Files by Google is a great file management app for Android phones. It has an excellent UI, brilliant cleanup tools, and an effective document scanner.
For most people, it’s the only file management app you’ll ever need.
However, I wanted more. I refuse to be content with preinstalled apps, so I went hunting for an alternative.
I quickly came across MiXplorer, a file management app with over a decade of active development.
Not only does it contain enough features to make a power user cry with happiness, but its extensive customization tools also make it far more versatile.
This buried Android file management toggle fixed my most frustrating low storage warning
I could no longer ignore it
MiXplorer doesn’t waste your time
It knows functionality is the most important part of a file management app
A clean UI is important, but I don’t need my file management app to be pretty.
I certainly don’t want to scroll because of wasted space, which is exactly my problem with Files by Google.
Take a look at the home screens of MiXplorer and Files by Google side by side. Notice the difference?
Left: Files by Google. Right: MiXplorer
Rather than wasting space with a Recents tab and Material You elements, MiXplorer shows categories in a straightforward, color-coded manner.
The goal of making your files as understandable as possible is apparent in every element of the app.
A small but fantastic example of this is how the app shows folder sizes below each title.
Again, compare these two screenshots to see what I mean.
It’s as if MiXplorer knows what I’m looking for.
Everywhere I glance, there’s relevant information about my search. For example, I didn’t realize how little space I had left on my phone until I opened the app.
Customization is an integral part of MiXplorer
Although it can feel overwhelming
The default MiXplorer interface feels dated. It’s clean and simple, but it has the sharp aesthetic that characterized Android in the mid-2010s.
Yes, functionality is important, but I recognize that this may turn off some people.
MiXplorer lets you customize nearly every element. There’s a set of premade themes created by contributors, or you can tweak the default UI yourself.
The customization options aren’t straightforward; hex codes and tags are your tools.
I didn’t feel the need to adjust every color of every UI element, but I did crank the rounded corner slider to the maximum value.
Customization also extends to what tools you have at your fingertips.
For example, I don’t use any servers to manage my files, so I removed all relevant buttons from the menus.
However, I like having the search function wherever I am, so I added it to all menus.
Quiz
Android file managers
Trivia challenge
From root access to cloud sync — how well do you really know Android’s best
file managers?
AppsFeaturesHistoryStorageCloud
Which file manager, originally developed by Rhythm Software, became one of the most
popular on Android and was later acquired by Connectify?
Correct! Astro File Manager was one of Android’s earliest and most
beloved file managers, developed by Rhythm Software before being acquired by Connectify. It helped set
the standard for what Android file management could look like in the platform’s early days.
Not quite — the answer is Astro File Manager. Developed by Rhythm
Software and later acquired by Connectify, Astro was a pioneer on Android that helped define early
expectations for mobile file management.
Which file manager for Android is developed by Two Square Pixel and is well known
for its polished Material Design interface and dual-pane support?
Correct! Solid Explorer by Two Square Pixel is widely praised for its
beautiful Material Design interface and practical dual-pane layout, making it a favorite among power
users who want both aesthetics and functionality.
The correct answer is Solid Explorer by Two Square Pixel. It stands out
in the crowded file manager space for combining a clean Material Design look with powerful features like
dual-pane browsing and broad cloud service support.
What is the primary purpose of the dual-pane mode found in file managers like Solid
Explorer and X-plore?
Correct! Dual-pane mode displays two directory panels side by side,
making it much easier to drag, copy, or move files between locations without constantly navigating back
and forth. It’s a feature borrowed from classic desktop file managers like Total Commander.
Not quite. Dual-pane mode lets you view and interact with two different
directories simultaneously, greatly streamlining file copy and move operations. It’s inspired by classic
PC file managers and is a staple feature for power users.
ES File Explorer was a hugely popular Android file manager that was eventually
removed from the Google Play Store in 2019. What was the primary reason for its removal?
Correct! ES File Explorer was removed from the Google Play Store after
researchers discovered it was running a background ad clickjacking service and collecting excessive user
data. The app had become bloated with ads and questionable behavior far removed from its early days as a
clean, capable file manager.
The correct answer is that ES File Explorer was caught engaging in
background ad fraud and excessive data collection. Security researchers flagged the hidden adware
behavior, prompting Google to remove it from the Play Store in 2019 — a dramatic fall for what was once
Android’s most downloaded file manager.
MiXplorer is a highly regarded file manager among Android enthusiasts. Where is it
primarily distributed, given its absence from the Google Play Store?
Correct! MiXplorer has long been distributed through the XDA Developers
forum, where it built a passionate following thanks to its rich feature set, plugin support, and active
development. A Silver version is available on the Play Store, but the core app lives on XDA.
MiXplorer is primarily distributed through the XDA Developers forum,
where its developer HM has maintained and updated it for years. Its deep roots in the enthusiast
community have made it a cult favorite, even without a standard Play Store listing for the base version.
Which Google-made file manager app, launched in 2017, was designed to help users on
low-storage devices free up space while also enabling peer-to-peer file sharing?
Correct! Files by Google launched in 2017 initially targeting emerging
markets where devices often have limited storage. It combined smart storage cleanup suggestions with a
fast offline file-sharing feature, and it has since become the default file manager on many Android
devices.
The answer is Files by Google, launched in 2017. Originally aimed at
users in markets with budget, low-storage devices, it offered intelligent cleanup tools and a built-in
peer-to-peer sharing feature. It eventually became the default file manager shipped on many Android
phones.
Starting with Android 11, Google significantly tightened file system access for
third-party apps. What is the name of the permission model that restricts broad access to external
storage?
Correct! Scoped Storage was introduced progressively with Android 10 and
enforced more strictly in Android 11. It limits apps to accessing only their own designated folders and
media collections, preventing file managers and other apps from freely browsing the entire file system
without explicit user permission.
The correct answer is Scoped Storage. Rolled out with Android 10 and
tightened in Android 11, Scoped Storage was Google’s answer to privacy concerns around unrestricted file
access. It forced file manager developers to adapt their apps significantly to maintain full
functionality.
Which of the following file managers for Android is open source and available on the
F-Droid repository, making it a popular choice for privacy-conscious users?
Correct! Material Files is an open source Android file manager developed
by Hai Zhang and available on both F-Droid and the Google Play Store. It supports root access, archive
browsing, and remote servers, all while being fully transparent with its code — a big win for privacy
advocates.
The answer is Material Files. It is fully open source, developed by Hai
Zhang, and listed on F-Droid as well as the Play Store. It offers a clean Material Design interface
alongside powerful features like root file access and SFTP support, making it a top pick for
privacy-conscious Android users.
Your Score
/ 8
Thanks for playing!
Accessing cloud storage is a blessing, but Google has severely limited its functionality
There’s a workaround, but it takes time
An oft-touted benefit of using MiXplorer is that cloud storage apps can be accessed directly from MiXplorer’s interface.
This functionality turns the app into a universal file management app, so you can access your files from Google, Dropbox, OneDrive, and other services without changing apps. At least, that’s the theory.
In 2024, Google limited API access to its apps.
The impact of this on MiXplorer is that you cannot access Google Drive files unless you manually verify the app with Google.
This is usually a paid service, but you can work around it for free.
While I waited for my verification process to complete, I linked MiXplorer with my OneDrive account. It worked perfectly.
When I eventually receive a response from Google, I’ll have all my cloud storage files accessible in one place.
MiXplorer offers a staggering amount of utility
I’m still uncovering more features
The more I used MiXplorer, the more I began to understand its reputation as an everything app.
I can read e-books, write documents, play music, and manage HTML documents. But it’s the Auto Tasks feature I love.
For example, let’s say I want to back up documents from a single folder into my OneDrive account. I don’t want anything else, just those files.
I can tell MiXplorer to move those documents to OneDrive when I plug in my phone to charge, the week changes, or at a specific time and date.
Not only does MiXplorer give me unprecedented control over my backups, but it also helps me manage my phone’s internal storage by deleting the files after moving them
MiXplorer has a steep learning curve, but it’s worth the effort
I won’t lie, learning to navigate MiXplorer’s byzantine menus was a chore.
While file management is easy, customizing and tweaking settings is a task clearly aimed at power users.
However, after I had everything tuned to my liking, I found MiXplorer to be easier to use than Files by Google.
MiXplorer is free to download, or you can contribute to the developer by buying it through the Play Store.
