How to Fix if File Manager Keeps Stopping on Android

Quick Tips

• Go to Settings and tap on Apps > File Manager app > Storage > Clear cache.
• Open Apps Settings and tap on File Manager app > Battery > select Unrestricted.
• Go to File Manager app settings > three-dot icon at the top-right corner > Uninstall updates > confirm the same.

Basic Fixes:

• Restart Android phone: Long-press the power button and tap on Restart. Wait for the phone to restart and check again. This can help you fix any temporary glitches and bugs.
• Force stop and restart the File Manager app: You can open all background apps and close them. Then, reopen the File Manager app to see if this fixes the issue.
• Check device storage: If your device has less than 30% storage available, it might cause the File Manager app to stop or not open at all. Free up some space by deleting files, like trash files, and then reopen the File Manager app.
• Remove SD Card: While SD cards can help extend device storage, certain incompatible SD cards can cause the File Manager app to crash. To check, remove the SD card and try reopening the File Manager app on your Android phone.
• Check for software and File Manager app updates: Software updates help introduce new features and bug fixes that can help resolve any software-related issues. Similarly, you can also install the latest File Manager app updates. Then, check again.

Fix 1: Clear File Manager App Cache

Over time, most Android apps collect cache to make the app function faster and efficiently. However, if this cache gets corrupted, it can stop apps from working. If you’re facing this issue with your File Manager app, clear the app cache and then use the app. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on Apps. Here, tap on My Files.

Note: If you’re using the Google Files app, tap on Files and follow the below steps.

Step 2: Tap on Storage > Clear cache.

Fix 2: Unrestrict File Manager

If your device restricts certain File Manager app functions, the app might stop intermittently. Open the Settings app on your Android phone and ensure the Files Manager app can run unrestricted. Follow the below steps to do it.

Step 1: Go to Settings → Apps → My Files.

Tip: Tap on Files if you’re using the Google Files app and follow the below steps.

Step 2: Here, tap on Battery → select Unrestricted.

Fix 3: Uninstall File Manager App Updates

While regular app updates are usually beneficial for apps, certain buggy updates might do more harm than good. And since you can’t uninstall most system apps, you can instead uninstall the latest app updates for the File Manager app to set it to default. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Go to Settings → Apps → My Files → tap the three-dot icon at the top-right corner.

Step 2: Tap on Uninstall updates and confirm the same.

You can also follow the steps to uninstall updates for the Google Files app on your Android phone. Then, try opening the relevant File Manager app again to see if the issue has been fixed.