This wikiHow teaches you how to view system files (known as "root" files) on your Android phone or tablet. In order to see it, your Android phone must be rooted and you need to download the ES File Explorer app from the Google Play Store.
Step
Step 1. Root the Android device
If you want to access the system files of your device, you will need to root your phone or device first. The process is different for every device manufacturer and model, and some phones can't even be rooted at all. Find out the procedure required to root the phone before you make any changes to the device.
This procedure is not as dangerous as you might think, but it can void the warranty and compromise the security of the phone
Step 2. Download ES File Explorer
Skip this step if you already have ES File Explorer. To download ES File Explorer, go to
Google Play Store, then follow these steps:
- Touch the search bar.
- Type es file explorer
- Touch " ES File Explorer File Manager ” in the drop-down menu.
- Touch " INSTALL ”.
- Touch " ACCEPT ” when prompted.
- Select the device's internal storage space if prompted. Do not install ES File Explorer on the SD card.
Step 3. Open ES File Explorer
Touch OPEN ” in the Google Play Store window or select the ES File Explorer icon.
If this is your first time opening ES File Explorer, you may need to go through several opening pages before reaching the application's main page
Step 4. Touch
It's in the top-left corner of the screen. The ES File Explorer menu will open.
Step 5. Scroll to the “Root Explorer” segment
This option is at the bottom of the menu. You can see a white switch on the right side.
Step 6. Touch the white "Root Explorer" switch
The switch color will change to blue
. As long as the device is rooted and ES File Explorer is installed on the device storage space, root access will be granted to ES File Explorer.
Step 7. Wait for the root folders to appear
After a second or two, ES File Explorer will reload. Once done, you should see a list of files and root folders.
Step 8. Fix the "test failed" error if necessary
If for some reason ES File Explorer is installed on your Android SD card, you may see an error message " Sorry, test failed. This feature cannot run on your device." at the bottom of the screen. You can fix this error by moving the ES File Explorer app to your device's internal storage space:
- Open the “App Info” page of ES File Explorer via the device settings menu (“Settings”).
- Touch " Storage ”.
- Touch " CHANGE ” under the SD card header.
- Touch " Internal shared storage ”.
- Wait for ES File Explorer to finish moving.
Step 9. Browse the system files of the device
You can browse files and folders on your device as usual, but now you can view system files and folders in the ES File Explorer window.
- The folders with a lighter color than the standard Android folder are the root folders.
- Do not modify any system files unless you are sure about the result. Changes to system files have the potential to permanently damage your Android phone.
