this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2025
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Why does file:// not work? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 weeks ago by Treczoks@lemmy.world to c/firefox@lemmy.world
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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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[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

OK, my file browser does not offer this option.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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)

[–] DarkSirrush@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Try using the share option, and choose firefox?

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Can't choose Firefox from share, sorry.

[–] SatyrSack@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

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