Some years back I was a mixplorer user, then switched to solid explorer for some time and now I’m using Material Files.

I was thinking of going back to either Solid / Mixplorer or trying something new.

  • d3Xt3r
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    9 months ago

    Solid Explorer. Why? Because I bought it ages ago and it still works fine. Even a decade later, it still gets regular updates, which shows that the dev cares about the app.

    More importantly, I like that it jumps straight into my filesystem without any nonsensical abstract views, and I like that it doesn’t come with any bloat (no junk cleaner or RAM booster crap), unlike other file managers. With other file managers these days, you open them and instead of seeing your files you get a bunch of mini apps or collections, which is NOT what I want. I just want a simple file manager, not an ecosystem. Thankfully, Solid isn’t like that.

    So even after all these years and all these updates, the app remains true to its original purpose and hasn’t sold out or gone down the enshittification path, which is a refreshing change compared to what we’ve been seeing with other apps.

    • figaro@lemdro.id
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      9 months ago

      I got it on some crazy sale long ago. They eventually updated, and still let me have the upgraded version as long as I had the pro app installed as well. I eventually decided to just buy it full price for the convenience of not needing to install the pro app every time I got a new phone.

      It’s one of my most used apps, so definitely worth it.

      • thangcuoi@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        Same. I have spare Google Rewards credits so I bought the in-app purchase to support the developer. Been using this app for probably over 10 years now.

        One of my most frequently used features is the FTP file transfer to/from a Windows device or even another Android device.

    • Fatbuddha@kbin.social
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      9 months ago

      Yeah I don’t know if something better is out there because solid explorer is, well, just solid. Internal storage, local file server, Google drive, one drive, sftp. Absolutely fantastic tool, bought it years ago and it goes on every phone and tablet I’ve had since. I’m really not sure what it would take to move on from it, it fulfills every need I’ve had for a file explorer.

    • randomTingler@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Same for me. I use solid explorer as I bought it.

      I installed MXplorer on my mom’s phone as it has all the necessary options and is free.

    • Xirup@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      9 months ago

      I take this opportunity to ask, does anyone know how to make Solid Explorer return to home/ every time it is opened instead of remaining in the last directory it opened?

  • Ambuj Yadav@programming.dev
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    9 months ago

    Material files Why? - Foss + Does job + All essential utilities + no other foss option available 🥲

  • m-p{3}@lemmy.ca
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    9 months ago

    Solid Explorer, since I can mount an SFTP volume using keyfile authentication.

    The only thing I don’t like is that it uses its own file encryption system instead of a more open solution like Cryptomator. I know Cryptomator exists, but I can’t access SFTP volume using keyfile authentication with it…

    • TheMadnessKing@lemdro.id
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      9 months ago

      Also, one of the drawbacks is that it needs Google account to be added to the device to access the drive. MiXplorer can directly use the browser the get access to drive, thus making it more FOSS friendly ROMs.

  • TheMadnessKing@lemdro.id
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    9 months ago

    I have been using MiXplorer for past 3 years. Has been working rock solid for me.

    I kinda want to see how it would look with MD3 tho.

    • janguv@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      9 months ago

      +1 for MiX. It’s FOSS and has everything you could want in a file explorer, functionality wise.

      Edit: scratch that. God knows how long I thought it was FOSS for!

      • TheMadnessKing@lemdro.id
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        9 months ago

        Yes. But the dev js f* awesome. I have checked and the app doesn’t call home or pull anything shit.

        The only reason I bought this app.

          • TheMadnessKing@lemdro.id
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            9 months ago

            Yes. There is the app called MiXplorer Silver on Play Store which is paid. It just bundles some of the plugins in the app itself

  • TheHawaiianKoala@kbin.social
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    9 months ago

    I have tried alot of File Managers but MiXplorer is the one that suits me the most. Althought I would’ve prefered an opensource File Manager, Material Files is a little too basic for my needs. The developer of MiX is an awesome dude so I trust him.

  • Polar@lemmy.ca
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    9 months ago

    Solid Explorer.

    However, when I’m VPNing into my unraid server, for some reason Solid Explorer doesn’t work? I downloaded Xiaomi File Manager, and while it’s EXTREMELY slow, it does work via the VPN.

    Does anyone know why?

    Edit: tried Material Files to replace the Xiaomi app, and it also lets me connect to my shares when I VPN into my unraid server. I wonder why Solid Explorer refuses to connect…

    • qupada@kbin.social
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      9 months ago

      What protocol?

      Solid Explorer works fine for me through a VPN with SFTP. I’ve not tried SMB though.

      Speed isn’t amazing (was only getting 600kB/s testing just now), but it does work.

      • Polar@lemmy.ca
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        9 months ago

        SMB.

        But when I use Xiaomi File Manager or Material Files, and the SMB protocol, it works.

        Xiaomi File Manager is REALLY slow, but Material Files is actually pretty fast over VPN and mobile data.

        Still scratching my head as to what makes Solid Explorer different…

        • ditty@lemm.ee
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          9 months ago

          I use Solid Explorer with my local SMB share and it works great. I primarily use it keep files in sync between my Android phone and tablet.

          It doesn’t seem to work for NFS though.

  • Kokesh@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    FX File manager - mounts anything, including SSH, Windows shares,… Great root support, two windows for easier file operations,…

  • Granixo@feddit.cl
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    9 months ago

    Cx File Explorer

    I also use it as a music player since it properly orders files by alphabet and allows for “play single track once” option.

    • atocci@kbin.social
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      9 months ago

      I’ve never found anything better than Cx File Explorer or anything Cx File Explorer can’t do. It’s my go-to app for managing local, NAS, and cloud based files.

    • gelberhut@lemdro.id
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      9 months ago

      Also use it. Does everything I need including network drive support, has storage analyser, etc. UI is nice and useful. So far, I have no reason to search for alternatives.

    • gelberhut@lemdro.id
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      9 months ago

      Also use it. Does everything I need including network drive support, has storage analyser, etc. UI is nice and useful. So far, I have no reason to search for alternatives.

  • Ranessin@feddit.de
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    9 months ago

    Total Commander. Has been for two decades on PC and near one on Android. Not beautiful, but so useful.

    • Endrom@lemmy.ml
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      9 months ago

      Never liked it on pc, but I have it on phone and love the ability to have 2 dirs open at the same time.

    • Papamousse@beehaw.org
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      9 months ago

      I’m using it since Norton Commander under DOS, I don’t know how to use something else !

  • Thorny_Thicket@sopuli.xyz
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    9 months ago

    Solid Explorer but it’s not like I’ve tried all the others too. It’s what I always go to and it has served me good.

    • Hubi@feddit.de
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      9 months ago

      Yes! It’s actually the only app I ever bought the premium version of. It’s basically a fully fledged file explorer like you’d find on a Linux desktop. It even supports FTP and Samba.

      • MaggiWuerze@feddit.de
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        9 months ago

        What issue do you have? I use it for close to ten years on almost every android version and it just works.

  • adlr@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    While not great as a general file manager, I use this app to launch into the hidden, built in file manager in Android. The major benefit is that it can access apps’ data directories. Every other file manager is blocked from that (at least without root).

  • danielfgom@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Tbh I find the Google Files app to be fine for my needs.

    However in the past I used Solid Explorer but it was simply way more than I needed. If you need that much power check it out.

    For an open source FM check out Material Files. It’s like SE but free, open source and 100% spyware free.

    • Gestrid@lemmy.ca
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      9 months ago

      Same here. I don’t really need anything Google Files doesn’t offer.

  • Bleeping Lobster@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I use Material File Browser. Replaced almost all the default google shit with FOSS alternatives, some of them may not have all the features of a slick google app but it’s a fair exchange given that they’re not relentlessly jacking my data.