You downloaded a .txt file, a log from a router, or a JSON export, and Android answers with "No app can open this file". Plain-text files are the simplest files there are, yet most phones do not ship a dedicated app for them. Here are the ways to open them, from what is already on your phone to a free viewer made for the job.

1. Try the Files app first

Open your phone's file manager (often called Files or My Files), go to Downloads and tap the file. Some file managers include a basic text preview. If you only need to read a short note once, that may be enough. Large files, other text formats such as .log or .json, and editing are usually not supported.

2. Open it in a browser

Most browsers can display a plain-text file. In the file manager, choose Open with and pick your browser. This works for reading, but there is no editing, long lines can be hard to follow, and searching large logs is slow.

3. Use a text viewer app

If you open text files regularly, a dedicated viewer saves time. Text Viewer & Editor is our free Android app for exactly this:

  • Opens TXT, LOG, JSON, XML, CSV and many code and config files
  • Works offline: the file stays on your phone
  • Several files open at once in tabs
  • Search inside a file, with every match highlighted
  • Edit and save small fixes
  • Line, word and character counts, and a dark mode

Files up to about 5 MB open comfortably. The app is free with ads; an optional Pro subscription adds extra text tools and removes the ads.

Why does Android say "No app can open this file"?

Android picks an app by the file's type. A .txt file is usually labelled text/plain, but logs and exports often come with unusual extensions or no type at all, so nothing claims them. A text viewer that registers for these types fixes that: after installing one, choose it in the Open with list and, if you like, set it as the default.

Opening JSON, LOG and CSV files

These are all plain text with a structure. JSON is the format many apps use for exports and settings; logs come from routers, servers and apps; CSV is a table saved as text. A text viewer shows them as they are, which is often exactly what you need to check a value, copy a line or find an error message.

Summary

For a one-off look, the Files app or a browser will do. For anything you open often, or for logs, JSON and CSV, a small offline viewer is faster and keeps your files on your phone.