One of the changes that we’ve seen in phones over recent years has been more control over the file systems. Having previously hidden away a lot of the local storage structure, Android and iOS now both give you easy access to it so you can manage your files similar to how you would on Windows or macOS.

It reflects a few gradual changes in the phones that we carry around with us, including increasing amounts of onboard storage space, increasingly complex apps, and increasingly sophisticated operating systems. Links with cloud storage platforms are also now more common than ever, which adds to the need for local file management tools.

While there are several file managers to use, particularly on Android, we’re going to focus on the tools that come built into Android and iOS, and what you can do with them. Besides giving you a better idea of what files you’ve got and where they are, these apps will also help you free up space on your devices.

Files on Android

Files on Android lets you browse folders in a number of ways.David Nield

If you own an Android phone of some description, you’ll find the Files app from Google is preinstalled. Open the app and you should see recently saved files first, then different file categories that you can browse through, including Downloads, Images, Videos, and Documents. You can also search for files using the box at the top.

Farther down the screen, you can access every folder on your file via the Internal storage button and every cloud storage account you’ve connected to Android via the Other storage button. There’s also access to your Safe folder here, which is a special folder you can protect with a PIN and use to store particularly sensitive files.

Once you’re within a specific folder or file category, you’re able to tap on any file to open it—for formats that cannot be opened within the Files app itself, you’ll be prompted to choose a different app on your phone to handle it. Tap the grid or list icon in the top right corner to change the folder view, and the three dots (also top right), then Sort by to change the order in which files are shown. New folders can be added from the same menu.