FileExplorer

_{If FileExplorer earns a place on your phone, a coffee helps me keep it tested and maintained.}

FileExplorer is an open-source Android file manager for people who need more than a basic document picker. It brings local storage, root folders, archives, remote shares, and optional cloud accounts into one workspace. A built-in editor, storage analyzer, app manager, encrypted vault, and recoverable transfer queue handle the jobs that usually require several apps.

No ads. No behavioral analytics. Local file work does not require an account.

Download the signed APK · See what changed · Review every capability

See it in action

These screens come from a real Android emulator running FileExplorer.

Why people use it

• Keep common file work in one place. Browse, search, preview, rename, archive, tag, edit, and share from the same app.
• Move serious batches with a persistent queue. Jobs can pause, resume, survive process death, and report partial completion honestly.
• Reach the storage you actually use. Local volumes work immediately. Root, Shizuku, USB, remote, and cloud locations appear only when their requirements are met.
• See support before acting. Provider-aware controls do not present an unsupported remote operation as a successful one.

What is included

The capability guide separates ready features from those that need root, another service, hardware, or external credentials.

Install

Download a release

1. Open the latest release.
2. Download FileExplorer-v1.6.2.apk and its checksum file.
3. Allow installation from your browser or file manager if Android asks.
4. Open FileExplorer and choose full shared-storage access or limited app-storage mode.

Release APKs are signed. The release page includes SHA-256 checksums and the signing certificate fingerprint so you can verify what you install.

Storage access

Android 11 and newer require All Files Access for a traditional file manager to browse all shared storage. If you decline, FileExplorer stays usable inside its app-specific folder and through Android's system picker. Root is optional.

Connections and optional features

The public APK does not contain production cloud client secrets. Cloud entries remain visibly unavailable until a configured build can launch the real provider sign-in flow.

Privacy and security

FileExplorer has no advertising SDK and no behavioral analytics SDK. Network access is used when you choose a remote location, cloud provider, cast target, advisory scan, or local share server.

Saved network passwords use Android Keystore-backed encryption. Vault payloads use AES-256-GCM with opaque names and an authenticated index. Secrets, vault files, and the app database are excluded from Android cloud backup.

Flash storage and copy-on-write filesystems cannot promise forensic erasure. FileExplorer labels secure deletion as best effort and reports unsupported provider behavior instead of claiming a guarantee.

Read SECURITY.md for the threat boundaries, permission rationale, and private reporting link.

Permission and distribution summary

Requirements

• Android 8.0 or newer (API 26+)
• Full shared-storage access for whole-device browsing, or limited mode for app storage
• Root, Shizuku, remote servers, cloud credentials, and Cast hardware only for the matching optional features

Build it

Use Android SDK 36 and JDK 21. The project has 19 Gradle modules and targets JVM 17 bytecode.

git clone https://github.com/SysAdminDoc/FileExplorer.git
cd FileExplorer
$env:JAVA_HOME = "C:\Program Files\Eclipse Adoptium\jdk-21.0.12.8-hotspot"
.\gradlew.bat --no-daemon --console=plain :app:assembleDebug

Release signing values belong in an ignored signing.properties file or the documented environment variables. The repository never needs a committed keystore.

Run the local release checks before distributing a build:

.\gradlew.bat --no-daemon --console=plain test
.\gradlew.bat --no-daemon --console=plain verifyAccessibilityLocalization
.\gradlew.bat --no-daemon --console=plain verifyAndroidUpgradeReadiness verifyDependencyProvenance
.\gradlew.bat --no-daemon --console=plain scanDependencyAdvisories
.\gradlew.bat --no-daemon --console=plain releaseSmoke

The development guide covers the module layout, plugin contract, automation intents, cloud setup, and release gates.

Contributing

Bug reports and focused pull requests are welcome. Include the Android version, storage provider, steps to reproduce, and any redacted diagnostic output that helps explain the failure.

License

MIT

FileExplorer v1.6.2 gives the project page a clearer front door while keeping feature claims tied to the current app.

What changed:

• Rebuilt the README around common file-management jobs and a direct signed download.
• Added six real emulator captures, a new GitHub hero, and store-ready artwork.
• Added focused capability, security, and development references with clear setup boundaries.
• Updated the GitHub description and topics to improve discovery.

Package verification:

• Version name: 1.6.2
• Version code: 22
• APK SHA-256: ec8f12c153a5f7636749797a2e03ebfe034b5ada06b46fa247555c337af943c7
• Signing certificate SHA-256: c30e4f2f17fa42a05d1a14ae463f00947b179f688197dbd6737522dc8be87935

The signing certificate matches v1.6.1, so existing installs can update in place.