7 Best Android File Manager Apps for 2021

One of the downsides of Android compared to desktop operating systems is its apparent lack of options to deep-dive into the OS and manually manage your files. While an unrooted Android OS doesn’t, by default, offer many of these options, there are many very good file manager apps that will give you that granular control you want.

Whether you want to explore the root directory of your phone, encrypt apps, or just manually move, create and delete folders on your device, these file manager apps will see to your needs.

1. Amaze File Manager

Any Android app that’s free and open source gets instant bonus points in our books. Amaze File Manager follows up on that by delivering a file manager that may be less feature-rich than some of the other options on this list but makes up for it in a simplicity that lets you quickly browse what you need.

That’s not to say this simple file manager is completely lacking in features. You can use multiple tabs, switch out themes, and quickly do all the usual copying, cutting, compressing and extracting you want from a file manager. Rooted users can also gain root access of course, and – crucially – it’s both free and ad-free.

As is often the case with open source apps, there are a few bugs and kinks to iron out here and there, but that’s part of the parcel. We’re hoping that it receives another update soon.

2. Solid Explorer

One of the best things about Solid Explorer is its dual-pane design, which makes it quick and easy to sift through all your Android files. It has a particular focus on security, letting you encrypt any files and folders with a password, which you can subsequently open with a fingerprint sensor.

The two-panel design essentially creates two separate windows in Solid Explorer, letting you drag-and-drop files and folders between them much like you would in a desktop OS. There’s plenty of customization in terms of colors and themes. Even more functionality gets unlocked on a rooted device, where you can use this as a proper root explorer.

The catch is that Solid Explorer is a paid app, but you can try it out for 14 days free of charge before deciding if it’s for you.

3. MiXplorer

One of the best-kept secret file managers for Android, MiXplorer has long been a favorite of the XDA community, letting you not only explore files on your device but also across your entire personal network (including FTP, LAN and cloud-based storage). It packs plenty of customization, allows for robust tabbed browsing, and lets you create chains of commands using the “Tasks” feature.

You can easily view various formats of files thanks to an integrated reader that reads the EPub, MobiPacket and PDF formats, as well as a comprehensive media player, image viewer and text editor.

You don’t need to have a rooted device to use MiXplorer, but if you do, then even more functionality opens up in the form of data backup and extra management options. It’s ad-free, completely free, and supported by people who are really in the know.

4. ES File Explorer

ES File Explorer is one of the oldest and most reliable file explorers on this list. It would actually sit at number one if only it were ad-free. It’s understandable, though, as for all the time and effort the developers have put into it, they deserve some financial imbursement for their troubles.

The catch is that ES File Explorer was removed from the Play Store in April 2019, possibly due to the fraudulent activities of one of the company’s subdivisions, DO Global. To use it today, you’ll need to download it from a site like APKPure, where the newest versions are still being released.

ES File Manager still comes with its niche gesture feature where you can record certain gestures that will perform functions within the app. It also allows you to save shortcuts to folders and files on your home screen, making it almost fully desktop-esque. It comes with built-in viewers and players for various file types, so you can watch videos and play music directly from it. There is also a task manager where you can kill tasks and free up some memory on your device.

It supports rar and zip compression/decompression and even comes with its own note editor. Supporting cloud storage, Bluetooth file browsing, remote file access, wireless PC file transfer, an SD card analyst, and a host of other features, it’s a Swiss Army knife of an app. It’s theme-able too. Some may be put off by how bloated it is with its features, the ads and its material design, but if you’re looking for a jack-of-all-trades, this is your best bet.

5. Astro File Manager

The first thing you see when you go on Astro File Manager’s Google Play page is “No Ads.” This banner runs across its icon like a company motto. For anyone who wants a great file browser that is ad-free, look no further. In addition to helping you organize your files through its file manager, it comes with a handy memory cleaner.

It allows you to compress and decompress files in rar and zip formats. You can also bookmark settings, files and folders. It comes with its own media player that allows you to play videos and music, smoothly peruse through your collection of pictures, and manage both your cloud and internal storage.

6. X-Plore File Manager

It’s time to bring the pane – two panes that is. What’s unique about X-Plore is it gives you the option to handle windows at the same time by providing you with a dual-pane explorer so you can copy files across and compare two folders. In addition to all of this, it allows you to see inside APK files and to compress folders into APK packages.

It has a disk map that allows you to see which files eat up the most disk space and comes with its very own PDF viewer. You can wirelessly manage your files from a PC’s web-browser. It comes with cloud storage access and a video player that allows subtitles. This is all just the tip of the iceberg.

7. Total Commander

The classic, the original and my personal favourite, Total File Commander comes with a simple but powerful user interface. A few people may consider it anachronistic and a little homely, but it’s as good as its Windows counterpart and gets the job done.

It’s completely pluggable, which means you can add more features to it using plugins. It has a media player that can stream directly from LAN, WebDAV and cloud plugins, and you can bookmark and save folders as shortcuts. For those who have rooted devices, it has a capable root explorer.

Now that you’ve picked the Android File Manager of your dreams (or at least needs), follow our guide on how to remove leftover files and folders after uninstalling Android apps. Or for something a little lighter, see the best Android screen recording apps.

Manager android files from windows

Нужно просто запустить скачанный exe-файл, без инсталляции.
Чтобы скопировать файл на устройство, нужно отметить чекбоксом файл(ы) на ПК и нажать кнопку Copy.

В Android Manager нет проблем с кириллицей, там намного больше функций — контакты, календарь и т.п.
Зато этот Android Commander запускается быстро и не ограничивает размер загружаемых на устройство файлов 10-ю мегабайтами.

Android Commander 0.7.8:
— better look (more icons ;))
— apk files icons and info in computer files tab
— flashing zip updates
— flashing img images
— tools: DDMS, SQLite Browser, SignApk
— now also installer store some info, so second loading of dir(and every next) is much faster 😀
— auto scrolling console window
— commands history in console window
— fixed bug with invalid apk files
— button New Dir in Select Dir dialog
— lots of small fixes

я ничего почти не поняла!!(( а можно КАК для блондинок обьяснить. :blush:

Вопросы слишком общие.

Просто запустить на ПК скачанный файл. Инсталляция в обычном понимании не требуется. При первом запуске программа может докачать необходимые компоненты и закрыться, тогда запустите ее заново.

Что нужно сделать?
Если скопировать файлы на телефон, то в одной панели открыть папку на ПК, в другой — на Android. Отметить нужный файл галочкой слева и нажать кнопку Copy. Что здесь непонятного? Обычный интерфейс файлового менеджера с двумя панелями.

Если пользуетесь Android Manager, то зачем Вам еще и этот Android Commander?

Сообщение отредактировал TaciturnMan — 16.04.10, 08:52

Разница, конечно, есть. Но зависит от того, какие функции используете. Если просто передача файлов, то разница в том, что Android Manager имеет ограничение на размер загружаемого на телефон файла (10Мб). Android Commander такого ограничения не имеет, но пользы от этого мало, т.к. большие файлы загружать через adb все равно долго, а лучше подмонтировать карту памяти в режиме UMS.

В остальном, навряд ли Вам понадобятся функции для разработчиков flash updates, DDMS, SQLite Browser, SignApk.

Version 0.7.9:
* before update delete settings.ini file from program dir
— rebuilded program engine! (now is extended and more flexible)
— new design! (not every ware yet, but soon 😉 )
— works with new Cyans Apps2SD
— new tabs to change view between apps from data or sd-ext (new Cyans Apps2SD only)
— partitions size info works with CyanogemMod-N1
— changed format displaying sizes
— better size info window
— new drives selector with nice icons
— changed format in windows tab address bar
— ability to removing single files from windows tab
— Applications Installer not closing automatically after install/rename
— ability to change and refresh directory in Applications Installer
— ability to removing apps from Applications Installer
— all labels “selected” are clickable now (reverse selection)
— all labels “count” are clickable now (select/unselect all)
— file size info in application info window
— new button search on Cyrket in app info
— fixed problem with loading App Info window from Applications Installer
— restarting options should working now for not rooted devices
— fixed some bugs with exploring files on not rooted device
— Screenshots (for now works only with resolution 480×320 )
— program do not need restart on first run
— updating log on program start is always auto closing
— more fixes/changes I cant remember

Windows v0.7.9 AndroidCommander.exe ( 4,53 МБ )

Linux v0.1.0.884 Alpha AndroidCommanderLinux_0.1.0.884_Alpha.7z ( 3,27 МБ )

How to Access Android Files on Windows PC

If you are an Android user, then you should have faced situations where you need to quickly transfer files between your Android device and computer. Obviously, there are a ton of apps like AirDroid which let you do this, but these apps are Web-based. They won’t let you map your Android device to your Windows computer so that you can access all the files and folders on your Android device using the Windows File Explorer over WiFi. However, here is how you can access Android files from Windows File Explorer over WiFi.

Access Android Files on Windows PC

To access Android files and folders on Windows PC over WiFi, we are going to use the popular file manager ES File Explorer.

To start off, install ES File Explorer if you haven’t already. Launch it, swipe from the left side of the screen and then select the option “Remote Manager” from the main menu.

Once the Remote Manager window has been opened, we need to configure it. Just tap on the Settings icon to continue.

The above action will open the Remote Manager settings window. As you can see from the below image, ES Explorer already set the default port and the current user to “Anonymous.”

I would recommend you add a username and password so that other users on LAN cannot access it without authorization. To do that, tap on the option “Set Manage Account,” enter the username and password and touch the “OK” button to continue.

If you want to you can also change the “Current Port” so that it is easy to remember when adding it to other systems. Make sure that the port number is between 1025 – 65534.

Also, if you want to change the root directory, tap on the option “Set root directory” and select your default root directory. In my case, I’m selecting my external SD card as my root directory. If you want to access both internal and external storage, then select “/.”

Once you are done, this is what it looks like in the Remote Manager settings screen.

Now, head over to the main screen, and tap on the “Turn On” button. This will activate the FTP server. Also, ES Explorer displays the FTP address that we will be needing.

On Windows open the File Explorer and select the option “Map Network Drive” from the “Computer” tab.

In the “Map Network Drive” window, click on the link “Connect to a Web site…”

The above action will open the “Network Location Wizard.” Here, click on the “Next” button to continue.

Now, double-click on “Choose a custom network location.”

Here in this window, enter the FTP address along with the port number as shown in the ES Explorer screen, and click on the “Next” button.

Uncheck the “Log in anonymously” checkbox, enter the username that you used in ES Explorer and click on the “Next” button to continue.

Name your network share. You can always change it later.

Just click on the “Finish” button to complete the procedure.

Since we mapped the network share, it will appear in the Windows File Explorer under Network Locations. Just double-click on it to open.

Since this is the first time, Windows will ask for your FTP password. Just enter the password and click on the “Log On” button. If you log in frequently, select the option “Save Password.”

As soon as you click on the Log On button, you will be logged in and can access all your files and folders directly from Windows File Explorer over WiFi.

When you are done woking with files and folders on your Android device, turn off the Remote Manager.

Quick tip: By navigating to Remote Manager settings and tapping on the option “Create Shortcut,” ES Explorer will create a quick shortcut icon on your home screen which can be used to quickly launch the FTP server. This eliminates the need to launch ES Explore each and every time you want to turn on Remote Manager.

If you are not using ES Explorer and want the same solution, then there are several other dedicated FTP Server apps you can try.

Do comment below sharing your thoughts and experiences about using the above method to access Android files and folders directly from Windows File Explorer over WiFi.

Vamsi is a tech and WordPress geek who enjoys writing how-to guides and messing with his computer and software in general. When not writing for MTE, he writes for he shares tips, tricks, and lifehacks on his own blog Stugon.

14 comments

been looking for such an application. downloaded, worked first time following the directions! Thanks.

Personally I’m a fan of ftp because I don’t like solid blocks of text.
You ever download a txt that appears as a solid block of text in notepad but has proper formatting when opened in your word processor of choice. This is caused by Linux (android is linux), Microsoft and apple being unable to agree on somthing simple as text file formatting.
Personally I use filezilla because it will convert those line endings to the proper format for the destination system.

I followed your directions and it did work. Sort of. No matter how I set up the “root directory” in ES (I tried both, “/” for internal and external sdcard and “/storage/extSdCard” (which is how it’s displayed in ES settings) and I can only access internal storage. And even then, I cannot view any images in the camera folder. The images are present as .jpg but are shown only as jpg file, not a thumbnail of the image, nor do those images open when clicked on. Some folders in the internal storage even show as empty, even though they’re not — such as the “screenshot” folder. What am I doing wrong or not doing? Or, is it my Samsung Galaxy S4 phone that won’t allow it? If you or anyone else sees this, perhaps you can reply via my email address. Others can reply via comments here.

Same problem experienced, anyone know how to fix?

Same problem with my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge : Cannot write on SD Card (I can only view content).

If your default file explorer in android has the FTP feature then no need to download ES File explorer.
I did without ES in xiomi MI4i

This whole article is wrong. ES file explorer also connects the phone with PC only via the web. Without internet connection, your screen would be different than the 2nd screenshot shown on this page – instead of the “TURN ON” button, there would be “TURN WLAN ON” button. And when you press it, it would open another screen asking you to choose from a list of available networks. Whatever you do, without connecting to internet, that “TURN ON” button would not appear and you cannot connect your PC with phone. And if you do the same with internet connection, you are only using the web to transfer files between your PC and phone.

No it needs WIFI, it is a network transfer.

It is supposed to be, I know. But it’s not. I tried everything, it’s impossible to view files on your phone on computer using ES file explorer. At least on Windows 7.