While many users can live their whole life without the need to touch the files inside the smartphone, there are times when this may be necessary, for example to install an app manually, to hide photos or even to change some configurations internal. To explore and manage phone files as if it were a normal computer is one of the best qualities of smartphones and tablets with Android system, where you can answer the iPhone and iPad, you can use the memory as if it were a normal USB pen or hard disk external, without constraints and limits, with the ability to browse all files and folders.
The files on Android can be moved between folders, deleted, copied, renamed directly from the mobile phone or tablet using one of the "File Manager" applications, which function as an Android "Explorer", convenient for finding downloaded files such as the music, photos or documents and also to access cloud storage services .
As always, this list will list the best free applications to browse the files of your Android phone, only free .
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1) X-Plore File Manager is the first that I name in this list, which until some time ago has always been the best and most recommended file manager. With a very easy to understand interface, ES File Explorer allows you to access SD card files, system files (if Android is unlocked with root permissions) and works as an FTP server and Bluetooth. With this app you can also browse Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or other cloud storage and open network or shared folders from Windows PCs. The app also has file copy and move tools, clipboard manager, zip archive creator, wifi server function (to connect from PC to mobile via web browser), access to system files with root permissions, dark theme, support DLNA and FTP.
2) Solid Explorer could be the best alternative to ES File Manager (now gone and to be deleted because it was discovered to be a spy app), if it were not that it's not all free. This file manager is beautiful to look at, easy and full of useful functions. This application allows you to quickly explore the most used files such as photos, music, videos and applications and also allows you to bookmark the folders and locations that you access the most. The best feature is the dual panel mode, so that by opening the app in landscape mode, you can see two folders next to each other, perfect for moving or copying files. In addition, it also allows you to hide some folders, where maybe you can put private photos that you don't want to show to those who can pick up our phone.
Solid also has support for exploring system files if you have root access to Android. The support function to access cloud services such as Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive and to access network files via FTP, SMB or WebDav is also not secondary, to also explore the files of the computer connected to the network.
3) Asus File Manager is the default file manager of Asus smartphones, which can also be installed on other mobile models, completely free of charge.
With a simple and aesthetically pleasing design, Asus File Manager has a beautiful category screen that allows you to organize and label files.
It is compatible with a series of cloud storage services such as OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox, it allows you to compress and decompress rar and zip files and to transfer files between phone and PC, in wifi.
Asus File Manager is completely ad-free, which is an important feature.
4) Total Commander is another great choice for managing Android files, very light, feature-rich, ad-free and free.
Total Commander also has the function of the two panels side by side, support for connecting to another computer via FTP or LAN, support for clouds via WebDav, root explorer support and plugins to play videos saved in cloud services.
This app can be considered the best and most recommended free file manager for Android.
5) Ghost Commander has a double panel to explore files, has a preview view and is equipped with a text editor to edit and create text files quickly.
However, the user interface is not among the best.
6) FX File Explorer is an excellent and simple explorer that also allows you to enter with root permissions in the system files.
However, its best feature is the ability to access Google Drive and Google Docs cloud storage.
Among the functions are: multiple windows, support for cloud services, OG support, text editor, image and text viewer, Zip, RAR and other archive extractor, Bluetooth and FTP access.
7) ASTRO File Manager is among the historical applications of the Android market and remains among the most complete for exploring files and folders.
Astro is also a backup app, an image viewer, a text editor, a download manager and a task manager.
8) File Manager has an extremely user-friendly user interface and you can see all the files organized in the various folders or directories of the SD card and phone memory. The application was among the best before, now it has lost some polish also because some functions are paid.
9) Amaze File Manager is an excellent open source app to explore mobile phone files and to transfer files from PC to mobile and vice versa.
10) Xiaomi File Manager is the app to explore the files of Xiaomi smartphones that can also be installed on other models.
With this tool you can search for files, move them, copy them, paste them, rename them and then extract them from archives and much more.
11) The File Explorer integrated by Android is not as bad as you might think, but only on Android 7 and later versions. If you are using a smartphone with Android 6, the file manager under the "Download" app allows you to access the download folder.
