Everyone Android TV user needs to install an Android TV file manager for a couple of reasons.

First, Android TV doesn't ship with a native file explorer. Second, because lots of app developers still haven't made their apps compatible with Android TV, you'll need a file explorer to sideload APK files for apps that aren't available in the Play Store.

Here are some of the best file managers for Android TV.

1. X-plore File Manager

android tv X-plore File Manager

As we walk through these choices, you'll notice some recurring themes. Most importantly, all the apps are easy to navigate using your Android TV remote. Sideloaded file explorers often require an external mouse or a gaming controller to operate, so we're going to avoid those.

The first choice we recommend is X-plore File Manager. It takes a dual-pane approach to file management. In the context of sideloading, this is great. The two panes make it easy to move an APK from a USB stick to your Android TV's storage drive.

On the downside, it's not particularly user-friendly. While it's not complicated, it takes a while to get accustomed to how the app works.

Importantly for an Android TV file manager, it can also connect to your cloud drives. Given lots of people use Android TV to watch personal media (such as DVDs you've ripped to you hard drive or home videos you've converted to digital format), having a way to quickly access and play your cloud-based videos means you can watch your content easily from anywhere in the world.

To add a cloud drive, go to Web Storage > Add Storage in the left-hand panel. It works with Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, Amazon Cloud Drive, OneDrive, Flickr, and many more.

The final useful feature from an Android TV perspective is Wi-Fi file transfers. If you have a file on your laptop that you want to watch on your TV, it's easy to send over---no cables or USB sticks required!

Download: X-plore File Manager (Free, in-app purchases available)

2. Total Commander

android tv Total Commander

Total Commander will be familiar to many users. It's one of the best file managers for the mobile version of Android. However, it also works wonderfully well with Android TV; it's packed with features that are especially useful for the big screen.

First, the app offers native support for Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox. We've already discussed the value of having access to such services.

Second, it offers a built-in media player. While long-term Android users might initially balk at the idea of using a media player that's part of a file manager, Total Commander's media player has an important feature. It can stream directly from LAN, WebDAV, and cloud plugins, thus killing two birds with one stone.

Finally, Total Commander offers a range of plugins. They offer everything from WebDAV functionality to FTP and SFTP clients. Sure, they sound technical, but if you've bought an Android TV device so you could become a dedicated cord cutter, you'll quickly understand their value.

Download: Total Commander (Free)

3. TvExplorer

tv explorer android tv

Unlike X-plore File Manager and Total Commander, TvExplorer is not available on the mobile version of Android. You can only find it via the Play Store on your Android TV device.

Because it's exclusively available on Android TV, the app adheres to Android TV design guidelines. As such, TvExplorer has arguably the most aesthetically pleasing interface out of the apps here. And when you're looking at an app on a 60-inch screen, that's a critical feature.

Unfortunately, it cannot rival the other two apps in terms of features. It does the basics (like renaming files and extracting ZIPs) but not much else. There is no way to connect with apps like Google Drive and Dropbox. However, there is a Wi-Fi file transfer feature.

Ultimately, you need to ask yourself whether you need all the extra bells and whistles. If you just need a file manager to run APK files, this fulfills your needs and looks incredible. If you want something more powerful, look elsewhere.

It's also worth noting that TvExplorer only works with Android 5.0 and later. All the other apps on this list work with Android 4.2 and later. Given that many older smart TVs which run on Android only have version 4.2, this app is not suitable for everyone.

Download: TvExplorer (Free, in-app purchase available)

4. AnExplorer File Manager

Not all Android TV devices enjoy a vast amount of storage. Sure, the top-of-the-range Nvidia Shield comes with up to 500GB, but some cheap entry-level gadgets might not have more than 4GB.

If you play a lot of games on your Android TV device, or if you frequently send files over Wi-Fi to watch on your TV, space can quickly become an issue. Of course, you can expand the capacity by using adoptable storage, but that's not always practical.

If you constantly bump up against your device's capacity, try AnExplorer File Manager. It's a super lightweight app adapted for the Android TV interface. It takes up just 3MB on your device and supports cloud storage.

AnExplorer has one other important feature that warrants its inclusion in this list: accessibility tools. These include customizable high-contrast themes, adjustable text size, and in-app sounds.

Download: AnExplorer File Manager (Free, premium version available)

5. Solid Explorer

Solid Explorer is another of the best file explorers for Android TV. Unlike some of the other apps we've looked at, it does have a native Android TV version that you can install directly from your device.

The app uses the two-panel approach to file management, both of which can serve as standalone file browsers. It supports FTP, SFTP, WebDav, SMB/CIFS clients, allows for root access, and even lets you password-protect your files.

Solid Explorer is also much more customizable than many of the other Android TV file managers. You can add your own icon sets, color schemes, themes, and more.

Solid Explorer is not free. After the 14-day free trial, you'll need to pay $2.

Download: Solid Explorer ($2, free trial available)

6. File Explorer

file explorer

File Explorer is the most simplistic app on our list. It doesn't have any fancy features (for example, there's no cloud storage support, no network connectivity, and no batch editing). The app is purely for viewing the files on your device.

But don't write it off. If your sole reason for installing an Android TV file manager is to sideload APK files, File Explorer might be the best app on the list. As the screenshot above demonstrates, there's a tab specifically dedicated to the APK files on your device.

The app can also read any connected storage devices. So if you're using expanded storage or an external hard drive, File Explorer view display its contents.

File Explorer was designed for Android TV, so you'll find it in Android TV Play Store on your device.

Download: File Explorer (Free)

7. Access Android TV on Your Local Network

Rather than listing another app, we're going to leave you with something a bit different. Why not avoid installing a file explorer on your Android TV device and just use File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) instead?

To use your computer as an Android TV file explorer, you need to enable the feature on your device. Go to Settings > Storage and Reset > Storage Access and slide the toggle next to Over local network into the On position. The device will give you a username and password; make note of them.

Next, on your Windows computer, type \\SHIELD in File Explorer. On Mac, head to Go > Connect to Server and type smb://SHIELD/. Enter your username and password when prompted, and you will have access to all your device's files and folders.

Master Android TV With the Right Tools

It's a good idea for every Android TV user to install a file explorer on their device, and now you know the best tools for the job. However, this is just one small part of getting the operating system set up for your needs.