Files (Google)
{{Short description|File management software}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Files
| logo = Google Files logo.svg
| logo alt = The logo contains a blue folder which is semi folded on the top-left. The fold contains distinct colors of the Google logo, namely red, green, and blue, and is folded similarly to paper.
| logo size = 175px
| screenshot = Files Google.png
| developer = Google
| released = {{sda|2017|12|05|df=yes}}
| latest release version = {{nowrap|1.7853 (Build 773559108.2)}}
| latest release date = {{sda|2025|06|20|df=y}}{{Cite web
| url = https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.nbu.files
| title = Files by Google
| website = Google Play
| access-date = 2025-06-25}}{{Cite web
| url = https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/files-go/files-by-google-1-7853-773559108-2-release-release/
| title = Files by Google 1.7853.773559108.2-release
| website = APKMirror
| date = 2025-06-20
| access-date = 2025-06-25}}
| operating system = Android 8+
| language count = 90
| website = {{URL|https://files.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{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/5/16737222/googles-files-go-available-globally |title=Google's Files Go is now available globally |accessdate=2018-05-31 |author=Thuy Ong |date=2017-12-05 |publisher=The Verge |archive-date=2018-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528030714/https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/5/16737222/googles-files-go-available-globally |url-status=dead }} with a custom version for China being released on May 30, 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-google/google-launches-second-app-in-china-woos-top-smartphone-market-idUSKCN1IW086 |title=Google launches second app in China, woos top smartphone market
|accessdate=2019-03-26 |author=Thuy Ong |date=2018-05-30 |publisher=Reuters}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Bradshaw |first=Kyle |date=2021-08-09 |title=Files by Google beta offers early look at Material You redesign [Update: Dynamic colors] |url=https://9to5google.com/2021/08/09/files-by-google-material-you-redesign/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=9to5Google |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Get notifications to free up space |url=https://support.google.com/files/answer/9747186|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Google Support}}
There is also a "Trash" feature, in which contents will be permanently deleted after 30 days.{{cite web |title=Move files to Trash & restore files from Trash |url=https://support.google.com/files/answer/10607740 |website=Google Support |access-date=27 July 2021}}
= 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|date=October 2023}}
It also includes a "Favorites" folder, a "Safe Folder" which protects files using a Pattern or a PIN,{{Cite web|date=2020-08-05|title=Making privacy personal with Files by Google|url=https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-asia/making-privacy-personal-files-google/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=The Keyword}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://support.google.com/files/answer/9849042|title=Back up to Google Drive|date=|access-date=2021-10-20|website=Google Support}}
= Share mode =
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.{{cite web |title=Send files or apps to people nearby |url=https://support.google.com/files/answer/7577382?hl=en |website=Google Support |access-date=27 July 2021}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}