A good alternative to Files by Google is any file manager that covers the jobs you actually use it for. Files by Google does more than browse folders: its current Google Play listing describes cleanup recommendations, search, Quick Share, a separate lock, offline media playback, and backup to Google Drive or an SD card. If you move to an app with a plainer interface, you give up some of that convenience and gain control in other places. The real decision is between polish and workflow fit, and the apps below sit at different points on that line.
What Files by Google covers today
Google’s Play listing, updated October 1, 2026, presents the app as a combined cleanup and browsing tool. The publisher’s own description lists the following:
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- Cleanup recommendations for storage
- Search and browsing across local storage
- Quick Share to nearby Android and Chromebook devices
- A separate PIN or pattern lock for the app
- Offline media playback
- Moving files to Google Drive or an SD card
The same listing says the app uses less than 20 MB and contains no ads. It also shows 5B+ downloads and a 4.5-star rating on Google Play as of 2026. Those figures describe the listing at that date; they are not an independent survey of quality, and the feature descriptions are the publisher’s claims rather than third-party performance tests.
Polish and workflow are different criteria
Most “uglier” replacements win on different axes than the one Files by Google optimises for. Before picking an app, decide which of these matters most to you:
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
- Cleanup and guidance. Files by Google points you toward what to delete. Most manual file managers leave that judgment to you.
- Manual file-operation depth. Dual panes, task-based copy and move, drag and drop between panels, and folder-specific sorting favour people who move many files at once.
- Storage reach. Local storage is the common ground. Beyond it, some apps add LAN shares, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, cloud providers, and removable media, and each app supports a different subset.
- Privacy and provenance. Whether an app requests the Internet permission, where it is distributed, and whether its source is open all differ.
- Android version and folder access. System restrictions apply to every file manager (see below).
The replacement candidates
MiXplorer
MiXplorer is a customisable file manager with an extensive feature list on its official site. The site describes tabs, dual-panel browsing in landscape orientation, drag and drop between panels, task-based copy and move operations, advanced search, bookmarks, and per-folder views and sorting. The official feature page states: “Unlimited Tabbed browsing and Dual panel in landscape mode and Drag and Drop between panels also supported.”
The developer’s site also lists:
- USB OTG support: FAT32 read/write, exFAT read/write, and NTFS read-only
- Archive packing and unpacking
- Cloud providers, plus SMB, FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV
- A built-in FTP/HTTP server
- Encryption, media and text tools, and root operations
Those are feature claims on the developer’s site. Availability depends on your device, Android release, permissions, and any add-ons. The site offers a free download through its XDA forum route and says purchasing MiX Silver on the Play Store or Galaxy Store supports development. Check the download route and pricing before you install, since both can change.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Android Authority’s comparison, dated August 10, 2025, calls MiXplorer highly versatile and customisable, covering internal, external, LAN, and cloud storage, plus themes, add-ons, skins, and tabs. The reviewer names it as a personal favourite; that is one reviewer’s preference, not a verdict on which app suits everyone.
Fossify File Manager
Fossify is the choice if open-source distribution matters to you. Its F-Droid listing describes search, sorting, compression, storage analysis, SD and USB navigation, file locking, and a light editor. The F-Droid listing records version 1.6.1 as added on February 18, 2026, requires Android 8.0 or newer, and is licensed GPL-3.0-only. Release schedules differ between F-Droid and Google Play, so confirm the current version in whichever store you use.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Fossify’s privacy policy, effective July 12, 2026, states: “The app does not request Android’s Internet permission or send usage data to Fossify.” The same policy says files leave the device when you share them or open them with another app or provider. That statement covers Fossify’s own behaviour only. It says nothing about the apps you share into or the cloud services you connect.
Material Files
Android Authority describes Material Files as an approachable option with Material You theming, night mode, a sidebar, and support for external and local-network storage. It does not connect to Google Drive, so pair it with another app if Drive is part of your routine. It suits people who want clearer navigation than a bare file browser without the depth of a power-user tool.
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Solid Explorer and Cx File Explorer
Solid Explorer offers dual-pane file management, fingerprint-protected storage access, folder information, and a polished interface, according to Android Authority. Cx File Explorer focuses on analysis: storage analysis, largest-file discovery, free-space information, and built-in image, video, and audio players. Both are useful if your main complaint is organisation rather than the look of the app.
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Side-by-side comparison
| App | Distribution noted | Dual panes | Remote or network storage | Google Drive | Archives and extras | Stated minimum Android |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files by Google | Google Play | Not stated in Play listing | Google Drive, SD card | Yes (Play listing) | Cleanup, Quick Share, lock, media playback | Not stated in Play listing |
| MiXplorer | Developer site (XDA route), Play Store or Galaxy Store (MiX Silver) | Yes, in landscape (developer site) | LAN, SMB, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, cloud providers (developer site) | Not stated (developer site names cloud providers without listing Drive) | Archive pack and unpack, encryption, FTP/HTTP server (developer site) | Not stated on developer site |
| Fossify File Manager | F-Droid, Google Play | Not stated in F-Droid listing | SD and USB navigation (F-Droid listing) | Not stated | Compression, file locking, light editor (F-Droid listing) | Android 8.0 or newer (F-Droid listing, v1.6.1) |
| Material Files | Not stated | Not stated (Android Authority) | External and local-network storage (Android Authority) | No (Android Authority) | Material You theming, night mode | Not stated |
| Solid Explorer | Not stated | Yes (Android Authority) | Not stated | Not stated | Fingerprint-protected storage access | Not stated |
| Cx File Explorer | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Storage analysis, built-in media players (Android Authority) | Not stated |
“Not stated” means the cited source does not describe that detail. Check the app’s current store page before you decide, because listings change.
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Android limits no file manager can remove
Android’s storage documentation for Android 11 and later restricts access to other apps’ private and app-specific directories. For apps targeting Android 11 or higher, the Storage Access Framework cannot request access to Android/data or Android/obb through the documented file and directory-picker intents. All-files access is a special permission, and Google Play’s publication rules apply to apps that declare it. Switching file managers will not change this, and no third-party app should be trusted to bypass it.
When a folder seems inaccessible, work through these checks:
- Confirm whether the folder is shared storage or an app’s private directory.
- Check your Android version, since the rules above apply from Android 11 onward.
- Review the app’s file and storage permissions in your device settings.
- If the storage is removable media, confirm the filesystem and connector. MiXplorer lists NTFS as read-only over USB OTG.
Choosing the right replacement
- If cleanup suggestions and Quick Share are the features you miss most, look for an app that covers those functions and accept that you will run cleanup manually elsewhere.
- If you move large batches between folders, favour dual panes, task-based operations, and archive handling.
- If you use a NAS, a home server, or an SFTP host, check the remote protocols each app lists before you commit.
- If you want open-source software and a stated privacy position, start with the Fossify listings and policy.
- If you use Google Drive heavily, confirm Drive support directly in the app’s store listing, since several candidates do not list it.
A USB-C flash drive for Android is an optional accessory for transfers and backups, not a requirement. Confirm that your phone’s port, the drive’s filesystem, and the app’s OTG support line up before buying one.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minutePractical notes before switching
- Install from the store you trust and check the version date on that listing.
- Test your critical workflows, such as moving a large folder or reaching a network share, before you delete the old app.
- Review each app’s permissions on first launch.
The apps above fit different needs. Look at the table, match it to the work you do most, and install the app whose listed features cover that work.
The Bottom Line
Pick the replacement by workflow, not by how plain the interface looks. Files by Google’s cleanup and Quick Share features are hard to match, so if you rely on them, a plainer app will cost you something. If you need dual panes, archives, or remote storage, MiXplorer is the most complete candidate listed here. If open source and a stated privacy position matter most, Fossify is the better fit.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
