Android TVs generally come with native file managers, but those apps have limited features and you can’t perform many advanced actions. So in this article, we bring you the best file managers for Android TV that offers all the basic functionalities such as cut/copy/paste/rename. In addition, you can extract ZIP/RAR files, integrate cloud services, preview various file formats, enable FTP server, set up SMB, and much more. So without any delay, let’s go ahead and find the best Android TV file explorers.
Best File Managers for Android TV in 2021
You can take a quick glance at the list of file manager apps for Android TV and click on the link to move to the corresponding app. We have put special emphasis on apps that offer no ads and tracking bloatware so you can securely use a file manager on your Android TV.
List of Top File Explorers for Android TV
1. Solid Explorer
If you are looking for a file explorer for Android TV that is optimized for the TV platform and looks as good as the smartphone version then Solid Explorer is a great choice. It offers a two-pane UI, preview of files, cloud integration, and best of all, SMB connection through the local network. You also have FTP support so you can quickly enable it and access your TV’s internal storage on your computer or smartphone.
And if you have plugged in a USB drive then you can browse all the files right from Solid Explorer. Overall, I would say, just go for Solid Explorer as it’s quite lightweight, well-designed, reliable, and works great with the Android TV remote. In fact, Solid Explorer has largely filled the void left by ES File Explorer.
Install: Solid Explorer (Free trial for 14 days, $1.99 for the Premium version)
2. FX File Explorer
The next file manager for Android TV is FX File Explorer which is known for its privacy safeguards. It has no ads, analytics, or tracking tools embedded within the app. The best part is that FX File Explorer brings all these security features for free to the users. Apart from that, the app looks pretty modern and supports both dark and light themes.
You also have a smart categorization of files into apps, videos, music, etc. What’s more, you can multitask on your Android TV using its split view interface. That said, keep in mind, the free version of the app does not have network tools like SMB, FTP, or cloud integration. You need to get the paid version of the app to access those functionalities.
Install: FX File Explorer (Free trial for 7 days, $2.99 for the Plus version)
3. File Commander
If you want a feature-rich file manager for Android TV then you should take a serious look at File Commander. It brings all the necessary features for absolutely free. That’s amazing, right? The only con is that the UI is slightly dated meaning it looks clunky with its various menus and action buttons. However, if you look past that then it’s a complete powerhouse of an app.
You get a two-panel mode, supports both FTP and SMB which is just amazing for a free file manager. And if you want to integrate your cloud files then you can do so using its plugins. In my view, File Commander is a complete file explorer for Android TV and you should check it out right away.
Install: File Commander (Free, offers in-app purchases)
4. X-plore File Manager
X-plore File Manager is one of the oldest file managers out there and it’s also available for the Android TV platform. First of all, the file manager has an archaic UI which I assume, may not be for everyone. However, it brings a lot of advanced features in its unique tree-view design. It has a dual-pane window and can be used to split the app and perform two actions side by side.
Apart from that, you have features like FTP/SMB, SSH, Cloud Integration, subtitles for videos, and more. What I like about X-plore File Manager is that it has a “Bookmarks” feature. It helps me open folders and files without having to manually navigate through the long file paths every single time. All in all, X-plore File Manager is an advanced file manager for Android TV and must give it a look.
Install: X-plore File Manager (Free, offers in-app purchases)
5. File Manager by DWorkS (AnExplorer)
File Manager by DWorkS is our final file explorer on this list for Android TV. The best part about this File Manager is that it offers a smart library of all files and categorizes them into photos, videos, APKs, documents, and more. There is also a bookmark functionality for quick access within the app. In addition, it allows you to access all sorts of USB drives with the option to play the media file within the app.
Not to mention, you can enable the FTP server to quickly transfer files from Android TV to your computer. Lastly, just like other file managers on this list, it supports several cloud services such as Box, OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and more. To conclude, File Manager by DWorkS is a clean and simple file manager for Android TV and you can definitely check it out.
Install: File Manager (Free, offers in-app purchases)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which is the Best File Manager App for Android TV?
In my opinion, Solid Explorer and FX File Explorer are the two best file manager apps for Android TV. That said, you can also take a look at File Commander and other apps mentioned on this list.
Q. How Do I Access Files on an Android TV?
To access your files on an Android TV, you need to install a file manager which you can find from the above list. After that, open the app and you will find all your files and folders within the app.
Q. What Happened to ES File Explorer on Android TV?
ES File Explorer was removed from the Play Store after Google found out that ES File Explorer was committing click fraud in the background. The app was clicking ads in users’ apps in the background without permission.
Q. How Do I Install Google Drive on My Android TV?
You can follow our guide on how to transfer files to Android TV using cloud service to learn about installing Google Drive on Android TV. You just need to add your Google account to one of the file manager apps and you are done.
Explore APKs and Media Files with the Best Android TV File Managers
So these are our picks for the best file managers for Android TV. I personally use the premium version of Solid Explorer on my Android TV and smartphone because of its clean UI and good developer support. However, FX File Explorer is also quite good and comparable. In case, you want a completely free solution with all the features then you can pick File Commander. Anyway, that is all from us. If you found the article helpful then comment down below and let us know.
