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Best open-source file manager for Android?
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myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
Quote

I've always used X-plore but am now searching for a FOSS alternative.

72   Original
quediuspayu lemmy.dbzer0.com quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2025-02-06
#2 · Quote Reply

I use Ghost Commander from f-droid

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myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#3 · Quote Reply

I use Ghost Commander from f-droid

Discovered it an hour ago. I like how functional and customizable it is, although admittedly somewhat ugly.

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quediuspayu lemmy.dbzer0.com quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2025-02-06
#4 · Quote Reply

Discovered it an hour ago. I like how functional and customizable it is, although admittedly somewhat ugly.

Yes, it is fugly.

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ghost_laptop lemmy.ml gary_host_laptop@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2020-11-25
#5 · (edited) Quote Reply

https://github.com/techflyers/Prism-File-Explorer

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apfelwoiSchoppen lemmy.world apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-10-01
#6 · Quote Reply

Fossify's File Manager is what I use daily.

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Fisch discuss.tchncs.de Fisch@discuss.tchncs.de
Joined: 2024-03-14
#7 · Quote Reply

I use Material Files

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mmmm sopuli.xyz mmmm@sopuli.xyz
Joined: 2025-04-07
#8 · Quote Reply

https://github.com/techflyers/Prism-File-Explorer

Alas is not in F-Droid

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illusionist lemmy.zip illusionist@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-30
#9 · Quote Reply

I use Material Files

It is thr best bur on grapheneos, only the file manager from grapheneos has full access. I had to switch between file managers and one day I gave up. I only use the built-in one ...

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Fisch discuss.tchncs.de Fisch@discuss.tchncs.de
Joined: 2024-03-14
#10 · Quote Reply

It is thr best bur on grapheneos, only the file manager from grapheneos has full access. I had to switch between file managers and one day I gave up. I only use the built-in one ...

I use GrapheneOS too and I don't have this issue. Did you give it the right permission?

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ghost_laptop lemmy.ml gary_host_laptop@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2020-11-25
#11 · Quote Reply

Alas is not in F-Droid

it's a fork, the original one is on fdroid but recently unmaintained :)

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illusionist lemmy.zip illusionist@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-30
#12 · (edited) Quote Reply

I use GrapheneOS too and I don't have this issue. Did you give it the right permission?

Maybe I should have a look again?

I use it for nextcloud/webdav and accessing the data storage folder of gpslogger which was historically in the android/data folder.

Edit: it's still forbidden to access android/data ... they introduced that "security/privacy" features 1-2 years ago when they also forbid to us ethe Downloads folder directly for provacy reasons

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TruePe4rl lemmy.ml TruePe4rl@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2024-07-28
#13 · Quote Reply

Not FOSS, but MiXplorer is free (PlayStore version is paid, but the version from Google Drive is free and has integrated mechanism to download updates) and probably best option I ever found.

You can connect to various remote storages, including those on local network, which is what I needed. Also has integrated file viewers and editors and can preview files in archives.

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𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚒 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝙻𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚢 feddit.org leviathan@feddit.org
Joined: 2025-01-10
#14 · Quote Reply

NFile looks good, (haven't tried it yet)

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caos feddit.org caos@feddit.org
Joined: 2024-06-24
#15 · (edited) Quote Reply

For my phone I'm using Amaze, for my Tablet Ghost Commander because of its "Ability to copy and move files between its two panels".

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☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆ lemmy.ml yogthos@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2020-01-18
#16 · Quote Reply

For my phone I'm using Amaze, for my Tablet Ghost Commander because of its "Ability to copy and move files between its two panels".

I use Amaze as well, and it's pretty great.

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myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#17 · Quote Reply

https://github.com/techflyers/Prism-File-Explorer

This one is really nice! App management and SMB support are the features I've primarily been looking for.

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ReverendIrreverence lemmy.ml ReverendIrreverence@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2023-12-20
#18 · Quote Reply

NFile looks good, (haven't tried it yet)

Well then your opinion seems to be somewhat irrelevant

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Scott 🇨🇦🏴‍☠️ sh.itjust.works RodgeGrabTheCat@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2025-05-19
#19 · Quote Reply

I use Ghost Commander from f-droid

I've been using this for years.

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myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#20 · Quote Reply

Fossify's File Manager is what I use daily.

It is very pleasant-looking, but lacks many important features, e.g. SMB/FTP/etc support.

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myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#21 · Quote Reply

I use Material Files

I like it. It supports hosting a ftp server and automatically finding SMB servers in the local network. This is the first file manager I've found that does these two things. But no app management unfortunately.
Thanks!

9
bad1080 piefed.social bad1080@piefed.social
Joined: 2026-02-27
#22 · Quote Reply

https://f-droid.org/packages/com.documentsui.shortcut/

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inawhilecrocodile lemmy.ml inawhilecrocodile@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-02-14
#23 · Quote Reply

For my phone I'm using Amaze, for my Tablet Ghost Commander because of its "Ability to copy and move files between its two panels".

Total Commander : https://www.ghisler.com/android.htm

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myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#24 · Quote Reply

For my phone I'm using Amaze, for my Tablet Ghost Commander because of its "Ability to copy and move files between its two panels".

Amaze supports app management, running an ftp server, and automatically searching for local smb servers. Nice, might become the one I use daily.

4
myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#25 · (edited) Quote Reply

NFile looks good, (haven't tried it yet)

Very feature-rich and the interface looks cool. Thx!

2
schnurrito discuss.tchncs.de schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de
Joined: 2023-06-24
#26 · Quote Reply

I use Ghost Commander from f-droid

Me too. It even supports connecting to SFTP servers (maybe needs an extension).

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arty feddit.org arty@feddit.org
Joined: 2024-07-02
#27 · Quote Reply

I use Material Files

Nice, even WebDAV support

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MonkderVierte lemmy.zip MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-05-30
#28 · (edited) Quote Reply

I like it. It supports hosting a ftp server and automatically finding SMB servers in the local network. This is the first file manager I've found that does these two things. But no app management unfortunately. Thanks!

I mean, you can click an .apk to run it with the installer (of choice even). That's all the file management part. Next you want it to also manage your photos, play videos?

2
myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#29 · Quote Reply

I mean, you can click an .apk to run it with the installer (of choice even). That's all the file management part. Next you want it to also manage your photos, play videos?

I don't mean installing apps, I mean viewing installed apps and being able to extract apks from them by "copying" them to a folder, as well as some other things.

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𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚒 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝙻𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚢 feddit.org leviathan@feddit.org
Joined: 2025-01-10
#30 · Quote Reply

Very feature-rich and the interface looks cool. Thx!

You're welcome :)

getting downvoted for recommending something I haven't tried.. It's an app not a dish people lol

4
hneerqe lemmy.world hneerqe@lemmy.world
Joined: 2026-06-27
#31 · Quote Reply

I use Material Files

This is the only one I like. I think it's done right under the hood. Good balance between features and looks like stock, without being too overloaded with options. It hasn't been updated in a while, though nothing seems broken AFAIK.

7
myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#32 · Quote Reply

You're welcome :) getting downvoted for recommending something I haven't tried.. It's an app not a dish people lol

I don't get it either. Saying smth looks good only requires looking at it. If you'd refrained from writing about this app for the lack of experience with it, we wouldn't get to know it.

2
Jolteon lemmy.zip Jolteon@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2023-10-25
#33 · Quote Reply

Maybe I should have a look again? I use it for nextcloud/webdav and accessing the data storage folder of gpslogger which was historically in the android/data folder. Edit: it's still forbidden to access android/data ... they introduced that "security/privacy" features 1-2 years ago when they also forbid to us ethe Downloads folder directly for provacy reasons

IIRC there's a special setting to give it full access that you actually have to go into settings to add (you can't just add it from the prompts).

4
illusionist lemmy.zip illusionist@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-30
#34 · Quote Reply

IIRC there's a special setting to give it full access that you actually have to go into settings to add (you can't just add it from the prompts).

I can't find anything

2
JoyfulCodingGuy lemmy.ml JoyfulCodingGuy@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2023-06-02
#35 · Quote Reply

I use Ghost Commander from f-droid

Better than Material Files for SFTP but it reprompts for the SMTP password inconsistently on app switch. Kind of annoying but whatever.

1
0x0 lemmy.zip 0x0@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-04-04
#36 · Quote Reply

I don't mean installing apps, I mean viewing installed apps and being able to extract apks from them by "copying" them to a folder, as well as some other things.

You want an app manager, not a file manager.

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Jakeroxs sh.itjust.works Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-07-03
#37 · Quote Reply

Not FOSS but been using Solid Explorer for forever, has all the features I need.

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𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚒 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝙻𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚢 feddit.org leviathan@feddit.org
Joined: 2025-01-10
#38 · Quote Reply

I don't get it either. Saying smth looks good only requires looking at it. If you'd refrained from writing about this app for the lack of experience with it, we wouldn't get to know it.

Exactly, that's how I think about.. I know tons of apps.. i have them all bookmarked.. but I can't try them all when all my needs are met..

sometimes I bookmark something thinking that I might need it in the future.. so I don't get to ever try it..

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somerandomname lemmy.ml somerandomname@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2022-09-27
#39 · Quote Reply

I use Material Files

No update since 2024. It it abandoned?

2
Fisch discuss.tchncs.de Fisch@discuss.tchncs.de
Joined: 2024-03-14
#40 · Quote Reply

No update since 2024. It it abandoned?

I honestly didn't even notice that, it still works perfectly fine. I just looked at the repo and it seems like the developer is technically still working on it but very rarely. There just haven't been enough changes for a new release.

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myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#41 · Quote Reply

Exactly, that's how I think about.. I know tons of apps.. i have them all bookmarked.. but I can't try them all when all my needs are met.. sometimes I bookmark something thinking that I might need it in the future.. so I don't get to ever try it..

sometimes I bookmark something thinking that I might need it in the future.. so I don't get to ever try it..

So relatable 😅

1
myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#42 · Quote Reply

You want an app manager, not a file manager.

Having it built in tha file manager is very convenient for me. I've been using it this way in X-plore for ages.

1
Jolteon lemmy.zip Jolteon@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2023-10-25
#43 · Quote Reply

I can't find anything

Settings - > Apps - > Special App Access - > All Files Access.

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illusionist lemmy.zip illusionist@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-30
#44 · Quote Reply

Settings - > Apps - > Special App Access - > All Files Access.

I don't have a rooted phone. It does not work.

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WillieShen lemmy.world WillieShen@lemmy.world
Joined: 2026-08-15
#45 · Quote Reply

Material Files and Amaze

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gpstarman lemmy.today gpstarman@lemmy.today
Joined: 2024-06-29
#46 · Quote Reply

I like this one but not in development anymore.

Prism File Explorer

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myszka lemmy.ml myszka@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-16
#47 · (edited) Quote Reply

I like this one but not in development anymore. Prism File Explorer

Another person here posted its actively maintained fork: https://lemmy.ml/comment/27551987

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Captain Beyond linkage.ds8.zone beyond@linkage.ds8.zone
Joined: 2021-03-27
#48 · Quote Reply

I like Ghost Commander

I typically don't use this style of file manager on desktop but on mobile it just seems to work well for me.

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Captain Beyond linkage.ds8.zone beyond@linkage.ds8.zone
Joined: 2021-03-27
#49 · Quote Reply

You're welcome :) getting downvoted for recommending something I haven't tried.. It's an app not a dish people lol

Well at least this one's FOSS.

Not sure why there's always a bunch of people rushing to shill for their favorite proprietary trash app in every thread.

1
Jolteon lemmy.zip Jolteon@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2023-10-25
#50 · Quote Reply

I don't have a rooted phone. It does not work.

Huh, no idea why it's not working. It's definitely not the fact that your phone isn't rooted, since mine isn't either. I'm running GrapheneOS on Android 17, so it might just be something in my version of Android.

1
illusionist lemmy.zip illusionist@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-30
#51 · (edited) Quote Reply

Huh, no idea why it's not working. It's definitely not the fact that your phone isn't rooted, since mine isn't either. I'm running GrapheneOS on Android 17, so it might just be something in my version of Android.

That is strange. Material files explicitly states that my phone is not rooted and can't access the files

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