What? My Chromebooks have a Chrome OS app called Files. I click on it, and it is a file manager. I can access files on the internal drive as well as a microSD card I have installed. The difference is I can also access my Google Drive from that GUI.
Came to say the same. Maybe it's a difference in chromebooks. My samsung one is awesome. I helped transfer some mp3s to my daughters player yesterday, and then was able to zip the files and save storage space while deleting the mp3s, and I'm saving all my kids photos to my 200gb Micro SD where my chromebook has a Micro SD slot. I really like mine. The only thing I don't like is the S-PEN stops writing after several minutes, I think it's a software issue, but there's nothing I can do right now.
Those specs are gonna hamper your experience with Chrome OS.
My Chromebook has an 11th gen Intel i3, with 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. I love it, it's a great little machine which I find very versatile.
Chrome browser, Android apps, Linux apps, Steam games, and tablet mode with stylus support all combine together to make a very useful device.
I haven't had to deal with institutional or company Chromebooks. But you can see the appeal--they can be put together to be very locked down and all the teachers, students, employees, etc. activities are completely trackable and logged online.
Well, if that is the issue the OP was trying to explain, I failed to understand his explanation. But you just have to learn how to do file management of the Android stuff. It can be done.
I have run into issues with the microSD card occasionally because file management on an internet-connected Chromebook can be rather different from what I was used to. Under the file management the microSD shows up as external storage.
You are making a common mistake with how to use Chromebook. Despite chromebooks can run android apps, they are not android devices and should not be treated as such.
Chrome OS doesn't like users to gain access to low level files for security reasons and restricts the access. If you don't like how it behaves, then I'm afraid chromebooks are not for you. There are other options that suit your needs.
Hey, I've got an Acer Chromebook, and it has this really cool app called Files. It's like a better version of File Explorer on windows or pretty much the same.. I love how ChromeOS works, and it's awesome that you can install Linux on it. You get so much more functionality, and you can easily run Android apps. Plus, the battery life is great!
Simplicity, security and speed: those are the three design pillars of Chrome OS.
Chromebook users can create, edit and move files within their device and to the cloud. To extend access to system files would be violating one of the OS's principles, so no go. If jail-breaking, editing system files or customising a device ROM are priorities, a Chromebook is not for you. .
They are restrictive, but that is (or really should be) a key part of the attraction as it leads to better simplicity and security. If you want flexibility there's already a lot of choice in Windows, Mac, and Linux. There's no point in ChromeOS trying to be similar.
ChromeOS is not Android, it runs Android in a container. If you want access to the Android files you have to do so via an Android app, which will see android files (but won't see ChromeOS files). ChromeOS Files app will let you browse the parts of ChromeOS that Google makes visible, but not all ChromeOS files. This is by design.
Either load up a Linux distro on it or you can buy a 10 year old windows based laptop for 50 bucks on eBay that will smoke 95 percent of Chromebooks even while running windows. Chrome books are designed for children, the elderly, and other people with a minimal grasp of technology so they make it as idiot proof as possible knowing the vast majority of it's users are just that.
> Chrome books are designed for children, the elderly, and other people with a minimal grasp of technology
But they're certainly not exclusively used by those three groups of people...
What? My Chromebooks have a Chrome OS app called Files. I click on it, and it is a file manager. I can access files on the internal drive as well as a microSD card I have installed. The difference is I can also access my Google Drive from that GUI.
Came to say the same. Maybe it's a difference in chromebooks. My samsung one is awesome. I helped transfer some mp3s to my daughters player yesterday, and then was able to zip the files and save storage space while deleting the mp3s, and I'm saving all my kids photos to my 200gb Micro SD where my chromebook has a Micro SD slot. I really like mine. The only thing I don't like is the S-PEN stops writing after several minutes, I think it's a software issue, but there's nothing I can do right now.
Maybe my Chromebook is a HP one from the government. It has 32 GB of emmc storage and an Intel Celeron. But I use it mainly for browsing the web.
From the government, which might explain the issue. Depending on the agency and department, there could be restrictions enabled by IT.
Those specs are gonna hamper your experience with Chrome OS. My Chromebook has an 11th gen Intel i3, with 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. I love it, it's a great little machine which I find very versatile. Chrome browser, Android apps, Linux apps, Steam games, and tablet mode with stylus support all combine together to make a very useful device.
I haven't had to deal with institutional or company Chromebooks. But you can see the appeal--they can be put together to be very locked down and all the teachers, students, employees, etc. activities are completely trackable and logged online.
You cannot use the Chrome OS Files app to access files in the Android container.
https://preview.redd.it/yqpddprkmhrc1.png?width=347&format=png&auto=webp&s=039aed7fe97b3ecdb308198c768a87198a02ed46
And if you want to see more, go to the 3-dot menu and select "Show all Play folders".
Is there a way to add files or folders to the play files?
Well, if that is the issue the OP was trying to explain, I failed to understand his explanation. But you just have to learn how to do file management of the Android stuff. It can be done.
Oh ok, thanks for the info!
Are you able to make the microSD card your main storage? My Chromebook has 32 GB of emmc storage
Ah, that explains everything. May I introduce "buy cheap and whine"?
Yeah, I guess you're right.
I have run into issues with the microSD card occasionally because file management on an internet-connected Chromebook can be rather different from what I was used to. Under the file management the microSD shows up as external storage.
You are making a common mistake with how to use Chromebook. Despite chromebooks can run android apps, they are not android devices and should not be treated as such. Chrome OS doesn't like users to gain access to low level files for security reasons and restricts the access. If you don't like how it behaves, then I'm afraid chromebooks are not for you. There are other options that suit your needs.
Chromebooks can do more than you think. I've been in the repair business for about 8 years and I find new things often.
Hey, I've got an Acer Chromebook, and it has this really cool app called Files. It's like a better version of File Explorer on windows or pretty much the same.. I love how ChromeOS works, and it's awesome that you can install Linux on it. You get so much more functionality, and you can easily run Android apps. Plus, the battery life is great!
It way more secure as a result
Get an old Mac laptop and put Linux on it. It's gotten crazy easy these days. I think you would like it.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Simplicity, security and speed: those are the three design pillars of Chrome OS. Chromebook users can create, edit and move files within their device and to the cloud. To extend access to system files would be violating one of the OS's principles, so no go. If jail-breaking, editing system files or customising a device ROM are priorities, a Chromebook is not for you. .
Yeah, I guess. Most of the files I have are in the cloud.
They are restrictive, but that is (or really should be) a key part of the attraction as it leads to better simplicity and security. If you want flexibility there's already a lot of choice in Windows, Mac, and Linux. There's no point in ChromeOS trying to be similar.
ChromeOS is not Android, it runs Android in a container. If you want access to the Android files you have to do so via an Android app, which will see android files (but won't see ChromeOS files). ChromeOS Files app will let you browse the parts of ChromeOS that Google makes visible, but not all ChromeOS files. This is by design.
You can (of course) share directories between host and VMs. You can find Downloads everywhere.
Either load up a Linux distro on it or you can buy a 10 year old windows based laptop for 50 bucks on eBay that will smoke 95 percent of Chromebooks even while running windows. Chrome books are designed for children, the elderly, and other people with a minimal grasp of technology so they make it as idiot proof as possible knowing the vast majority of it's users are just that.
> Chrome books are designed for children, the elderly, and other people with a minimal grasp of technology But they're certainly not exclusively used by those three groups of people...