this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2025
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Why does file:// not work? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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I've got an HTML file on my phone, and would like to view it. But Firefox on Android has neither a menu entry "Open File", nor does using the file:// method work, nor is any app associated with the .html file extension.

BTW, Chrome suffers from the same problem. And it is not an issue with the file, it works when opened via the https:// method from my home server.

Why, oh why, can't I open a local file on Android?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

It's clunky, but I can open files in firefox by using a file browser app (I use x-plore), selecting 'open with', then selecting firefox. Sometimes it's not in the list, but there's a selector for what type of file (text, video, audio, '*'). '*' lists all the apps.

Sometimes stuff still refuses to open, but things like pdfs and html files usually work

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (3 children)

OK, my file browser does not offer this option.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

In case you end up looking for other file explorers, this one has treated me well: https://github.com/Raival-e/File-Explorer-Compose?tab=readme-ov-file

(And has the ability to open with, then change from browsers to any app type so you can locate Firefox)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I can do this with Amaze File Manager, just not with any of the various Firefox forks that I have installed, no matter which option I choose under "Open As". Vanadium (a Chrome fork) was an option when I tried to open as a text file. Using a file named test.html that is saved in my Download directory, this was the URL in Vanadium:

content://com.amaze.filemanager/storage_root/storage/emulated/0/Download/test.html

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Yes, I am well aware that filenames under android are horribly convoluted. From a certain viewpoint, they probably make sense.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Try using the share option, and choose firefox?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Can't choose Firefox from share, sorry.