Any FOSS file picker/chooser?

1

Any FOSS file picker/chooser to replace the default one?

Thanks

1 Like
2

I swear by Fossify File Manager.

FYI: The Fossify tools are a fork of the Simple tools, which got acquired by a DataFarmer and enshittified.

3 Likes
3

I have installed it but it doesn’t pop up as the file picker though when clicking to upload a file on a website e.g. via Firefox.

4

Maybe your current one is set as default.

to remove it’s something like: android settings => apps => find the current file picker app => “open by default” or something like that.

5

Document (file) picker is a system app…

Not sure you can replace it, without root access…

@RDR what’s wrong with yours? Which Android version?

6

Android 15

The problem is it doesn’t remember last directory used nor it offers bookmarks for quick accessing specific files/foldera among other inconveniences.

1 Like
7

You need file manager or file picker?
There are many managers in F-droid repo. Amaze, Material files, Fossify file manager, Ghost commander, Prism File Explorer etc…
If you want Android built in file manager you can use shortcut for documents UI
[MOD EDIT: PLAYAPP REMOVED]

8

Yeah, I use intent to create shortcut for file picker, as 3rd party ones do not always get picked by many apps.

9

Thanks but I am not sure if I have been understood.

The problem is that when I visit a website via i e.g. e-ink bro browser, then when I click to upload a file to a website, the default file manager appears instead of my preferred one for example, Fossify File Manager.

Is there any solution to this and what are the steps to implement it?

Thanks

10

I think you’ve been understood well and we all facing the problem.
Look at this.

Screenshot_2025-08-15-21-22-55-17_5734e8eb49b4234b62f913f831715b0f
Screenshot_2025-08-15-21-22-55-17_5734e8eb49b4234b62f913f831715b0f1080Ă—2400 146 KB

1 Like
11

Here is what I got from AI bot:
"Without root/ADB → you can try installing a file manager that supports ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT, and sometimes Android will let you set it as the default.

With root/ADB → the most reliable way is to disable the system DocumentsUI, so an alternative file picker will always be used."

Have you tried disabling documentsui?

12

how 2 break ur fone: beginners guide

8 Likes
13

Yes. I was curious but found out myself.
Summary: There is no easy way here, but all points to rooted device, exchange or redirect file picker call. Conclusion: let it be like it is, get used to that…

1 Like
14

This is probably one of my more hated aspects about Android. I mean don’t get me wrong it’s a fantastic OS (provided you take all the intrusive Google services out.)

But. One of my more hated aspects of it is that in some areas it feels extremely unnecessarily restrictive.

Some examples I can think of that in my opinion don’t really improve security or the user experience.

  • Being Forced to utilize the System Camera App for many things instead of a third party camera app..
  • Being Forced to utilize the File Picker for many things instead of a third party app. (Granted you could argue this is on the app developer’s part but realistically shouldn’t it be user choice and not something the app dev has to implement proper support for??)
  • Not being able to record the audio of any app that doesn’t explicitly declare it (I always thought this was stupid and still do)
  • Not being able to access the android/data and android/obb directories…

Really it makes you want to just use shizuku or root but then you break the entire security model of android by doing so…

Edit: I should probably note this wasn’t always the case some earlier android versions do not have these restrictions. But I feel like it’s only fair to compare it to the latest version.

15

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.