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Files (Google)

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Files
Developer(s)Google
Initial release5 December 2017; 7 years ago (2017-12-05)
Stable release
1.5687 (Build 704205387.1) / 9 December 2024; 4 days ago (2024-12-09)[1][2]
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[3] with a custom version for China being released on May 30, 2018.[4]

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.[5]

Features

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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

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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.[6]

There is also a "Trash" feature, in which contents will be permanently deleted after 30 days.[7]

Browse mode

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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,[8] 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.[9]

Share mode

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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.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Files by Google". Google Play. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  2. ^ "Files by Google 1.5687.704205387.1-release". APKMirror. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Thuy Ong (2018-05-30). "Google launches second app in China, woos top smartphone market". Reuters. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  5. ^ Bradshaw, Kyle (2021-08-09). "Files by Google beta offers early look at Material You redesign [Update: Dynamic colors]". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  6. ^ "Get notifications to free up space". Google Support. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  7. ^ "Move files to Trash & restore files from Trash". Google Support. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Making privacy personal with Files by Google". The Keyword. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  9. ^ "Back up to Google Drive". Google Support. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  10. ^ "Send files or apps to people nearby". Google Support. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
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