Moto E Guide

How to manage files on Moto E with ES File Explorer File Manager?

Moto E is simple to use. But there is one missed app in Moto E: a native file manager. This happens to Moto G and Moto X as well.

So, you have two ways to manage files on Moto E:

  1. Connecting your Moto E to a PC with a USB cable so that you can manage files on Moto E from your PC
  2. Using a third-party file manager app to manage files on Moto E.

This guide will show you how to use one of the best free file manager app, ES File Explorer File Manager, to manage files on Moto E.

Contents hide
1) Why ES File Explorer File Manager?
2) How to install ES File Explorer File Manager on Moto E?
3) How to configure ES File Explorer File Manager on Moto E?
3.1) How to configure home directory on Moto E?
3.1.1) Step 1: Start the ES File Explorer File Manager by tapping the icon in home screen.
3.1.2) Step 2: Tap the fast access button as shown below. Then tap the settings button.
3.1.3) Step 3. Tap Directory settings, then tap Home directory as shown below.
3.1.4) Step 4: tap the “^” button , then navigate to /Storage folder as shown below.
4) How to manage files on Moto E with ES File Explorer File Manager?

Why ES File Explorer File Manager?

ES File Explorer File Manager is probably the best (arguable) third-party file manager for Android.  It is a full featured file explorer and manager. Actually, the app has so many features and functions that very few users use all features.

Not just managing files on Moto E, ES File Explorer File Manager can also work as cloud storage client (compatible with Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive, Box.net, Sugarsync, Yandex, Amazon S3, Ubuntu One and more), a FTP client, and a LAN Samba client.

Although packed with so many features, the app is very simple to use for new users.

Equally important, there are no ads for this free app.

How to install ES File Explorer File Manager on Moto E?

You ca get ES File Explorer File Manager for free from Play store.

In your Moto E home screen, tap Play Store icon. In Play Store app, tap the search icon to search for ES File Explorer, as shown below. Then tap the ES File Explorer File Manager.

Moto_e_file_manager_manage_files_google_play_storeMoto_e_file_manager_manage_files_search_ES_file_explorer

Now you are in the detailed info page for the app. Tap “Install” to install this app.

Of course, before this app (ES File Explorer File Manager) is installed in your Moto E, you are alerted for the permissions this app requests.

You can review the permission for this app. If you feel uncomfortable with the permissions, you can choose not to install it. For apps with good reputation, like, ES File Explorer, you don’r worry about the permissions. But for some unknown apps, or apps with poor rating, you’d be careful.

Anyway, you need tap “accept” to proceed to the installation.

Moto_e_file_manager_manage_files_install_ES_file_managerMoto_e_file_manager_manage_files_install_ES_file_mamager_permissions

Once the installation is finished, you can find out the options in the app detailed info page is “Open” or “Uninstall” .

By default, once you install a new app in Moto E from the Play Store, the app (actually a shortcut) will be added to Moto E home screen. Of course, you can turn off this feature in Play store settings.

You can quickly launch the app from home screen without checking the app drawer.

Moto_e_file_manager_manage_files-es_file_explorer_installedMoto_e_file_manager_manage_files_ES_file_explorer_home_screen

How to configure ES File Explorer File Manager on Moto E?

If you open ES File Explorer File Manager the first time, after showing some tutorials, the app will start with your internal storage as the home directory.

Also, there are  default bluetooth share path, and default download directory in ES File Explorer File Manager.

You can customize all these default directories.

How to configure home directory on Moto E?

Normally, after you insert a SD card to your Moto E, you want to manage files in both internal storage and the SD card.

Although it is possible to manually navigate around the Moto E file system, a good default home directory can make file managing faster.

Step 1: Start the ES File Explorer File Manager by tapping the icon in home screen.

Step 2: Tap the fast access button as shown below. Then tap the settings button.

Moto_e_file_manager_manage_files_es_file_explorer_quick_access_buttonMoto_e_file_manager_manage_files_es_file_explorer_settings

Step 3. Tap Directory settings, then tap Home directory as shown below.

Moto_e_file_manager_manage_files_directory_settingMoto_e_file_manager_manage_files_es_file_explorer_home_directory

Step 4: tap the “^” button , then navigate to /Storage folder as shown below.

Tap OK to set current folder as the default home directory.

Moto_e_file_manager_manage_files_es_file_explorer_home_navigationMoto_e_file_manager_manage_files_es_file_explorer_home_folder_set

Next time , when you start ES File Explorer File Manager, it will start with /Storage folder so that you can quickly access both internal storage and external SD card.

Please note, in Moto E, the sdcard or sdcard0 means the internal storage. Your external microSD card is always named as sdcard1.

How to manage files on Moto E with ES File Explorer File Manager?

It is very simple and intuitive to manage file on Moto E with ES File Explorer File Manager.

To copy/move/delete a file, tap and hold the file. The file will be selected and the app enters into selection mode. You can tap any other files to make the selection.

Once you select all files, you can use the traditional copy, cut, delete, and rename buttons in the bottom.

Alternatively, you can tap the more button to get more functions, including sharing, sending, compressing…. This usually works faster. For example, you can choose Copy to then select the folders. This is faster than tapping copy button, then navigating to the destination folder.

Moto_e_file_manager_manage_files_select_filesMoto_e_file_manager_manage_files_es_copy_to

Do you have any questions on managing files on Moto E?

Please leave a comment if you have  problems or questions on how to manage files on Moto E with ES File Explorer File Manager.

More how-to guides , tips and tricks for using Moto E are available at Moto E how-to guides page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. bibs says

    After i downloaded ES file manager my in built ringtones are gone …. they are not there any more… the only thig i see are the ones which i had copied from my PC… pls rply …

    Reply

  2. bk says

    if i want that that my default drive is SD Card and my photo, music, anyone store directly in sd card then what i do for it and there is needed to create extra folder in sd card. Please suggest me that which folder need to created with what name.

    Reply

  4. deeps says

    how can i move my apps into sdcard, because most of the space in internal memory is occupied by apps.how can i make my sdcard default location for installing apps

    Reply

  5. akshay naidu says

    how to change the color of notification pulse light
    i tried to change it many times but it always shows white light

    Reply

  8. Piyush says

    How to share a mp3 file or songs from moto e via bluetooth, I have already downloaded Es file manager. Please reply

    Reply

  9. Mohit says

    I have moved all mp3 files from internal to SD Card through ES. But now the songs are not showing in Play Music. Why ?

    Reply

  10. Prasad Manjrekar says

    my internal mem is allmost full and i cant move some apps in sd card, i also change my home directory to storage/sdcard1 as shown above. my problem is when i try to install big games (above 1gb) it shows an error there is insufficiemt space in your external storage. even
    my sd card of 16gb is allmost empty
    please help
    thanks

    Reply

  14. Gaurav kumar singh says

    When ever I download videos , there is no option come for save or open. It directly open because there is not any option for save. How can I get save or open option

    Reply

  16. Mohit says

    Well, I don’t know why my comments not get posted here but I want to know is there any way to restore deleted MP3 files from micro SD card without using PC. Any app for moto E ?

    Reply

  17. Praveen Kushwaha says

    I have installed MotorolaDevice manager_2.4.5.exe after installing this I am not able to connect my Moto E with my windows 7

    Reply

  18. Rahul says

    I have set the bluetooth share path as /storage/sdcard1/Bluetooth after that also if i am getting any song or pics via bluetooth, it is saving in /storage/emulated/0/bluetooth folder. Why is it happing? Please advice and provide solution so that bluetooth share files can save diretly into /storage/sdcard1/Bluetooth.
    Also, The same thing is happing on downloading any songs or pics.

    Reply

  20. Rahul says

    Bluetooth share pics i have moved in Sd card via ES file explorer then i have seen that in phone storage that its taking internal memory as well and sdcard. Then i have deleted those pics from gallery then it has been deleted from sdcard also. why is it so?

    Reply

  21. pratik says

    I am having Problem in Whatsapp. It is directly storing data in my phone memory. Please give the solution.

    Reply

  22. Rahul says

    Hi,
    Whats’s app always store in Internal memory and you cannot move in sdcard.There are also some others apps which can store in internal memory and can not move in sdcard For example – Attivirus.

    Reply

  23. Rahul says

    Hi Simon,

    I didn’t get any reply from your side for the above 2 question raised by me.
    Please advice.

    Reply

  24. karthik says

    i am not able to play youtube videos..whenever i open a video it says there was a problem while playing touch to retry …what should i do? i have also done clear cache partition.

    Reply

  25. janak v. prajapati says

    i created a folder for photos using file manager. but it is not displayed when i open gallary. why ?

    Reply

  26. Mohit says

    I was on a website and suddenly it goes to a new page open and it shows your Android phone has 7 virus. Install the antivirus now otherwise it will harm your phone. Is that a promoting ad or my phone has virus ?

    Reply

  27. RAM says

    while installing es file manager i was getting some error like RPC:S-7:ACE-0 KINDLY REPLY HOW CAN I RESOLVE

    Reply

  30. Rahul says

    Hi Simon,

    Any image files whichis shared by bluetooth or what Apps, store in sdcard0 (i.e. Internal Memory).If we move these images from sdcardo to sdcard1 using ES File Explorer then they stored in sdcard1. Now it should consume external memory space but if i am navigating as Setting->Storage->Looking for pictures,videos then still its displaying 1.03MB for same. Why is it so? Internal memory should be free after moving pictures from /sdcard0 to /sdcard1.

    Reply

  33. vaibhav says

    Hi everyone, i ams using moto e . andrioid version is 4.4.4. I have installed ES file manager on may pgone, Now when i amd taping on sounds ( to change the ringtone) it is not prompting for es file manages . it is showing default ringtones only.. please help

    Reply

  34. lakhsman says

    I am having MOTO G with 4.4.2 Ver. Now I am trying to update for 4.4.4 but Phone is showing that your software is up to date. Please help on this

    Reply

  38. k LAKSHMANA rao says

    I clicked always instead of just once if I go for setting ringtones it is directly going to file manager I should where media storage and default moto ringtones will be stored kindly guide

    Reply

  41. Piyush says

    Hi,
    After inserting simcard in moto E, all contact which in sim are not displaying in people app. tell me solution..

    Reply

  42. Shahzeb says

    How can i see whats there in my sd card? I mean aal the stuff i moved from my computer like .apk games? where are they stored? how can i see them? pzlzz tell!

    Reply

  43. Jeff says

    I moved all my downloaded music from my tablet onto my External SD Card. Now I can access it on es file explorer rather easily but I can only play one song.. I cant skip from song to song without having to go back and find another one.. How do I bypass this? Should I just move all my music back onto my device?

    Reply

  45. prakash says

    i want to open a encried word doc in quick office.but it’s show on screen like this… FILE CANNOT BE OPENED

    Reply

  46. Rijo says

    Is there any PC suite to manage contacts with Moto E similar to Nokia suite or samsung kries which I can use with my laptop win 7/8

    Reply

  47. Mansi Gilani says

    i am unable to connect to internet in my moto e, i hav done settings>more>mobile networks>data enabled.

    also settings>wifi>ON

    pls tell me what can be the problem. whether is signal problem or handset problem……………

    thank you….
    some times it shows H , but very rarely….then disappears

    Reply

  49. Praveen Patnaik says

    I have installed ES explorer in my moto X. I am able to hide the files in the hide folder. I have an app installed on my device called ZArchiver in which the folder with all its contents that I have hidden is still visible. How can I manage it?

    Reply

  51. Vignesh Kumar says

    As i download the songs from UC browser and stored in SD card. The Files are available in ES File Explorer File Manager but it is not available in Music Player. Once I switch off and ON the mobile i can find the newly downloaded songs in Music player. Once I download some songs I keep on doing the Process. Please let me how to get the Songs in music player without switch off the mobile.

    Reply

  52. muralikrishna says

    Hi sir,
    I am having some problem with my new motorola motoE that is my thefiles in my SDcard are not shown in mymusicplayer&in mxplayer only the files in the internal memory are shown so please help me to over come this problem thanking you your’s faitfully,

    N.MuraliKrishna

    Reply

  54. baskar says

    I cannot move downloaded files from intenal storage to sd card..and also i cannot create a new folder or new file in external sd card…can you pls tel me the suggestions..

    Reply

  56. Yogesh says

    How can I open hidden folders in moto g2, which were hidden by me in Samsung phn by naming it with a ‘.’ .pls help me out with this issue. These hidden folders are in my extSd card. Pls suggest.

    Reply

  58. afia fatma says

    previously i didnt have this ES file explorer installed… nd i received many f d apps nd games via bluetooth..nd now i have installed Es file explorer.. so now where will b i getting that received apps nd games

    Reply

  62. Agustin says

    Whenever I open my gallery y does it says no storage available ??? It happened after installation of es file ??????

    Reply

  66. Nikhil says

    Hey guys… I have moved Bluetooth folder frm internal storage to sd card… Nw I cant receive any files frm bluetooth… Its showing me “storage issue” whenever I try to receive any file from bluetooth… Any solution?

    Reply

  68. Ravi says

    Hi, This is very useful. Thanks.

    But How to transfer Whatsapp Databases from my internal storage to Pc?

    I downloaded ES File Explorer, but when i connect it to PC by USB , i am unable to see any databases in WhatsApp folder except images and videos. No databases are shown. I need these databases so that when ever i want to reboot i will copy them to my pc and reboot my phone so that i wil be able to save the previous conversations.

    How to copy the files from phone to PC ?

    Please help me.

    Reply

  69. Ranjith says

    How to hide files by using ES File Explorer or is there any other option to hide files in Moto E. And how to insert contacts in message…

    Reply

  72. manju says

    How to play games like dead trigger ,Fifa 15, by moving to SD card… If I moved obb file to my external slot its showing download file again..if it is in internal I can play

    Reply

  73. Maithreyi says

    I have a moto e and I have a pny otg . I have loaded es explorer file but the otg is not recognised. I have already mentioned about it yesterday still there is no reply. Please let me know what should be done.

    Reply

  74. Mareeswaran says

    Hi,
    I have installed es3 file manager in my moto e.
    How can I set es download manager as my default download option when downloading videos. I am seeing the options only as video player and photos.

    Please suggest…

    Reply

  76. ABHISHEK says

    i install ES File Explorer and set the directory path of bluetooth in external sd card, but when i recevied file via bluetooth , file are store in interenal storage in defalut folder, means it doen’t change even after change directory path

    Reply

  77. ABHISHEK says

    Help on this matter, Because when i want to received files more than 800 mb via bluetooth but i have 600mb internal memory

    Reply

  78. nity says

    Hi I downloaded Es explorer, I want to delete download files…my friends deleting download files ….but download files are shown in download list as icon when I tried to open it shows as media files not available… Is it possible to delete selected downloaded files..?

    Reply

  79. Khushboo says

    I’m unable to download songs using es file explorer which was earlier easily happening… It is downloading half or sometimes 12-15% of song n thn there it is showing error… Plz suggest wat to do…n wat steps to follow…

    Reply

  80. Abhiwed Kpd says

    Well,ES file manager works pretty good as you suggested

    But there is a small problem for which i unknowingly am responsible and badly need a solution to it.
    See the thing is,i encrypted a few files which are important and needs to be secure but then i forgot the password which i used for encryption, i tried many possible passwords which i may have used but the result was same,i am not able to decrypt the files
    Do reply asap.

    Reply

  82. chandrasekhar says

    Hi am unable to download what’s app videos in moto e x1022 mobile its showing sorry the video does not exisist in your SD card please help me

    Reply

  89. Murugesh says

    i am using moto g . After deleting files from Cameras, Videos . Phone not syn with email and gives message storage space out

    Reply

  90. Jatin Koli says

    I have marked one folder containing images and hide it using this app es file explorer.now I am unable to see unhide option.I really want those pictures back.please help.

    Reply

  91. Raj says

    Cant do as per stated by guide. ES File explorer says you cant do this (move files to sd card) as you are using android 4.4.4 you have to root. Whats this???

    Reply

  92. vini says

    I installed file manager but While setting ringtone I selected always from phone. How do I undo it? I want to set it from my list of songs

    Reply

  93. Pac says

    I reboot my phone as you said but gallery app doesn’t show pitchers & vides. In my phone device many pitchers and videos.

    Reply

  94. Gangeshwar Thakur says

    While download the file manager in Moto E , it automatically restore mobile after certain interval of time and every thing inside file manager destroyed.Please suggest solution . few month back I had purchase the cell mobile

    Reply

  96. priya says

    ! am using moto E (1st Gen). I am using 16gb memory card in my moto E mobile. I have installed some apps(like whatsapp, ES file explorer file manager etc…). Now my phone’s available internal storage is 1 Gb and available memory card storage is 11gb. The problem is, if i am trying to receive files more than 1 gb, it is showing that “not enough memory”. i was surprised with this “not enough memory”, because i am having memory card with 11gb avaliable. why it is happening??? Plz help me…

    Reply

  97. syamala says

    Hi I am using Moto E (1st Gen) recently i had bought Sandisk Ultra Dual On-The-Go 16GB Pendrive. to use this ultra disk pendrive i had installed es file explorer. The pen drive was not detecting before and after the APP installation is there any settings for this or any plz….

    Reply

  98. thamilurimay says

    I purchased moto e 1st gen on 13th of this month, through flipkart. In this mobile on selecting the ES3 file expr (after installing it, on Step 2) there is no globe icon, instead three smal horizodal line icon only is shown while proceeding to get fast access option. Anyhow after tapping that three lines icon , fast access menu window is shown but all the 5 options from Favorite to Tools are shown as selected ( instead of their arrows in the right side) and the settings icon at the bottom looks like a gear icon and not as shown in Step 2. Also at step 4 in the Home Directory window there is no up arrow icon in the right side but a + sign and AZ letters are there. And towards the left , is an arrow pointing to left side and /sd card option. Therefore I could not proceed accordingly. But after returning to home screen and selecting the ES explr, the window with all the normal folders is opened. When I siwpe right the folder screen a home page screen is shown up with the int. storage option and below that, the micro sd card storage option. On selecting the external memory card storage, it shows the contents and opens further correctly. In the same way the internal storage option also shows the contents and opens well. Also if the bottom status bar is swiped towards right , the fast access menu window is shown. Why this type of options are present and differs from the method as shown in the relevant steps. Is it ok with the current settings in my phone? What I should do?

    Reply

  99. achuz anu says

    I have free memory in external device .but I cudnt download any apps…its showing no storage ..all apps are in SD card very few in internal which I can’t move frm phone..pls help

    Reply

  101. Steven Torrey says

    My ES File Explorer did not have a ^ where you indicated. In any event, I have a 16 Gb external micro SD card, but I cannot seem to get my photos, mp3, etc to save in that location. The computer saves to the SDcard0 which is the internal SD card. I bought the 16 Gb micro SD card for the explicit purpose of adding photos that I knew would exceed soon enough the 2 Gb internal storage Sdcard0. I want to save my photos to the 16 Gb micro SD card1–the external SD card. How can I do this, or why won’t the phone do this automatically?

    Reply

  103. thamilurimay says

    Please suggest me apart from the screen lock security is there any app to prevent the opening of apps, files, folders or changing the settings unknowingly or intentionally by the children or friends? Or is there any way in the Moto e phone (kitkat 4.4.4 os ) or through the Es file explr app to set password protections ? please explain in detail.

    Reply

  104. Aparna says

    I have few music files which are available for play if opned through File Manager (ES File Explorer) but not in the list of songs in Music player. Pls let me know if I have to change any settings for it

    Reply

  105. Rohini says

    in in my phone the dialogue box is not coming for setting the ring tone even though i have installed the Ez explorer and file manager

    Reply

  106. Devon Lee says

    Hi need help immediately… i downloaded this ES file manager and now all my pics are stuck in there… how do i get them back on to my phones storage so i can uninstall this app…

    Reply

  107. Karthick says

    I am using Moto E. Till last week eveything fine, now none of the media files are not showing from SD card, My SD card is not detected. I can see the files and media by connecting the phone to my laptop but cant see in file explorer, even SD card is not shown in file explorer. Can you help how to get my SD card media files to be visible in my phone.

    Reply

  108. ritu says

    hi ! .. actually i updated my moto e to newer android version (362mb) and my internal storage have less space now , maybe its due to the setup i downloaded and i want to delete that setup so that some space is saved but i can’t find the setup zip file on manager .. any idea where zip files are saved in es file manager ? because i couldn’t locate it

    Reply

  109. Abhilash says

    How can I connect an otg cable by using an es file explorer since I saw many people have posted that they are using it??????

    Reply

  110. Abhilash says

    How can I connect an otg cable by using an es file explorer in my moto e since I saw many people have posted that they are using it??????

    Reply

  111. Abhilash Nair says

    How can I connect an otg cable by using an es file explorer in my moto e since I saw many people have posted that they are using it??????

    Reply

  112. Sal says

    I have forgotten d hidden list password of es file explorer..I have moto e lollipop version.can u please tell me what I can do to get back the paswrd

    Reply

  116. sushma says

    unfortunately i deleted all my pics from sd card by analysing the sd card in es file explorer. but the pics are imp i searched in recycle bin too but there is no data. plz give me a suggestion how to recover those files???

    Reply

  119. ritu says

    M using ES explorer.. I encrypt my what’s app photos in another folder but they are in SD card. When I reinsert the SD card in my phn..i.e moto E….those photos are s available… Not shown…
    Plz help..

    Reply

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