7 best file explorer apps for Android

In this article, we’ll show you the 7 best File Explorer apps for Android. One of the main advantages of our operating system is the ability to manage device folders one by one. Alternatives such as iOS 15 do not allow access to all the paths where the information and data related to the phone are located, while in Android, even without root access, we have access to practically all the folders.

To access them we need a file explorer, through which we can both view the folders and make modifications to them. Therefore, we have compiled some of the best file explorers that are available in the Google app store, in order to know what possibilities we have.

Google Files

Google Files (formerly known as Files GO), is the official Google application to manage our internal storage. First of all, it is striking that its interface is quite far from that of a basic file explorer. When we open the app we will see the ‘clean’ section, which will show us the space we have available. Next to it, we will see just below several files that we can delete to free up that space.

• Duplicate files
• WhatsApp multimedia files
• Telegram multimedia files
• Downloaded files
• Large files

Depending on the applications you have installed, this list will vary.

7 best file explorer apps for Android

In the browse section, the application divides into downloads, images, videos. This is a fairly convenient way to access the files on the phone, although if what we want is to access the folders themselves, we can go directly to the internal storage section, to see them one by one. Depending on the folder (not all have write permissions in Android, especially the essential ones of the system), we can modify or not its content, as well as create new folders.

Apart from being a traditional explorer, Google Files allows us to share files, clean the system and perform extra functions.

For its function as a traditional file explorer, share files without internet connection between devices with Files, as well as the visual way it has to show us the contents (besides sending notifications reminding us that there is junk content to delete), Google Files Go is one of our most recommended alternatives.

• Price: Free
• Developer: Google LLC
• Download: For Android on Google Play

Solid Explorer

Solid Explorer is a classic in Android and has been improving its interface over the years, to completely adapt to Google Material Design. As soon as we open it, we have access to the device’s folders, as well as the classic ‘more’ button, which allows us to create new folders, files, or cloud connections.

This last option is quite interesting, as it allows us to access from the local file explorer itself to the files in the cloud that we have stored in Dropbox, Google Drive, MediaFire, and others.

Solid Explorer stands out for its design, as well as for providing a satisfactory user experience, as all the UI elements are well distributed.

Design, animations, custom view options, sizes… Solid Explorer tries to provide a visually appealing user experience, as well as simple in terms of functionality, so we are quite convinced. By installing it we will access the premium version for two weeks, which includes cloud functionality, color schemes, no advertising, and file encryption. We recommend paying for the premium version after this period, as it costs only $1.99, which is quite economical for everything it offers.

• Price: Free
• Developer: NeatBytes
• Download: For Android on Google Play

File Commander

Being another classic on Android (first published in 2012), File Commander has managed to adapt to Material Design and the times. When we open it, we see an interface that is divided in a similar way to Google’s Files. Direct access to images, videos, music, file conversion, and other “friendly” functions for less advanced users, without giving up the internal storage section, where the phone’s folders are located.

The possibility of transferring files to the PC via WiFi, a very convenient option that comes built-in with the application, stands out. At the interface level, we can configure a dark theme, and check or uncheck each of the categories that appear on the main screen.

File Commander has a somewhat expensive premium version considering what it offers, although it is still one of the best file management apps, even in its free version.

File Commander also allows you to try its premium version, in this case for seven days. With it, we eliminate advertising, we have linkage with Google Drive, file encryption, and recycle garbage can, among others. After the free trial, its price is $31.99 per year, a figure that in our opinion is somewhat exorbitant for a file explorer of this type, so we recommend the free version, which works like a charm.

• Price: Free
• Developer: Mobisystems
• Download: For Android on Google Play

File management

This is another fairly simple file explorer, and according to Google’s design lines (we emphasize this aspect because several browsers have interfaces that are difficult to digest). First, we find the main categories of files, and then the internal storage section to explore the folders.

This application is ideal for those who want a simple file explorer, but with a good interface.

The application also has a fairly thorough file cleaner, which will show us the files that we can delete to clean up space. The app is completely free, and we don’t need to pay anything to unlock its features.

• Price: Free
• Developer: Agile Development Team
• Download: For Android on Google Play

Xiaomi File Explorer

File Manager by Xiaomi is the application that includes the phones of the firm by default, although it also works on any other Android device. Its interface is quite neat and is divided into main categories and folders panel. It is noteworthy that Xiaomi File Cleaner (a classic in MIUI) works on any Android layer, so we can use it regardless of the ROM we have.

Like other alternatives, this explorer allows integration with Google Drive and FTP transfer. It also includes remote access to other phones, via LAN or FTP connection. Another of its strong points is that, once we open the documents folder, the files can be viewed according to format, so you can see them sorted according to whether they are PDF, Word, Excel, PPT, and so on.

• Price: Free
• Developer: Xiaomi
• Download: For Android on Google Play

File Manager+

With an unoriginal name and an interface poorly adapted to current times, this application, despite its drawbacks, is one of the best options if we want a simple file explorer.

Despite its sparse interface, the application more than does its job and adds interesting features such as remote access and cloud services.

Large icons, few options, and a clear functionality: manage files, no more. When we open the app, we see both access to the internal memory and the SD card (if we have one), as well as shortcuts to view the contents of the folders for downloads, images, audio, videos, etc.

Despite being so simple, we can have remote access, as well as integration with cloud services. In the case of this app, we do not recommend paying the premium version, as it only removes ads (they are minimal, to the point that it is even difficult to appear), and adds the dark theme. However, if you like the app and want to pay for it, you can do so by paying a one-time fee of $7.99, or by paying $1.99 annually.

• Price: Free
• Developer: Flashlight + Clock
• Download: For Android on Google Play

Astro File Manager

ASTRO is another of the great classics on Android and, currently, one of the best proposals for managing our files. The interface is quite clean, showing the internal storage at the top, and file types below. It is noteworthy that it allows you to create folders from the main panel, to create main locations for files.

ASTRO is completely free, has no paid version, and allows us to do virtually everything at the level of file management.

We can add cloud services such as Dropbox, Facebook, or OneDrive, among others, as well as manage installed applications (APK) from the app itself, without the need to access the list of Android settings. A complete, free, and quite intuitive application, which we recommend installing on your device.