# Manage & Transfer Files **<— Return to:** @[https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/basic-controls-5vPvEaIXMT](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/basic-controls-5vPvEaIXMT) --- **<— Previous lesson:** @[https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/basic-input-actions-lE7Hth8Uoy](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/basic-input-actions-lE7Hth8Uoy) **—> Next section:** @[https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/connectivity-n1pg9FIJ8v](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/connectivity-n1pg9FIJ8v) In this guide, we’ll show you how to use the ***Files*** app to manage files on your Above Phone. You’ll also learn how to connect and use a USB drive to transfer files to and from the device. By the end of the video, you’ll have a clear understanding of where your data is stored, how to access it directly, and how to move files between different folder locations. [https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/embed/158816/c5c27920-2ea5-4b9b-afb9-3f9c81de131c?autoplay=false&loop=false&muted=false&preload=true&responsive=true](https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/embed/158816/c5c27920-2ea5-4b9b-afb9-3f9c81de131c?autoplay=false&loop=false&muted=false&preload=true&responsive=true) ### **Open / Eject USB Drive** ![Opening or ejecting a USB drive](https://learn.above.im/api/files.get?sig=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJrZXkiOiJ1cGxvYWRzLzRkYmE5Yjc3LTJlZGYtNDRkZi05OGU3LWUzNmM5NDdiNWYyYy8yYjcxNmEzMi1hNjdhLTQyODktOGU5ZS02NmU2OGRmYjE5MGUvVVNCIFRyYW5zZmVyIFNjcmVlbnNob3RzLmpwZyIsInR5cGUiOiJhdHRhY2htZW50IiwiaWF0IjoxNzk0MTIzMDAwLCJleHAiOjE3OTQyMDk0MDB9.UMOcg6b2y0JaNZcBbRL6HiBXJ5JmkFvyiGEk7nmuO7k "right-50 =428x232") __Method 1:__ 1. Plug the drive into the Above Phone. A USB icon should appear in the top-left corner. 2. Swipe down to open the ***Notification Section*** and expand the ***System UI*** notification. 3. **Expand** the notification using the arrow on the right. 4. Tap ***Explore*** to open the drive in File Explorer. 5. When finished, tap ***Eject*** to safely disconnect the USB drive. __Method 2:__ 1. Alternatively, after plugging in your USB drive, open the ***Files*** app. 2. Tap the **☰ three bars menu icon** top left to open the navigation sidebar. 3. You should see all storage listed and accessible from there. *** ### **Copy / Move Files to USB Drive** ![File Explorer navigation](https://learn.above.im/api/files.get?sig=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJrZXkiOiJ1cGxvYWRzLzRkYmE5Yjc3LTJlZGYtNDRkZi05OGU3LWUzNmM5NDdiNWYyYy9jOTg4MzY0NS00YjMwLTRjYTYtODkzZi1iYjU5NzFmYThlMjQvY29weSB0byBVU0IgZHJpdmUgc2NyZWVuc2hvdHMgMS5qcGciLCJ0eXBlIjoiYXR0YWNobWVudCIsImlhdCI6MTc5NDEyMzAwMCwiZXhwIjoxNzk0MjA5NDAwfQ.ItViwBx4xZpi_XAOLjxnrJcutFfNWiRR56wkVL2HAYI "right-50 =428x232") 1. Tap the **☰ three bars menu icon** 2. Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to copy. 3. Tap and hold a file to select it. 4. Use the ***Share*** icon to send the file via an installed app. 5. Use the ***Delete*** icon to remove selected files. 6. ![Copying files to a new location](https://learn.above.im/api/files.get?sig=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJrZXkiOiJ1cGxvYWRzLzRkYmE5Yjc3LTJlZGYtNDRkZi05OGU3LWUzNmM5NDdiNWYyYy9jODdhMmQzMS0wOGY2LTQ1MGYtYTE3ZC1iYjcwYjU0YjQ3ZDgvY29weSB0byBVU0IgZHJpdmUgc2NyZWVuc2hvdHMgMi5qcGciLCJ0eXBlIjoiYXR0YWNobWVudCIsImlhdCI6MTc5NDEyMzAwMCwiZXhwIjoxNzk0MjA5NDAwfQ.fAqMwFwkpQPxbRRslptpKm5NEu1Ns-ie-vqn7FS3Z7k "right-50 =428x232")Tap additional files to select or deselect them as needed. 7. Tap the three-dot icon to open more options. 8. Select ***Copy To*** to duplicate the file, or ***Move To*** to transfer it. 9. You'll be redirected to a destination picker. 10. Tap the **☰ three bars menu** icon to browse locations. 11. ![Creating a new folder and copying files](https://learn.above.im/api/files.get?sig=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJrZXkiOiJ1cGxvYWRzLzRkYmE5Yjc3LTJlZGYtNDRkZi05OGU3LWUzNmM5NDdiNWYyYy8xZTAzOWQ4YS1lNjVkLTQzNGMtOWFmMS01ZGI4YTAyNzY2N2YvY29weSB0byBVU0IgZHJpdmUgc2NyZWVuc2hvdHMgMy5qcGciLCJ0eXBlIjoiYXR0YWNobWVudCIsImlhdCI6MTc5NDEyMzAwMCwiZXhwIjoxNzk0MjA5NDAwfQ.EgS5060X9MUS_oSpTJ0GfxXT539BelfGnqUFJwdgL7Q "right-50 =428x232")Select the USB Drive or your desired folder. 12. Tap the ***New Folder*** icon if you want to create a new directory. 13. Enter a name for the new folder. 14. Tap ***OK***. 15. Once inside the desired location, tap ***Copy*** or ***Move*** to proceed. 16. You'll be redirected to the original location, and a notification will appear showing the transfer is in progress. 17. The process typically completes quickly. Open the destination folder to confirm the files were successfully copied or moved. --- ## Phone to Desktop In order to access your files from a computer, just connect your phone through an USB-C cable. By default, this will just charge your device. To access the files, you'll have to enable ***File Transfer*** on the phone. :::success Most modern **Linux** and **Windows** computers should be able to automatically recognize the phone once connected in *File Transfer* mode. ::: :::tip For **macOS** we recommend to use the open source software [OpenMTP](https://openmtp.ganeshrvel.com/). This can be downloaded and installed for free. It will allow to drag & drop files from the computer storage (left) to the phone storage (right) and vice versa. [Here is a basic video tutorial](https://youtu.be/7usMwFmZJZk) explaining how to set up and use OpenMTP. ::: ![access the USB options via notifications or Settings > Connected Devices > USB](https://learn.above.im/api/files.get?sig=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJrZXkiOiJ1cGxvYWRzL2NhOWNmOTRhLWU0MGEtNDc5YS1iOTlmLTIwMDgzNGNhOTc5My83NmQwMzBhMy03ZDY1LTQxMzctOTcwOS02Yzc3NWMyMWJlNzQvZmlsZXMtMi11c2IuZ2lmIiwidHlwZSI6ImF0dGFjaG1lbnQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTQxMjMwMDAsImV4cCI6MTc5NDIwOTQwMH0.j7pHxDxjMVuMphYxBXZ7vojBRcz7F3DLAp-394f9who " =214x449") We can enable *File Transfer* by pulling down the notification menu from the top of the screen. There should be a notification saying '*Charging this device via USB*'. Tap on this notification to make a menu pop up, allowing us to define different ways of how the USB connection will be used. By selecting ***'File Transfer'***, we enable for the computer to mount the device, and in effect it should show up in the computer's file explorer. ![Example showing all folders from a Pixel 4 phone on a Linux machine](https://learn.above.im/api/files.get?sig=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJrZXkiOiJ1cGxvYWRzL2NhOWNmOTRhLWU0MGEtNDc5YS1iOTlmLTIwMDgzNGNhOTc5My8xMTJkYzZhOS1kNzBkLTQ4MjItYWViOC0yMzg2MTFmMzYwZmQvZmlsZXMtNS11c2ItZmlsZXN5c3RlbS5wbmciLCJ0eXBlIjoiYXR0YWNobWVudCIsImlhdCI6MTc5NDEyMzAwMCwiZXhwIjoxNzk0MjA5NDAwfQ.yfFjlg2jLrAO-9tASa1zcUHxub7xT_RkRjik5YKzUNE " =471x486") **Note**: Depending on your machine, you may need to install drivers for this. :::tip Learn more about other methods: [File Transfer](/doc/5ea927d7-4cc0-4bc0-9dde-a6b1fcba87fd) For remote file transfer consider using [LocalSend](/doc/6c37c802-53e7-43b4-82a3-1dac4ade6667) ::: --- **Documents** - [Getting Started](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/getting-started-2PIp21MpGq) - [Application Guides](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/application-guides-jAjlxuCIBy) - [Above Essentials](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/above-essentials-KkbCdqt7F7) - [Profiles](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/profiles-UiYjt5uT5E) - [Migrating from other devices](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/migrating-from-other-devices-h0cJeSFPOe) - [Backup & Restore](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/backup-restore-8eA0cmjC3G) - [FAQs](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/faqs-HUNU8JOych) - [Privacy Strategies](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/privacy-strategies-uHCZH7KxdC) - [Older Above Phones](https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/older-above-phones-fG3zUVbYnS)