One feature which stock Android has always lacked is proper, fleshed-out file manager. OEMs have made it a point to include custom file managers in their ROMs, but with Android 4.4 KitKat, the Documents provider gained basic file management capabilities. However, the functionality was never upgraded into a full file manager.
However, this opinion has proved unpopular, as file managers are some of the most downloaded apps by category on the Play Store. Now, it seems that Google has been working on an in-house file manager app for a while. Named Files Go, the app is intended to be a smart file manager, and was accidentally uploaded to the Play Store for a short time, which made it possible for users to download the app and test it. The link has now been taken down, though, as it shows a 404 error.
The Play Store description for Google Files Go contained the following description:
- Help you free up more space in many more ways than before.
- Suggest removing apps you no longer use to keep your phone fast & feeling new.
- Recognize and help you remove the spam & duplicate images.
- Find your important documents without cumbersome and manual effort.
- Share your files offline - fast & secure - with the tap of a button.
Files Go is intended to be a smart storage app, as it includes features to remove unwanted items, duplicate files, and more. It is worth noting that these features have already existed in OEM-provided and third-party file managers, but it is definitely good to see Google adopting them in an in-house file manager.
Files Go File Manager on APKMirror
Google's smart file manager also has a new and interesting feature to share files offline. It supposedly relies on a hotspot to work, which Google claims makes it fast and secure. We have not tried the app yet to see how the feature works in practice.
For now, the Play Store link for the app is broken, but Google probably intends to release the app soon. When that day arrives, and if the application is also offered out of the box on future Android devices, we imagine a lot of users will be happy to know they won't need to download a third-party file manager from the Play Store.