Convenient access to folders

[V1k]

I often need to open files (other than photos and music) stored in my phone, and it has been a constant irritation. I have to go to settings, scroll to Memory, and then click 3 times and even confirm some useless infobox that pops off everytime. Is there a quicker way to reach my files, or a way to create a shortcut to the most used folders (mostly Downloads)?

[Jonas · Accepted solution]

Hi @V1k, welcome to our forums!

You can access the download folder directly from the application called "Downloads" in your phone, if you add this app to the home screen you will be able to access it directly with 1 click!

I'm afraid that you can't add a shortcut on the home screen directly to internal storage menu of your phone, this might be possible with a third party file explorer application. I'd recommend that you download a few different file explorers and from the Google Play store and see if there is any of them that supports this.

To create a shortcut on the home screen, press and hold with a finger on an empty area > Widgets > Shortcuts > find the application > navigate to the folder you want to access from a shortcut on the home screen > tap OK. (This may differ between applications).

Let me know if that helps!

[V1k]

Apparently Downloads app allows me to browse all over my internal storage, not just actual downloads folder, so it's pretty much what I wanted, and adding it to my main screen solved my problem. I didn't know it could do that and it took me a while to figure out how it worked. Thank you.

[Jonas]

No problem, glad I was able to help!

You are correct, I haven't been using the application for a while and it had slipped my mind.

Let me know if there is anything else!

[allure]

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@V1k wrote:

Apparently Downloads app allows me to browse all over my internal storage, not just actual downloads folder, so it's pretty much what I wanted, and adding it to my main screen solved my problem. I didn't know it could do that and it took me a while to figure out how it worked. Thank you.

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I had the same problem and this is an issue SONY needs to address. The "Downloads" app is really a "File Browser" app and should be presented as one. If you need to provide users an easy way to access "Downloads" you can add a shortcut that opens the "Downloads" folder in the "File Browser".

I was almost downloading a file explorer app when I clicked on the "Downloads" app to see what it was about to discover that it was really a "File Browser" app.

[Jonas]

Hi @allure,

I agree with you, the download application has changed quite a bit in later Android versions.

I compared how it looks and functions in an Xperia Z1 with Android 5.1.1 installed and there it was basically just a shortcut to all downloaded files (.pdf documents and so forth). While in an Xperia X Compact its more of a file browser if you tap on the 3 lines in the top left corner, so I understand it can be quite confusing when it's called just "Downloads", when you are actually able to browse the internal storage and/or your SD card.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Downloads application! I will make sure to forward this internally as user feedback and have a great day!