The popular file manager ES File Explorer vanished from the Google Play Store after its developer was accused of fraud. That left many users stuck with previous builds of the app, wondering whether to keep using it due to its malicious practices. Fortunately, finding an alternative to ES File Explorer is not complicated, and today we present one in the form of Amaze File Manager. This manager is open source, free, inspired by Google's Material Design, and works very well on older devices.
ES File Explorer's Troubles
ES File Explorer became the file manager of choice for millions of users thanks to an intuitive design and built-in features far superior to those of preinstalled managers. Unfortunately, its developers at ES Global (a subsidiary of DO Global that answers to Baidu) reacted to that success by making some not entirely positive decisions.
One of the most controversial was the inclusion of DU Charge Booster in May 2016, which basically hijacked the lock screen on Android devices. In 2019, ES File Explorer was completely removed from the Play Store due to multiple accusations of “click fraud,” and in June 2020, the government of India banned the app citing privacy concerns.
The app can still be downloaded from secondary stores, but if you're thinking about installing an alternative to ES File Explorer, we can't blame you. With that in mind, we arrive at Amaze File Manager, a free, open source, and ad-free option.
Amaze File Manager: A Solid Replacement for ES File Explorer
The main menu of Amaze File Manager presents shortcuts to the most important folders on our device, and a series of bookmarks that we can customize. The WiFi P2P and space analysis functions require additional software, but the FTP server is an excellent tool for transferring files without hiccups.
Amaze File Manager also includes an app manager, with shortcuts to access properties and, if necessary, uninstall each of them. The advanced settings have options to modify the appearance (including a dark mode, and a black one for AMOLED screens), show thumbnails, hidden files, file sizes and permissions, and enable root exploration on those devices that allow that level of access.
To finish, Amaze File Manager is available both on the Google Play Store and F-Droid, but nothing stops you from manually getting the latest APK from its GitHub profile. The app works very well, is stable, and carries none of the privacy problems known in ES File Explorer. Download a copy!
Amaze File Manager on the Play Store: Click here
