Stock Android has always lacked a built-in file manager app and while that changed with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, it’s still not the full featured solution users are looking for. Also, while most smartphone makers include a file manager app on their devices, they aren’t the best file managers out there. But there’s nothing to worry about, as there are a ton of third party file manager apps available on the Play Store.
Chances are, you are already using a third party file manager and the one you are using is ES File Explorer, considering the app’s huge popularity. However, if you are new to the Android ecosystem, you must be wondering which file manager to use, right? Well, we’ll recommend you to use ES File Explorer (free), as it’s arguably the most feature rich file manager out there. Still confused? Well, let’s dive into the details to make up your mind.
Key Features
ES File Explorer is considered as the best file manager app by many and it’s certainly not a surprise, with the app packing a ton of features. While we cannot list out all of its features, here are the best features of ES File Explorer:
1. File Management Tools
ES File Explorer comes with all the basic and advanced file management tools you can imagine. You can copy, move, delete, rename, check details and share files form both internal storage and sd card. There’s also support for batch actions, recycle bin, ability to hide files in the file manager, file compression or extraction, encryption and you can even make a backup of files, which is pretty handy.
Apart from the usual file manager features, ES also features a built-in viewer for almost all file types, which is amazing. Plus, for rooted Android devices, the file manager includes a root explorer, where you can tinker with system files, change system permissions etc.
2. Storage Analyst and Other Tools
ES File Explorer also analyzes your storage usage and informs you about any junk files, redundant files, large files etc., so that users can easily clean them up to free up space on their device while also speeding things up. There are a host of other tools like a download manager, system task manager and an app manager.
3. Cloud Storage Support
You are surely going to love the fact that ES File Explorer lets you switch between your local storage files and cloud storage files with ease. Plus, you can easily move files between the local and cloud storage. There’s support for cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Amazon S3, Yandex, Box and more.
4. File Transfer
You can even use ES File Explorer as a file transfer app, as it lets you transfer files like audios, videos, documents, images etc. over a WiFi connection without using your mobile data. You can transfer files to another Android smartphone or even a PC and the good news is, there are no limitations on file size and type. Also, you can copy and paste files between Bluetooth paired devices. That’s not all, as the app also supports network sharing.
5. Gestures
ES File Explorer lets you create custom gestures for various functions in the app. You can create a gesture to open a folder, file, app, window etc. or you can use a custom gesture to quickly close the app, exit a window and more, which is pretty cool.
User Interface
Now that you have an idea of the features in ES File Explorer, let’s get to the user interface of the app. The UI of a file manager app matters a lot because you are going to do a lot of actions like moving, transferring or deleting files. Thankfully, ES File Explorer packs in a very intuitive interface, which makes managing files a breeze. The app opens up with the home page, which features categories for different file types like compressed, app, images, music, movies, documents etc. Scroll down and you will find all the recent files.
You can swipe from the left edge to open up the drawer, which packs in a plethora of options. You can jump to different folders, check out various tools, enable or disable features like Recycle Bin, Root Explorer, Gesture etc. You can also swipe from the right edge to open up the clipboard. The app also supports multiple windows, which means you can easily move files from one folder to another via just a simple swipe to the left or right from the center.
Also, there are a lot of customization options, so you can choose the view in the app from a lot of options. You can also change various display settings, to make sure you only see what you want to see in the main page of the app. Overall, we love the window switching, the always available clipboard and the various customization options on offer here.
Ease of Use
The ES File Explorer does pack in a lot of features but the developers have still managed to keep the app user friendly. Sure, some of the features in the app might feel overwhelming to you but I guess, this is the price you have to pay for a feature rich file manager app. Also, some features like the clipboard manager, windows etc. can be a little tough to discover for people who are new to the app but hey, we have already told you about that.
Apart from that, the usual file management features in the app work like a charm and it’s quick, thanks to the multiple windows support and clipboard. We also like the integration with cloud storage services, which makes sure you have all your local files and cloud files at the same place. Other features of the app are easy to use as well. While users have complained about various ads, and app recommendations, we did not find them as a problem in our version of the app, so nothing to worry about there. Overall, we like the user experience in the ES File Explorer and this is definitely the file manager to get if you want a powerful full fledged file management tool.
Pros:
- Feature rich
- Multiple windows support
- Handy tools
- Intuitive UI
Cons:
- A little overwhelming
ES File Explorer: Arguably the best file manager app for Android
With the number of features it brings, ES File Explorer is arguably the best file manager app for Android. It packs in all the advanced file managerial features, then there are smart tools, the ability to transfer files and more. All of that in a very intuitive UI, so what’s not to like? Well, try it out for yourself and let us know how you like ES File Explorer in the comments section below.
