Managing Large Files on Android

Introduction

Android devices have evolved significantly over the years, transforming from simple communication tools to powerful productivity machines. One key feature contributing to this transformation is the ability to manage files on the device. While many users focus on surface-level aspects like apps and interfaces, understanding the underlying file system and managing large files effectively is crucial. This article provides a detailed guide on managing large files on Android, covering various methods and tools available.

Understanding Android File Management

Android's file management system is designed to be user-friendly and efficient. Since the release of Android 6.0 in 2015, the operating system has included a native file manager, which has evolved into a robust tool for data management.

Using the Google Files App

The Google Files app is preinstalled on Pixel phones and certain other Android devices. If your phone doesn't include the app by default, download it for free from the Play Store. The Files app provides an intuitive interface for managing files on your device.

When you first open the Google Files app, you'll find yourself in the Browse tab, showing your most recent files at the top, followed by a breakdown of different categories like downloads, documents, and images. Beneath that, you'll find a "Collections" section for important files marked as favorites and a special "safe folder" requiring extra authentication to access. Finally, an "Internal storage" option lets you browse your device's local storage in a traditional file-tree structure.

Search Functionality

One of the most important features of the Files app is the search bar at the top. This allows you to easily find any file on your phone, regardless of its location. Google is currently upgrading this function to search for text within images, documents, and PDFs, making it even more useful.

Cleaning Up Space

The Files app includes a Clean tab, which is the fastest and simplest way to free up space on your phone. By following Google's specific one-tap recommendations for eliminating storage-consuming files, you can quickly declutter your device and make more space available for other files or apps.

Managing Large Files

Managing large files on Android can be more complex than managing smaller ones, but several methods and tools can help.

Using External Storage

Android can connect with external storage devices like USB memory sticks and larger-capacity portable hard drives. This requires your phone to support USB On-The-Go (OTG). Many devices, including Google's Pixel phones and many Samsung Galaxy products, offer such support. If unsure, Google your phone's name along with "USB OTG" to find the answer quickly.

To connect an external drive, you'll need a USB-A to USB-C adapter. Plug the external drive into your phone using the adapter, and look for a notification confirming the drive is connected. Tap the "Explore" option within the notification to access the external storage.

Using FTP Server

Another method for transferring large files is by running an FTP server on your Android device. This allows you to transfer files over Wi-Fi, which can be faster and more convenient than using a physical connection. Many users have successfully transferred large files using this method, although it may not be as straightforward as using an external drive.

To set up an FTP server on your Android device, download an FTP server app from the Play Store. Once installed, configure the app to run in the background and make your device's files accessible via FTP. Use an FTP client on your computer to transfer files to and from your Android device.

Using Samba Share

Another option for transferring large files is by connecting to a Samba share from your Android device. Samba is a protocol that allows you to share files between different operating systems, including Windows and Android. By setting up a Samba share on your computer and configuring it to be accessible from your Android device, you can transfer files wirelessly without needing to physically connect the devices.

Advanced File Management

While the Google Files app provides a robust set of features for managing files, there may be situations where more advanced on-device file management functions are needed. For instance, dealing with different archive formats or performing batch operations on locally stored files might require a third-party file manager.

Third-Party File Managers

Several third-party file manager apps are available that can fill in the gaps left by the native Files app. These apps often provide additional features such as support for different archive formats, batch operations, and more advanced search functions. Some popular third-party file managers include:

• Solid Explorer
• ES File Explorer
• Amaze File Manager

Requesting All-Files Access

In some cases, an app might need broad access to files on your device. This is where the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission comes into play. This permission grants read and write access to all files within shared storage, including access to the contents of the MediaStore.Files table and the root directory of both USB OTG drives and SD cards.

To request this permission, declare it in your app's manifest file and use the ACTION_MANAGE_ALL_FILES_ACCESS_PERMISSION intent action to direct users to a system settings page where they can enable the option for your app.

Operations Permitted by MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

The MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission allows your app to perform several operations:

• Read and Write Access: The app can read and write files within shared storage.
• MediaStore Access: The app can access the contents of the MediaStore.Files table.
• Root Directory Access: The app can access the root directory of both USB OTG drives and SD cards.
• Internal Storage Access: The app can write to all internal storage directories except /Android/data/, /sdcard/Android, and most subdirectories of /sdcard/Android.

However, apps with this permission still cannot access app-specific directories that belong to other apps, as these directories appear as subdirectories of /Android/data/ on a storage volume.

Invoking Another App's Storage Management Activity

On Android 12 (API level 31) and higher, apps with both the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission and the QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission can use the getManageSpaceActivityIntent() method to send users to another app's custom space management activity. This method takes in a package name and a request code and returns either a PendingIntent if the specified app defines a custom "manage space" activity or null if it does not.

Enabling MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE for Testing

To explore how the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission affects your app, enable it for testing. Run the following command on the machine connected to your test device using ADB:
bash
adb shell appops set –uid MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE allow

This command sets the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission to allow for your specified app UID.

Deleting Large Files

Sometimes, managing large files involves deleting them to free up space on your device. Here’s how you can delete large files on Android:

1. Open Settings: Go to your device's settings app.
2. Device Care: Scroll down and select "Device Care."
3. Storage: Tap on "Storage."
4. Large Files: Scroll down to find the "Large Files" option.
5. Select File: Tap on the large file you want to delete.
6. Delete Files: Tap on "Delete Files" and then confirm by tapping "Delete" again.

Finding Large Files

To find large files on your Android device, use the Google Files app or other third-party file managers. Here’s how you can do it using the Google Files app:

1. Open Files App: Open the Google Files app.
2. Hamburger Menu: Tap on the hamburger menu on the top left side.
3. Clean: Tap on "Clean."
4. Large Files: The app will show all junk files, including large files residing on your device.
5. Select Files: Tap on "Select Files" to check out the large files on your device.

Managing large files on Android is vital for maintaining the performance and storage capacity of your device. By understanding the native file management tools provided by Android, such as the Google Files app, and leveraging additional features like external storage and third-party file managers, you can efficiently manage and transfer large files. Additionally, knowing how to request and use permissions like MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE can be essential for certain use cases. By following these steps and tips, you'll be well-equipped to handle any file management task on your Android device.