File Manager Total Commander has long become a legend among Windows users, but not everyone knows that its full-fledged version also exists for Android. Unlike standard explorers, this tool offers advanced capabilities for working with files: a two-panel interface, support FTP/FTPS/SFTP, built-in archiver, cloud integrations and even plugins to expand functionality. However, on mobile devices its potential often remains untapped - many are limited to basic copying and deleting operations.

In this article we will examine unique features of Total Commander for Android that go beyond standard file managers: from setting up synchronization with clouds to automating routine tasks through scripts. You will learn how to turn your smartphone into a full-fledged file management tool - with capabilities that are not available even in popular alternatives like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer. We will pay special attention to security: correct work with access rights, encryption and protection of data when transmitted over the network.

Installation and first acquaintance with the interface

Download Total Commander for Android available for free from Google Play —the application weighs about 10 MB and does not require root access for basic operation. After installation, you will be greeted with a classic two-pane interface, which may seem unusual on a mobile device. The left and right panels are independent of each other: you can open different folders, cloud storages or even connections on FTP on each of them.

The first thing to do is set up the display of files. By default, system folders and files with the extension .nomediaare hidden. To see them:

  1. Tap on the button ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner.
  2. Select Settings → Display.
  3. Activate options Show hidden files and Show system files (carefully!).

Pay attention to the bottom panel with buttons - the main actions are located here: copying (F5), moving (F6), creating a folder, etc. On touch devices, these hotkeys are emulated via a long press on a file or folder. If you are used to a keyboard, you can connect Bluetooth keyboard —the application supports all standard combinations Total Commander for Windows.

📊 Which file manager do you use on Android?
Total Commander
Solid Explorer
FX File Explorer
Standard Explorer
Other

Connecting cloud storage: Google Drive, Yandex Disk, Dropbox

One of the key features Total Commander is support for cloud services without the need to install separate applications. To connect, for example, Google Drive:

  1. Click on the button + in the top panel (or select Network → Add cloud).
  2. Select Google Drive from the list.
  3. Login through the browser (a window will open Google Accounts).
  4. After a successful connection, the cloud will appear in the list of network locations.

For Yandex Disk or Dropbox the process is similar, but there is a nuance: some cloud services require creating an special password for applications (app password) in the account security settings. This is due to two-factor authentication policies. If an error occurs during connection. check: 403 Forbidden, check:

  • 🔑 The entered password is correct (for Yandex you may need to generate a password in Settings → Security → Passwords for applications).
  • 🌐 Availability of an Internet connection (clouds do not work in offline mode).
  • 📱 Application permissions (in the Android settings, check that Total Commander has access to storage and accounts).

After connecting, the cloud will be displayed as a separate drive in the left or right panel. you can copy files between the cloud and local storage as easily as between folders on your phone. The transfer speed depends on your Internet connection, but Total Commander supports background downloading - even if you minimize the application.

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To speed up your work with clouds, disable the "Show thumbnails" option in the display settings - this will reduce traffic load and processor.

Working with FTP/SFTP: setting up a connection to the server

If you need to manage files on a remote server (for example, website hosting), Total Commander allows you to connect using the protocols FTP, FTPS (secure FTP) and SFTP (via SSH). To do this:

  1. Click Network → Add FTP connection.
  2. Enter the server address (for example, ftp.example.com or IP), port (21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP).
  3. Specify the username and password (for anonymous FTP, leave the fields empty).
  4. For SFTP select the authentication type: password or key (if you use SSH keys, download them in advance to the folder /sdcard/tc/plugins).

After saving the connection, it will appear in the list of network locations. When connecting to the SFTP server for the first time, a warning may appear about an untrusted key - this is normal for new hosts. However, if you are connecting to an important server (for example, a corporate one), be sure to check the key fingerprint with the administrator to avoid MITM attacks (data interception).

For convenience, you can configure folder synchronization between local storage and an FTP server. For example, if you run a blog and want to automatically upload new articles to the folder /public_html on your hosting:

  • 📁 Open a local folder with files in one panel and an FTP directory in another.
  • 🔄 Click Select → Synchronize folders.
  • 🔧 Select the direction of synchronization (for example, "Update remote folder").
  • ⏳ Check the box Compare by date and sizeto avoid unnecessary overwrites.
What to do if the FTP connection is broken?

If the connection breaks after 30-60 seconds, check the timeout settings in Settings → FTP. Increase the value Connection timeout to 300 seconds. Also, the problem may be in the server firewall - check with us. hosting provider, whether passive FTP connections are blocked.

Archiving and unpacking files: ZIP, RAR, 7z

Total Commander has a built-in archiver that supports most popular formats: ZIP, RAR (unpacking only), 7z, TAR, GZ. To archive files:

  1. Select the required files or folders (long press → checkmark).
  2. Click Pack (archive icon in the bottom panel).
  3. Select a format (we recommend ZIP for compatibility or 7z for better compression).
  4. Specify the archive name and, if necessary, set a password.

To unpack, simply click on the archive and select Unpack. If the file is in format RAR, the application will offer to download an additional plugin (free). Please note: when unpacking large archives (>1 GB), Total Commander may freeze - in this case, it is better to use specialized applications like RAR for Android.

One ​​of the hidden features is multi-volume archives. This is useful if you need to split a large file into parts (for example, for writing to flash drives via 4 GB). To create a multi-volume archive:

  1. When packaging, select the format ZIP or 7z.
  2. In the section Split into volumes specify the size (for example, 2000M for 2 GB volumes).
  3. After creation, you will receive files with extensions .zip.001, .zip.002 etc.

Check the free space on the device|Create a backup copy of the original files|Set a password for confidential archives|Select a format that supports recovery (for example, 7z with recovery record)|Check the integrity of the archive after creation-->

Plugins and extensions: how to increase functionality

Basic capabilities Total Commander can be significantly expanded using plugins. They are installed as separate APK files and integrated into the main application. The most useful plugins:

Plugin Functional Download link
TC Plugin for Root Access to system folders /data, /system (requires root) Google Play
LAN Plugin Connecting to local network folders (SMB/CIFS) Official website
WebDAV Plugin Working with WebDAV servers (Nextcloud, OwnCloud) GitHub developer
Crypt Plugin File encryption using AES, Blowfish algorithms Built-in in the pro version

Installing plugins is simple: download the APK, open it through any file manager, and then restart Total Commander. New functions will appear in the menu Plugins. For example, with LAN Plugin you can connect to network folders on Windows PC or NAS devices without additional applications.

For users with root access additional features open up:

  • 🔧 Editing system files (for example, build.prop for performance tweaks).
  • 🗃️ Removing pre-installed applications (bloatware).
  • 🔄 Backup and restoration of applications with data (Titanium Backup analog).
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Plugins for Total Commander are developed by third-party developers. Before installing, check the reviews and reputation of the source - some plugins may contain malicious code.

Task automation: scripts and scheduler

Few people know, but Total Commander supports automation of routine operations through a built-in scripting language. For example, you could create a script for:

  • 📁 Daily backup of photos to the cloud.
  • 🗑️ Automatic deletion of old files from a folder Download.
  • 🔄 Synchronization of local music with NAS scheduled.

The simplest script for copying files from one folder to another looks like this:

; Script for copying all JPGs from the DCIM folder to Backup

copy c:\DCIM\*.jpg c:\Backup\Photos\ /S

To run the script:

  1. Create a text file with the extension .cmd (for example, backup.cmd).
  2. Place it in any folder on the device.
  3. T Total Commander tap on the file and select Run script.

For scheduled automation, use external applications like MacroDroid or Taskerthat can run scripts Total Commander in the background. For example, you can configure a task to run a backup every day at 2:00 am when the phone is connected to charging.

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Before writing complex scripts, test them on copies of files. Errors in commands (for example, an incorrect path) can lead to data loss.

Security: encryption, access rights and data protection

When working with confidential files in Total Commander it is important to follow security measures:

  • 🔒 Use built-in encryption (plugin Crypt) for important documents. The algorithm AES-256 is considered reliable for most tasks.
  • 🚫 Limit application rights: in Android settings, prohibit access to contacts, SMS and other unnecessary data.
  • 🌐 When connecting to FTP/SFTP, give preference to SFTP or FTPS —they encrypt traffic, unlike standard FTP.

If you work with root access, be especially careful:

⚠️ Attention: Changing or deleting files in folders /system, /vendor may lead to bootloop (loopy reboot of the device). Always create a backup copy (nandroid backup) before editing system files.

To protect against accidental deletion of important files, set up recycle bin:

  1. Go in Settings → File operations.
  2. Activate the option Use recycle bin.
  3. Specify the folder for storing deleted files (for example, /sdcard/RecycleBin).

Files in the basket is stored until you empty it manually or exhaust the space limit. This will save you from losing data if you accidentally click it.

Solving common problems

Despite the stability, Total Commander may encounter errors. Here are the most common ones and methods. solutions:

1. Files on the SD card are not displayed

Cause: Starting from Android 11, applications are prohibited from random access to external drives Solution:

  • 📱 Go to Android Settings → Applications → Total Commander → Permissions.
  • 🔧 Enable permission Manage all files (on some firmware it may be called Access to all files).
  • 🔄 Restart the application.

2. Error "Could not connect to the FTP server"

Causes and solutions:

  • 🌍 Check the server address and port (for example, for SFTP the port must be 22and not 21).
  • 🔌 Make sure that the server supports passive mode (enable Passive mode).
  • 🛡️ If you use mobile data, the operator can block FTP ports. Try connecting via Wi-Fi.

3. The archives are not unpacked (CRC error)

This means that the archive is damaged. Try:

  • 🔍 Download the archive again (it may not have downloaded enough).
  • 🛠️ Use the option Checking the archive before unpacking.
  • 📦 If the archive is multi-volume, make sure that all parts (.001, .002 etc.) are in one folder.
What to do if Total Commander does not see the internal memory?

On some devices (for example, Xiaomi or Huawei) the path to the internal memory may differ from the standard /sdcard. Try manually entering the path /storage/emulated/0 in the address bar.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Can I use Total Commander without the Internet?

Yes, all basic functions (working with local files, archiving, viewing documents) are available offline. The Internet is only required to connect to the clouds, FTP or download plugins.

How to transfer Total Commander settings to another phone?

Settings are stored in a file wcx_ftp.ini (for FTP) and totalcmd.cfg (basic settings) in a folder /sdcard/totalcmd. Copy these files to the new device and restart the application.

Does Total Commander support working with Google Drive in offline mode?

No, for offline access to files Google Drive you need to use the official application Google Drivewhich caches files locally. Total Commander can only sync files if the Internet is available.

How to enable dark theme in Total Commander?

Go to Settings → Interface → Color Scheme and select Dark or AMOLED Black. You can also set custom colors for folders, files and text.

Can I edit system files without root?

No, for editing files In /system or /data root access is required. Without them, you can only work with folders /sdcard and external drives.