Skip to main content

Best file managers for Android

Keep your phone organized with one of the best file managers for Android

Best file managers for Android
Simon Hill/Digital Trends

These days, our phones are every bit as powerful and capable as our computers are, and they require a dedicated file management system to keep your essential documents in order. The manufacturer usually provides a default file management solution, but they often lack the critical features you need to manage and organize your files.

Thankfully, there are other options for you. Let’s take a closer look at five of the best options available in the app store.

Files by Google

Files by Google
Image used with permission by copyright holder

After a makeover, Google’s Files Go app became Files by Google — and it’s our favorite file manager for Android. It has a clean look and it’s very easy to use, with three main functions: Clean, Browse, and Share, appearing as tabs along the bottom. You’ll get suggestions to delete files you no longer need, like junk files and backed-up photos. You can browse through the categories on your phone, search for files, rename them, back them up to the MicroSD card or the cloud, and more. There’s also a handy, secure tool for rapidly sharing files with people nearby that uses Wi-Fi Direct.

Asus File Manager

Asus File Manager
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Here’s a free Android file manager with a wealth of features that enable you to find, move, delete, and share files on your smartphone. It can also access your MicroSD card, shared LAN files, and a range of different cloud storage accounts, allowing you to stream photos, music, or even videos. You’ll find compression and analyzer tools here as well, rounding out a decent package that will be more than enough for most people.

X-plore File Manager

X-plore File Manager
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This file manager is all substance and very little style, but it is absolutely packed with features. It supports dual-pane browsing, which makes moving files very easy, you can hook it up a number of cloud storage services, and it has built-in music and video players. It also allows for sharing via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, has a secure vault for sensitive files, and can offer full access to system data for rooted phones. You can even use X-plore to share folders of files across a LAN.

FX File Explorer ($3)

FX File Explorer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This file manager offers a similar laundry list of features including dual-view mode, configurable network access, cloud storage support, image viewer, media player, and more — but you will have to pay $3 for the FX+ license key to unlock all the features. We appreciate the commitment to no advertisements and no tracking of user activity. It has great sharing options, too, with an easy drag-and-drop function that allows you to share files through your computer’s web browser via Wi-Fi, or phone-to-phone with Wi-Fi Direct.

Solid Explorer ($2)

Solid Explorer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You can try this file manager out for free for two weeks before you have to pay, so it’s worth checking out. It also offers dual-window support, cloud service integration, root access, fast search, batch rename, remote access, built-in music player, image viewer, and a lot more. What sets it apart from some of the others on our list is the customization options, which go beyond picking colors to themes and icon sets.

Editors' Recommendations

Simon Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
The best smartwatches in 2023: our 12 favorites
Apple Watch Series 7 next to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5.

Smartwatches allow us to live like Dick Tracy by giving us notifications and tracking health and fitness. They also provide the ability to send and receive calls and messages, play music, set timers, perform various tasks via voice command, and so much more — all on our wrists. Smartwatches just keep getting better and better, but which are the best smartwatches?

For most people, we think the Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch, but only if you own an iPhone. We know there are just as many Android phone fans out there, and since the Apple Watch only works with an iPhone, you'll want the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6.

Read more
The 22 best Apple Watch faces you should be using
Apple Watch update feature image

The Apple Watch Series 9 (top) and Apple Watch Series 8 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Apple Watch is more than just a tech gadget; it's also a fashion accessory. Thankfully, Apple gets that, and it's made sure you have a wealth of options to customize and accessorize your wearable. This includes not just a huge assortment of the best Apple Watch bands and straps but also a variety of different watch faces to fit your individual style and even match up with your choice of band.

Read more
Don’t update your Pixel phone — a new Android update might break it
Android 14 logo on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Android 14 introduced a host of convenient additions to Google’s Pixel phones, but a recent minor update has utterly broken the storage system for some users. Specifically, owners of the Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6 Pro, and Google Pixel 6a who run multiple profiles on their phones are reporting that their phones no longer have access to the storage pipeline for the main profile.

That means users are locked out of accessing the stored media and find themselves unable to add new files as well. A few users have reported on Reddit and Google’s official community forum that they can’t even click images using the camera app because it flashes an insufficient storage warning message. A few others say trying to install an APK package also returns a similar storage writing roadblock.

Read more