(opts.cwd, {
+      hidden = opts.hidden,
+      only_dirs = true,
+      respect_gitignore = opts.respect_gitignore,
+    })
+    table.insert(data, 1, opts.cwd)
+    return finders.new_table { results = data, entry_maker = entry_maker }
+  end
 end
 
 --- Returns a finder that combines |fb_finders.browse_files| and |fb_finders.browse_folders| into a unified finder.
@@ -73,6 +107,7 @@ end
 ---@field depth number: file tree depth to display (default: 1)
 ---@field dir_icon string: change the icon for a directory. (default: )
 ---@field hidden boolean: determines whether to show hidden files or not (default: false)
+---@field respect_gitignore boolean: induces slow-down w/ plenary finder (default: false, true if `fd` available)
 fb_finders.finder = function(opts)
   opts = opts or {}
   -- cache entries such that multi selections are maintained across {file, folder}_browsers
@@ -85,7 +120,7 @@ fb_finders.finder = function(opts)
     add_dirs = vim.F.if_nil(opts.add_dirs, true),
     hidden = vim.F.if_nil(opts.hidden, false),
     depth = vim.F.if_nil(opts.depth, 1), -- depth for file browser
-    respect_gitignore = vim.F.if_nil(opts.respect_gitignore, false), -- opt-in
+    respect_gitignore = vim.F.if_nil(opts.respect_gitignore, has_fd),
     files = vim.F.if_nil(opts.files, true), -- file or folders mode
     -- ensure we forward make_entry opts adequately
     entry_maker = vim.F.if_nil(opts.entry_maker, function(local_opts)
diff --git a/lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/picker.lua b/lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/picker.lua
index c1c6e4ff..0911472d 100644
--- a/lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/picker.lua
+++ b/lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/picker.lua
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ local fb_picker = {}
 ---@field depth number: file tree depth to display, false for unlimited depth (default: 1)
 ---@field dir_icon string: change the icon for a directory. (default: )
 ---@field hidden boolean: determines whether to show hidden files or not (default: false)
----@field respect_gitignore boolean: whether to respect_gitignore; induces slow-down w/ plenary finder (default: false)
+---@field respect_gitignore boolean: induces slow-down w/ plenary finder (default: false, true if `fd` available)
 fb_picker.file_browser = function(opts)
   opts = opts or {}
 
diff --git a/scripts/gendocs.lua b/scripts/gendocs.lua
index ac114d6c..a542601e 100644
--- a/scripts/gendocs.lua
+++ b/scripts/gendocs.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ docs.test = function()
     "./lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser.lua",
     "./lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/picker.lua",
     "./lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/actions.lua",
-    "./lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/finder.lua",
+    "./lua/telescope/_extensions/file_browser/finders.lua",
   }
 
   local output_file = "./doc/telescope-file-browser.txt"