Files (Google)
 | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: The screenshot in the infobox is from an older version. (August 2025) |
| Files | |
|---|---|
 | |
Screenshot  | |
| Developer(s) | |
| Initial release | December 5, 2017 |
| Stable release | |
| Operating system | Android 8+ |
| Available in | 90 languages |
| Type | File manager |
| Website | files |
Files (formerly known as Files Go) is a file management app developed by Google for file browsing, media consumption, storage clean-up and offline file transfer. It was released by Google on December 5, 2017[3] with a custom version for China being released on May 30, 2018.[4]
On August 9, 2021, the app was updated to have the Material You design, with bigger buttons and labels, and support for Android 12's Dynamic Theming.[5]
Features
[edit]The app is currently only available on the Android operating system, and includes three tabs: Clean, Browse, and Share. On Google Pixel devices, the Share tab is found by clicking the menu button.
Clean mode
[edit]This page identifies unused apps, large files, and duplicate files which users may no longer need. It can also notify the user when the storage is almost full.[6]
There is also a "Trash" feature, in which contents will be permanently deleted after 30 days.[7]
Browse mode
[edit]This page displays recently accessed files on the top by folder, and multiple categories on the bottom such as: "Downloads", "Images", "Videos", "Audio", "Documents & Other", and "Apps".[citation needed]
It also includes a "Favorites" folder, a "Safe Folder" which protects files using a Pattern or a PIN,[8] as well as two buttons leading to "Internal storage" and "Other storage".
Alongside that, the app also has a media player/image viewer, and the ability to back up files to Google Drive.[9]
Share mode
[edit]Files uses peer-to-peer sharing (powered by Quick Share) to send and receive files or apps. It also uses encryption to keep shared contents private.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Files by Google". Google Play. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ "Files by Google 1.8589.798773174.0-release". APKMirror. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ Ong, Thuy (5 December 2017). "Google's Files Go is now available globally". The Verge. Archived from the original on 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ Thuy Ong (30 May 2018). "Google launches second app in China, woos top smartphone market". Reuters. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ Bradshaw, Kyle (9 August 2021). "Files by Google beta offers early look at Material You redesign [Update: Dynamic colors]". 9to5Google. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ "Get notifications to free up space". Google Support. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Move files to Trash & restore files from Trash". Google Support. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Making privacy personal with Files by Google". The Keyword. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ "Back up to Google Drive". Google Support. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ "Send files or apps to people nearby". Google Support. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
