this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2025
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Hi guys. Just wanted to know what's your best app or apps for files management in Android. I'm have been using zarchiver for years which is not FOSS but has some features which are important to me like compressed files management and access to obb and data folders in Android. Is there a better solution out there?

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's no massively strong recommendation of mine, but File Explorer has been decent. Talk about a name, though, haha.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Gonna give it a try thanks

[–] BeatTakeshi 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Mixplorer is free on XDA, and is by far the best, most complete and most modular there is.

You can purchase the silver version on Google play to support the dev (no additional features).

[–] essell 4 points 2 weeks ago

It handles browsing networked resources incredibly smoothly

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Can you kindly share links for it

[–] BeatTakeshi 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago
[–] eruchitanda 11 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I prefer Solid Explorer but sadly it's not FOSS. 2 things are missing:

  1. It doesn't have multiple page support. Solid has 2 pages and I use one for my phone storage and one for my server
  2. You can't change the way the folders are displayed, a 2 grid view is kinda ugly for me and I prefer a smaller view
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

another vote for material files. it's the only good one that can access smb shares. the only alternative I found was ghost commander and it's just absolutely horrible to use

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Great but Doesn't support what I need

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

What are your requirements?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Compressed files management (7zip mostly) and ways to access obb and data folder in Android

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Thanks I will check it out and yeah It doesn't have to be foss worst case I will cut off it's internet access.

[–] avds 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Thanks but like I said material files doesn't support what I need but it's a very nicely designed app

[–] avds 2 points 1 week ago

I did'nt read other replies 👍

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Thanks but like I said material files doesn't support what I need but it's a very nicely designed app

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It does support un/compressing of archives and access to any system folders, if you give it root (not possible without root for any app, except if you have a zero day exploit).

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I haven't found a perfect Foss file explorer, so I use 2, material files and ghost commander.

Material files

Pros:

It shows the disks sizes

Can deal with compressed files (zip, 7zip, tar)

Multiple windows support

Cons:

You need to reset the app to update disk size and to show new ones

Images are cropped

Multiple windows are worst and not as intuitive as multiple panels

It have issues when trying to open files with other apps, particularly librera.

Ghost Commander

Pros:

Many personalization options

Dual panel

Light weight and fast

Cons:

Can't deal with 7zip files

It's only view mode is list view

Don't show disks available space

One Foss app many people don't know about that is worth mentioning is

Index which try to bring a linux desktop file manager to android.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Shit. I will cut off it's internet access then. Maybe it's copium but mixplorer is very feature rich and yeah it's not FOSS and that's OK I guess

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

I've been using Ghost Commander for years and it does everything I need, although I don't have your specific requirements so you need to check that yourself.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] wreckedcarzz 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

+1 for this, I've been using it for what seems like forever now, it's been solid

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's not open-source, though, right? That's what led me to finally leave it... Incredibly powerful tool otherwise.

[–] wreckedcarzz 1 points 2 weeks ago

I don't believe so, no :/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Sounds like Root Explorer would be suitable.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

CX explorer but it is not FOSS.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

I used this many years ago, but their privacy policy was awful. I checked it before posting and it's way better now but it's still not the best, from their Privacy page

"We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your information with trusted third-party service providers"

Use mixplorer if you are going to use a close source file manager, is more private with more features.

[–] BurpBlog 2 points 2 weeks ago

Another vote for the incredible MiXplorer

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Solid Explorer

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)