Google has slowly integrated the built-in Android file application into a robust file management tool. Recently we discovered an interesting trick with the application Android Files, which allows you to open multiple windows and even drag and drop files. That’s how it’s done
While exploring the new design of the Files application in Android Q, we came across the new window option built into the application. This exists since Android Pie, but is usually unnoticed.
When used, the feature creates a second window for the Files application, which considers Android a secondary application. This means that two are displayed in the last menu, and you can even start both in split-screen mode. This feature alone is very useful because it allows you to view multiple folders at the same time, even if you copy and paste files to move files from one folder to another while keeping them in view.
Particularly useful is that this feature also allows users to drag and drop files from one window to another. As mentioned earlier, this has been around since Android Pie, but drag and drop seems to work a little better on Android Q.
As far as we can tell, this only works from the Files application to another Files window. However, the documentation of this feature on the Android developer page gives hope that developers can apply it to other applications. Personally, I’d like to see something like a video editor, or even Google Photos, that lets users open split-screen files and extract the necessary files by drag-and-drop.
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Technology freak, an internet nut, and a part-time philosopher.