Files (Google)
![]() The logo of Files by Google | |
Original author(s) | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | |
Initial release | December 5, 2017 |
Stable release(s) | |
1.0.434083132[1]
/ March 28, 2022 | |
Operating system | Android |
Size | 13 MB[1] |
Available in | 90 languages |
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[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[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.[5]
There is also a "Trash" feature, in which contents will be permanently deleted after 30 days.[6]
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".
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 backup files to Google Drive.[8]
[edit]
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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Files by Google - Apps on Google Play". Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Thuy Ong (2018-05-30). "Google launches second app in China, woos top smartphone market". Reuters. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- ^ Bradshaw, Kyle (2021-08-09). "Files by Google beta offers early look at Material You redesign [Update: Dynamic colors]". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- ^ "Get notifications to free up space". Google Support. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
- ^ "Move files to Trash & restore files from Trash". Google Support. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Making privacy personal with Files by Google". The Keyword. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
- ^ "Back up to Google Drive". Google Support. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Send files or apps to people nearby". Google Support. Retrieved 27 July 2021.