Mi File Manager comes pre-installed on Xiaomi devices, but the ads and inability to uninstall frustrate many users. These file managers offer cleaner interfaces, more powerful features, or completely ad-free experiences — and several are free.
Each app below addresses a specific gap in Mi File Manager's offering. We picked them based on real user review patterns and feature differentiation.
Files by Google is the obvious replacement for Mi File Manager — same core functionality (browse, delete, share, sort), built by Google with no ads, no privacy concerns, and seamless integration with Google Drive. Includes a smart storage cleaner that recommends files to delete. The default switch for most Mi File Manager defectors.
Explore Files by Google data →Solid Explorer is a premium file manager with a dual-pane interface, cloud storage support (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, Mega), FTP/SFTP/SMB support, and root access. The most powerful file manager on Android by a wide margin. Worth the one-time fee for anyone who manages files seriously.
Explore Solid Explorer data →X-plore from Lonely Cat Games offers a dual-pane tree view, support for Root, FTP, SMB, SQLite, Zip, Rar, 7zip, and DLNA/UPnP exploration — for free. It has more features than Mi File Manager and Solid Explorer combined, with the only downside being a slightly utilitarian interface.
Explore X-plore File Manager data →Total Commander is a 30-year-old desktop file manager that's been ported to Android. The dual-pane layout, FTP support, plugin architecture, and zero ads make it a serious alternative to Mi File Manager. Plugin support extends it to handle cloud storage, archives, and more.
Explore Total Commander data →CX File Explorer offers a clean material design interface, network storage support (FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV), and cloud integration with Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. Completely free and ad-free, with no upsells or premium tiers. A solid Mi File Manager replacement for users who want simplicity.
Explore CX File Explorer data →Material Files is an open-source Android file manager built with Material Design 3 in mind. The design is closer to Google's vision than Files by Google itself, with no ads, no telemetry, and full source available on GitHub. The privacy-respecting choice for users uncomfortable with Mi File Manager's data collection.
Explore Material Files data →We found these alternatives by analyzing review patterns across file management apps. The most common reasons Mi File Manager users leave are intrusive ads, inability to uninstall the pre-installed app, and inconsistent file organization. Each alternative below addresses at least one of those concerns directly.
Files by Google is the most direct replacement — it's free, ad-free, and from Google. Solid Explorer is the best paid choice for serious file management work, and X-plore is the most powerful free option for users who want all the features without paying.
On most Xiaomi devices, the file manager is part of the system and cannot be uninstalled directly. You can disable it via Settings → Apps → Manage Apps and use a third-party file manager like Files by Google as your default.
Xiaomi monetizes many of its system apps with ads, which is unusual for file managers. Files by Google, Solid Explorer, X-plore, and Material Files are all completely ad-free.
App Vulture uses AI-powered review intelligence to analyze what real users say about apps — their pain points, feature requests, and reasons for switching. We identified these alternatives by analyzing review patterns across file management apps and validated each candidate against the source app's most common churn reasons.
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