Many users, encountering the ecosystem for the first time Samsung, experience slight confusion when trying to find a familiar file manager. Unlike computers with Windows, where the “My Computer” or “Explorer” icon is always visible, in the mobile operating system Android the logic for the location of system utilities is somewhat different. This often raises the question: where has Explorer gone and how can you now manage downloaded documents, photos or archives?
In fact, the application has not disappeared anywhere. It has simply been renamed and integrated into the overall interface structure One UI for more ergonomic one-handed use. The standard file manager from Samsung is called My Files (or My Files in the English version of the firmware). It has advanced functionality compared to stock solutions from other brands, allowing you not only to view data, but also to perform deep memory cleaning.
Access to this tool is critical for transferring data, installing applications from third-party sources (APK files) and organizing your workspace. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the ways to detect the utility, configure the display of hidden system partitions and effectively use the built-in storage analysis tools.
Standard location and search for the My Files application
The most obvious way to find File Explorer is to look in the all applications menu. On smartphones Galaxy the default menu style is used, where all installed apps are located in a general list, accessible by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. It is here, among hundreds of icons, that the tool we need is hidden.
The application icon looks like a yellow folder with a characteristic logo Samsung. However, if you have a lot of games and social networks installed, searching for it manually can be tedious. It's much faster to use the built-in search. At the top of the application menu there is a line Search for applications. Start typing the name “Files” or “My”, and the system will instantly filter the list, showing the desired shortcut.
To speed up access in the future, it is recommended to pin the shortcut to the home screen or quick access panel. To do this, simply press and hold the icon until the action menu appears, and then select “Add to Home Screen.” This will create a permanent link similar to Explorer on your PC desktop.
⚠️ Attention: If you have updated the interface to the latest version One UI, some system folders may be grouped into automatic categories. Make sure you haven't accidentally hidden the app in Sleep mode or disabled it in the menu display settings.
Access via notification panel and sidebar
An alternative and often more convenient method of launching a file manager is to use the toolbar. In the ecosystem Samsung there is a function Sidebar (Edge Panel), which allows you to display shortcuts to frequently used applications on the side of the screen. This is especially useful when working with large amounts of data and when you need to quickly switch between the browser, gallery, and explorer.
To activate this feature, go to your device settings. The path looks like this: Settings → Display → Sidebar. After enabling the slider, a transparent tab will appear on the screen. By clicking on it, you will see a list of pinned applications. If “My Files” is not there, you need to go to the section Applications inside the sidebar menu and add a checkmark opposite the desired item.
Another quick way is to use a widget search in the notification shade. Swiping down twice (or once, depending on your settings) opens the Quick Settings panel. In some versions of the firmware, there is a button for quick access to the storage, which immediately opens an overview of free space and launches My files for detailed analysis.
- 📱 Activate the sidebar in the display settings for instant access to files from any application.
- 🔍 Use the search widget on the home screen by entering the name "Files" to quickly launch without entering the menu.
- ⚙️ Customize the Quick Settings panel by adding a "Storage" shortcut there to control disk space.
Use the split screen function. Launch My Files, then open the multitasking menu and select the second application. You can drag and drop photos and documents directly from Explorer to instant messenger or mail.
Configuring the display of hidden and system files
By default, the file manager My Files hides system files and folders starting with a period to protect the user from accidentally deleting critical operating system data Android. However, for advanced users who are modifying the system or transferring specific game configurations, access to this data is necessary.
To change this behavior, open the application and click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the screen. In the drop-down menu, select Settings. Scroll down the list to the “Advanced Settings” section or immediately find the switch Show system files. Activating this option will make all hidden directories visible.
After enabling this option, in the root of the internal storage you will see many new folders, such as .android, .cache or .thumbnails. Be extremely careful when working with them. Deleting files from these directories can cause applications to crash or lose cached data, which will slow down their subsequent launch.
Why are hidden files needed?
Hidden files often contain application-specific settings, temporary data, or error logs. For example, the .thumbnails folder stores thumbnails of your photos for quick loading in the gallery. Removing it will free up space, but the gallery will take longer to load the next time you open it.
Working with internal memory and SD card
Modern flagships Samsung often lack a slot for memory cards, but in mid-segment models support MicroSD is still relevant. The file manager allows you to easily switch between the internal drive and an external card, as well as move data between them to optimize system performance.
When you open the application My files in the “Storage” section you will see two main blocks: “Internal memory” and “Memory card” (if installed). Clicking on any of these items opens the root directory of the corresponding drive. The folder structure here is standardized: DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, Music for audio.
To transfer large amounts of data, for example, a video archive, use the selection mode. A long press on a file or folder activates the selection mode, after which you can mark dozens of objects at once. Then click the button Move or Copy in the bottom panel and select the target directory on another drive.
| Data type | Recommended location | Reason for choice |
|---|---|---|
| System applications | Internal memory | Ensures maximum loading speed and stability. |
| Photos and Video | Memory card (SD) | Saves space in internal storage, which is often limited. |
| Documents and Archives | Memory card (SD) | Convenient for transferring data to other devices without using a cable. |
| Game cache | Internal memory | Reduces loading time for levels and textures in heavy games. |
⚠️ Attention: Formatting a memory card through the phone settings will lead to complete loss of all data on it. Before formatting, be sure to copy important files to your computer or cloud storage.
☑️ Preparing to transfer files
Tools for analyzing and cleaning storage
One of the key features of the proprietary explorer Samsung is a built-in analytics module. It not only shows a list of folders, but also visualizes memory usage, helping you quickly find the files that take up the most space. This is much more effective than manually sorting by size.
On the main screen of the application, at the very bottom, there is a section Storage analysis. By clicking on it, you will see a pie chart divided into categories: images, videos, audio, documents and installation files. The system automatically highlights categories that have grown to critical sizes.
Smart filters are available within each category. For example, in the “Images” section you can find duplicates, screenshots, or old photos that you haven’t looked at for a long time. The Similar Images feature uses machine learning algorithms to group burst shots together, allowing you to delete bad shots with one tap.
A Rarely Used Apps section is also available. It shows apps that you haven't opened for more than a month. Removing such applications through this interface frees up a significant amount of space, since not only the installation file is deleted, but also all accumulated cache and data.
Regular analysis of the storage through the built-in "My Files" tool allows you to maintain high speed of your smartphone without the need to install third-party cleaning apps.
Connecting to a PC and working with network resources
The file manager on Android also acts as a client for working with network storage. You can connect to your computer via Wi-Fi if both devices are on the same network, or use the FTP protocol for wireless data transfer. This eliminates the need to constantly connect the USB cable.
To configure access to PC folders, select the item Network or Remote storagein the Explorer menu. Click "Add Storage" and enter your computer's IP address or select it from the list of detected devices on your local network. You will need to enter the login and password for your Windows account.
When you connect your smartphone to the computer via a USB cable, a request for access permission will appear on the phone screen. Select mode File transfer (MTP). After this, a device Samsungwill appear on the computer in "My Computer", which can be accessed through the same Explorer interface, but using Windows.
- 💻 Use MTP mode for high-speed transfer of large files via a USB 3.0 cable.
- 📡 Set up LAN access for convenient copying of documents wirelessly on your home network.
- ☁️ Integrate cloud services (Google Drive, OneDrive) directly into the “My Files” interface to work with the cloud as with a regular folder.
⚠️ Attention: Data transfer speed via Wi-Fi is significantly lower than cable. To transfer 4K video or backups larger than 10 GB, it is strongly recommended to use a wired connection to avoid connection interruptions.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why can't I see the Android folder on the memory card?
Starting with version Android 11, access to the folder Android/obb and Android/data on external drives is limited by Google's security policy. Third-party file managers may not see these folders. Standard Explorer Samsung may request special permission the first time you enter this directory - be sure to click “Allow access to folder.”
How to recover deleted files through Explorer?
The application My files has a recycle bin, but it only stores files for 30 days. Go to the menu (three dots) → Trash. If the file is there, select it and click "Recover". If the recycle bin is empty or more than a month has passed, recovery is only possible through special apps on the PC if you have root access or from a Samsung Cloud backup.
Can I change the icon of the “My Files” application?
Standard You cannot change the system application icon using system tools. However, you can use the application Good Lock (Home Up module) from the store Galaxy Storewhich allows you to customize the appearance of icons in the application menu and on the home screen without obtaining superuser rights.
Where are downloaded files from Telegram and WhatsApp?
Files from messengers are now hidden in the depths of system folders due to changes in Android 11+. The path to them: Internal memory → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Media. For Telegram, the path is similar: Android → media → org.telegram.messenger → Telegram.
Why does Explorer show that the memory is full, although there are few files?
This may be caused by accumulation of the system cache or an indexing error. Try clearing the cache of the My Files application itself via Settings → Applications → My files → Storage → Clear cache. Also check the trash in the gallery and explorer, as deleted files continue to take up space until they are permanently deleted.