Buzz
Android has long provided a built-in file manager. While it allows you to view and manage your files, it has always lacked certain features and functionalities. With Android 10, Google has improved the Files app with many useful new options. The file management interface is now more user-friendly. The app provides a comprehensive search bar at the top, allowing users quicker access to specific file types.
1. Display Recent Files
On an Android 10 device, open the App Drawer and tap the Files icon. By default, the app displays your most recent files. Swipe down the screen to view all existing files.
2. View All Files on the Device
To view only a specific type of file, tap on one of the categories at the top, such as Images, Videos, Audio, or Documents. Choose the category you want to view, and the files within that category will be displayed.
3. Explore Specific Folders
Users also have the option to change the view mode by navigating to a specific folder on their Android phones. Tap the three horizontal lines icon in the upper left corner of the screen. In the Files menu, select the folder you want to view. Additionally, you can delve into any subfolder to browse the files within.
4. Find Files Using the Search Field
Next, users can locate desired files through the search field at the top. Enter keywords or phrases into the search field, and the app will 'filter through' and display relevant files.
5. Customize File Sorting Order
You can rearrange the order of your files. By tapping the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen and selecting a command in the Sort By window, users can organize files by name, modification date, file type, and file size. You can also change the file view mode from Thumbnails to Details by tapping the three horizontal lines icon above the second column of files.
6. Save or Share One/Several Files
Users can save or share one or multiple files. Simply press and hold the file you want to share to select it and tap the Share icon at the top of the screen. Then, choose the service, location, or app you want to use to share the file, such as Dropbox, Facebook, Messages, or Twitter. To deselect the chosen files, tap the X icon at the top of the screen, displaying the number of selected files.
7. Save and View Files on Google Drive
You can also access files on Google Drive if you're using this service for online storage. Tap the Google Drive icon. Explore the details of the folders and files you've stored on Google Drive. On the Google Drive page, you can switch between Thumbnails and Details view modes by tapping the three horizontal lines icon. Search for specific files on this cloud storage service by tapping the search icon at the top and entering keywords.
In addition, you have various other useful commands. Tap the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen, and you can create a new window or folder, organize files into different categories, select all files, and many other commands. When you've completed tasks on Google Drive, press the left arrow to return to the Files app or App Drawer.
8. Preview Most Files through the Built-in Viewer
Previewing most files in the Files app through the built-in Viewer is also effortlessly done. Tap on an image, video, or PDF file to open it, and the viewer will automatically display the file. In the video viewer, you can play, pause, go back, or fast forward the video. For a multitude of image or PDF files, you can swipe left and right to navigate from one file to another.
Tap the Google Drive icon at the top to save the file on Drive. Touch the trash can icon to delete the file. Tap the three dots icon, and you can choose to open the file with a specific app, download the file to the Downloads folder, send the file to an online service or app, and print the file.
9. View Word Documents and Excel Spreadsheets with Respective Apps:
Finally, you can view other file types such as Microsoft Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, but you'll need to download the corresponding mobile version of the app. When trying to open a file and the app notifies you that you can't preview that file, in this case, tap on Open With and select the appropriate program. The file will open within that app, where you can view or edit the file.
