Files
Original author(s)Google
Developer(s)Google
Initial releaseDecember 5, 2017; 6 years ago (2017-12-05)
Stable release(s)
1.3058.618591182.0[1] / March 25, 2024; 27 days ago (2024-03-25)
Operating systemAndroid
Available in90 languages
Websitefiles.google.com

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[2] with a custom version for China being released on May 30, 2018.[3]

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.[4]

Features

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

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.[5]

There is also a "Trash" feature, in which contents will be permanently deleted after 30 days.[6]

Browse mode

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,[7] 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.[8]

Share mode

Files uses peer-to-peer sharing (powered by Nearby Share) to send and receive files or apps. It also uses encryption to keep shared contents private.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Files by Google APKs". APKMirror. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Thuy Ong (2017-12-05). "Google's Files Go is now available globally". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  3. ^ Thuy Ong (2018-05-30). "Google launches second app in China, woos top smartphone market". Reuters. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  4. ^ Bradshaw, Kyle (2021-08-09). "Files by Google beta offers early look at Material You redesign [Update: Dynamic colors]". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  5. ^ "Get notifications to free up space". Google Support. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  6. ^ "Move files to Trash & restore files from Trash". Google Support. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Making privacy personal with Files by Google". The Keyword. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  8. ^ "Back up to Google Drive". Google Support. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  9. ^ "Send files or apps to people nearby". Google Support. Retrieved 27 July 2021.

External links

Google
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