Where do I store my files such that they can be found?

Question

I'm trying to install an app from an apk file, and I've moved it to my phone via USB; however, I cannot locate it. What would be an easy location to which I could move the apk file such that it would be simple to find via a file browser?

This is what I'm looking at in USB on my PC.

All the directories and files shown on PC (shown in this image).

I search for the directories shown in my file browsers, like acct, cache, config, d, data, dev, etc, mnt, proc, ... None of these can be found on my PC. I search for the PC directories on the phone, and I can't find them. So, where can I find an overlapping directory?

I'm on 4.2.1 HM2013002 (China Unicom). China Mobile MIMU, model 2013022.

Alternatively, as a workaround, might somebody be able to post an Android Enthusiast-local tutorial describing how to remotely install an app?

Usually, I copy all to downloads.
When you say that you "moved it to your phone via usb" does it mean that you installed it via adb? Otherwise you should know where you copied it. — leojg, Dec 04 '14 at 13:37
Yeah, we need to know how you moved the file via USB. Did you use ADB? 3rd-party app? Windows Explorer? I usually copy a file to the one shown on your picture, SD Card root. — Andrew T., Dec 04 '14 at 13:46
I usually use adb install *.apk, so I don't have to look for it on the device :) But no: none of the directories you've named will be shown to your PC normally. What you see there usually is located on your SD card(s). — Izzy, Dec 04 '14 at 13:54
@Izzy The "sdcard0" and "sdcard1" directories aren't accessible on my file browser. — Wolfpack'08, Dec 04 '14 at 13:56
See: Is there a minimal installation of ADB?. Minimal install archives are available at my server for Linux, Mac, and Windows. No need to install the entire (30 MB+) SDK, as most places tell you, unless you plan developing :) — Izzy, Dec 04 '14 at 13:59
@Izzy Actually, I have adb on my system, somehow. So, what's the full command? adb -install packagename.apk ...? — Wolfpack'08, Dec 04 '14 at 13:59
To install myapp.apk: adb install myapp.apk. // If you count that a solution: Shall I make it an answer? — Izzy, Dec 04 '14 at 14:00
I guess this is effectively a dupe of How can I install an app given only its APK file? then. — Andrew T., Dec 04 '14 at 14:03
@AndrewT. Yepp, you're right. Wolfpack: Please meet me in chat, that would be too extensive here. Unfortunately, I cannot find the "invite" link here currently – but our general Android chat room is not too overcrowded at the moment :) — Izzy, Dec 04 '14 at 14:06

Lie Ryan · Answer 1 · 2014-12-04T16:09:39.520

First a description. The path that contains acct, cache, config, d, data, dev, mnt, proc, etc is the device's root directory. The root directory is the root of all filesystem hierarchy in an Android device.

When you connect an Android device via USB to a computer, usually via MTP in newer devices or USB Mass Storage in older devices, the root directory of Android is never exposed to the computer. But rather only a small number of directories are exposed to the computer. The directories that are exposed to computer connected to USB is the external storage.

The path to the external storage, unfortunately, varies by device. The external storage of many Android devices points to the SD Card storage; this is not necessarily always the case, such as with devices that doesn't have SD Card, the external storage actually points to a regular folder. These are some of the locations that external storage may be in:

/mnt/extSdCard/
/mnt/external_sd
/mnt/sdcard/
/storage/emulated/0/

Many Android file browser application generally have at least two specially programmed location to open, one showing the device root and the other the external storage. Look if your file browser application shows the external storage. If your file manager don't show you your external storage by default, try downloading OI File Manager, this file manager shows your external storage by default.

Once you saved your apk there, you should be able to just tap on the APK to install it in most file manager worth its salt.

If all else fails, perhaps just Dropbox it. – Lie Ryan Dec 04 '14 at 15:06 — Lie Ryan, Dec 04 '14 at 15:06

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 04 '14 at 15:08

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Download FX File Explorer from Google Play. It shows all the memory locations mounted on device on it's home screen. There is a search button above. Tap on it and search with file name. It searches both internal and external memory.

answered Dec 04 '14 at 15:08

ProPlayerMaxUltra

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Save your files in Download folder of external memory for easy access. For example - SDcard/Download/ApkFiles – ProPlayerMaxUltra Dec 04 '14 at 17:41

Where do I store my files such that they can be found?

2 Answers2