How to Open and Use a File Manager on Android

Easily view your Android’s files, folders, and downloads

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: December 4, 2024 Fact Checked

Wondering where to find files on your Android phone or tablet? We can help. This wikiHow guide teaches you how to find and open your Android’s File Manager.

Quick Steps

Open the app drawer.
Tap your file manager, like My Files or Files by Google.
Tap a folder to view its contents.

Steps

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1
Open your Android’s app drawer. Although it was once necessary to install a file manager manually, most Android phones and tablets come with file manager apps.
- You can also have a third-party file manager app installed, but those might not work as well as the default free apps. Some examples are Cx File Explorer, Total Commander, File Commander, and Solid Explorer.
2
Select your file manager. If you're using a Samsung Galaxy phone, the default file manager is called My Files. On Google Pixel and most other Android models, the file manager is called Files by Google (or just Files). On other models, you may find a file manager with the name File Manager, File Explorer, or File Browser.^{[1]
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- If you don’t have a file manager, you can download Files by Google from the Google Play Store.
- If you are using an older version of Android (older than Android 10), you have a Downloads app in the app drawer instead. Tap it, then tap ☰ to view additional folders.
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3
Tap a folder to view its contents. If you have an SD card, you may be able to browse it by tapping its name. Otherwise, tap Internal Storage (or Internal Memory) to browse for files.
- Each file manager looks a little different, but they all act the same.
- Some file managers show you a categorized list of the files on your Android, like Downloads, Images, and Videos; others might show you different storage locations.
- If you see a list of storage locations, tap "Internal" or "Built-in" and then tap Downloads to see what you've downloaded.
4
Tap any file to view it. The selected file will open in its default app.^{[2]
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- For example, tapping a photo will open it in your gallery or photo manager app, documents in Google Docs, and spreadsheets in Google Sheets.
- You can manage the files differently depending on your file manager. For example, to delete a file in Files by Google, tap ⋮ > Move to Trash. In My Files (on Samsung), tap
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How do I open zip files?

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You have to download and app that will extract the files and then open them for you. You can do an internet search to find free zip file extractors. Winzip is a common one.

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