Every Android TV user needs to install a file manager for a couple of reasons. First, Android TV doesn’t have a native file explorer. Second, since many app developers haven’t yet made their apps compatible with Android TV, you’ll need a file explorer to sideload APK files for apps that aren’t available in the Play Store.
Here are some of the best file managers for Android TV.
Most importantly, all the apps are easy to navigate using the Android TV remote. Sideloaded file explorers often require an external mouse or game controller to operate, so we'll avoid those.
The first option I recommend is X-plore File Manager. It uses a two-pane approach to file management. This is great in the context of external sideloading. The two panes make it easy to move APKs from USB to Android TV storage.
The downside is that it is not really user friendly. While it is not complicated, it does take some time to get used to how the app works.
The important thing about an Android TV file manager is that it can also connect to your cloud drive. Since many people use Android TV to watch personal media (like DVDs you've burned to your hard drive or home videos you've converted to digital format), having a quick way to access and play cloud-based videos means you can easily watch your content from anywhere in the world.
To add a cloud drive, go to Web Storage > Add Storage in the left panel. It works with Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, Amazon Cloud Drive, OneDrive, Flickr, and many more.
The final useful feature from an Android TV perspective is Wi-Fi file transfer. If you have files on your laptop that you want to view on your TV, sending them over is a breeze – no cables or USB required!
Total Commander will be familiar to many users. It's one of the best file managers for Android on mobile devices. However, it also works great with Android TV and is packed with features that are especially useful for big screens.
First, the app offers native support for Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox. The article discussed the value of having access to such services.
Second, it offers a built-in media player. While long-time Android users may initially balk at the idea of having a media player as part of a file manager, Total Commander’s media player has one important feature. It can stream directly from LAN, WebDAV, and cloud plugins.
Finally, Total Commander offers a wide range of plugins. They provide everything from WebDAV functionality to FTP and SFTP clients. Sure, they sound technical, but if you’ve ever bought an Android TV device, you’ll quickly understand their value.
3. TvExplorer
Unlike X-plore File Manager and Total Commander, TvExplorer is not available on the mobile version of Android. You can only find this app through the Play Store on your Android TV device.
Since it's an Android TV exclusive, the app adheres to Android TV design guidelines, so TvExplorer is arguably the best-looking app here. And when you're viewing an app on a 60-inch screen, that's a big deal.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite match the other two apps in terms of features. It does the basics (like renaming files and extracting ZIP files ) but not much else. There’s no way to connect to apps like Google Drive and Dropbox. There is, however, a Wi-Fi file transfer feature.
If you are constantly having trouble with device storage, try AnExplorer File Manager. It is a super lightweight app adapted for the Android TV interface. It only takes up 3MB on your device and supports cloud storage.
AnExplorer has another important feature that is incredibly useful: Accessibility tools. These include custom high-contrast themes, adjustable text size, and in-app sounds.
Solid Explorer is one of the best file explorers for Android TV. Unlike some of the other apps we have reviewed, this one has a native Android TV version that you can install directly from your device.
The app uses a two-panel approach to file management, both of which can function as standalone file browsers. It supports FTP, SFTP, WebDav, SMB/CIFS clients, allows root access, and even lets you password protect files.
Solid Explorer is also much more customizable than many other Android TV file managers. You can add your own icon sets, color schemes, themes, and more. Solid Explorer is not free. After a 14-day free trial, you will have to pay $2.
6. Access Android TV on local network
Instead of listing another app, this article will give you a slightly different suggestion. Why not avoid installing a file explorer on your Android TV device and just use File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) instead?
To use your computer as a file explorer for Android TV, you'll need to enable the feature on your device. Go to Settings > Storage and Reset > Storage Access and slide the switch next to Over local network to On . Your device will provide you with a username and password; remember them.
Next, on your Windows computer, type \\SHIELD in File Explorer. On your Mac, go to Go > Connect to Server and type smb://SHIELD/. Enter your username and password when prompted, and you'll have access to all the files and folders on your device.
Great photos are more than just a matter of pointing and shooting. If you own a Samsung phone, you have a secret treasure trove of camera tricks waiting to be unlocked for your creativity.
All the photos you take on your smartphone are saved in your device's photo library so everyone can see them, even your private photos.
Your expensive Samsung Galaxy doesn't have to look exactly like every other phone on the market. With a few tweaks, you can make it more personal, stylish, and unique.
After getting bored with iOS, they finally switched to Samsung phones, and have no regrets about that decision.
While Google's mid-range phones are great value, what about its flagship products?
If you've been using an Android phone for long enough, you probably already know and use many of its features. However, there are likely some hidden features that you don't know about.
Most of us treat our smartphone's charging port as if its sole job is to keep the battery alive. But that little port is much more powerful than it gives it credit for.
Changing the brightness of your Android phone screen is a simple way to help you choose the screen brightness that suits your surroundings, avoiding the phone screen being too bright or too dark, affecting your health, especially your eyes.
If you're on the hunt for a new smartphone, the first thing you'll naturally look at is the specs sheet. It's packed with clues about performance, battery life, and display quality.
Years ago, some people decided to buy the first Pixel phone without thinking twice about whether it was worth the price. Time has proven that they are definitely worth every penny.
The buttons on your Android phone aren't just for adjusting the volume or waking up the screen. With a few simple tweaks, they can become shortcuts for taking a quick photo, skipping songs, launching apps, or even activating emergency features.
The biggest space hogs on your Android phone aren't always the things you can see. If your storage is filling up faster than usual, hidden files you never touch could be the culprit.
ADB not working or detecting your device on Windows? If Android can't connect via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), fixing this error requires just 3 basic steps.
Root Checker is an application that checks whether Android devices, from smartphones to tablets, have been rooted or not? Or whether the rooting process has been successful and worked effectively?
While you may already know and use Circle to Search for many things, let's explore some clever use cases.
Great photos are more than just a matter of pointing and shooting. If you own a Samsung phone, you have a secret treasure trove of camera tricks waiting to be unlocked for your creativity.
All the photos you take on your smartphone are saved in your device's photo library so everyone can see them, even your private photos.
Through this action button, you can call ChatGPT whenever you want on your phone. Here is a guide to open ChatGPT using the action button on iPhone.
Are you looking for funny phone unlock wallpapers? Check out the wallpapers below and choose a cool phone unlock wallpaper for yourself.
Your expensive Samsung Galaxy doesn't have to look exactly like every other phone on the market. With a few tweaks, you can make it more personal, stylish, and unique.
After getting bored with iOS, they finally switched to Samsung phones, and have no regrets about that decision.
While Google's mid-range phones are great value, what about its flagship products?
If you've been using an Android phone for long enough, you probably already know and use many of its features. However, there are likely some hidden features that you don't know about.
iPhone users can create polls in messages to ask for opinions from group chat members.
Apple has redesigned the Phone app in iOS 26 with a new Unified interface. If you don't like the new look of the Phone app, you can revert back to the old interface, following the instructions below.
Most of us treat our smartphone's charging port as if its sole job is to keep the battery alive. But that little port is much more powerful than it gives it credit for.
Changing the brightness of your Android phone screen is a simple way to help you choose the screen brightness that suits your surroundings, avoiding the phone screen being too bright or too dark, affecting your health, especially your eyes.
If you're on the hunt for a new smartphone, the first thing you'll naturally look at is the specs sheet. It's packed with clues about performance, battery life, and display quality.
To be able to insert emoji into photos on iPhone, we will need a few small tricks, according to the instructions below.
VPNs have a number of advantages, such as protecting your online identity and allowing you to access content in other countries. You may even experience faster connection speeds.
