FAQ

Is there a FAQ?

Yes!

App

Is Aves a file manager?

No. Aves is a gallery app, not a file manager app. The difference is important when it comes to user permissions and how the app can access files. As a gallery app, Aves can only access media content that is publicly available on your device, and nothing else.

What are the differences between Aves and Aves Libre?

You can compare versions here.

What are the shaders bundled with some versions of the app?

Normally, when users install and launch the app for the very first time, shaders are compiled as needed (for animations, transparency, etc.) and it can look janky because performances take a hit. By precompiling and bundling shaders, the first launch is smoother.

If the bundled shaders are incompatible with the user's device, it shouldn't matter, in theory. In practice, it can prevent launch in rare edge cases. Also, bundled shaders raise issues for people using hardened memory allocation for extra security (e.g. with GrapheneOS).

What is safe mode?

The safe mode is not useful to regular users. The shortcut to launch the app in safe mode is useful to debug issues related to cataloguing, which may crash the app in some cases. In safe mode, the app launches without cataloguing, so the user can open the app and export logs.

Collection

Can Aves display media inside hidden folders?

No. Media inside hidden folders is not publicly available media content. It can be accessed by file manager apps, but Aves is not a file manager.

Why does the app show thumbnails with a broken image symbol?

When the app shows these broken thumbnails, it is either:

1. media in a format that Aves cannot decode, or
2. obsolete files that are no longer on storage but are still registered in the Android Media Store. This happens when another app does not move or delete files the proper way.

For obsolete files, you can safely delete them in Aves, but to prevent this situation from happening again you should stop using the other app that moved or deleted these files the wrong way.

Why isn't my album in the Albums page?

All folders containing images should appear in the Albums page. If an album is not listed, it may be because:

• the folder does not contain images or videos,
• the folder is hidden at the system level (its name starts with "."),
• the folder content is excluded from media listing at the system level (it contains a file called ".nomedia"),
• the folder content is excluded from your collection in Aves (see Settings > Privacy > Hidden items),
• the media files inside the folder were not properly registered by the app that created them,
• the folder is on an OTG external drive.

Tags

How do I add a tag to items?

For individual items, you can do as follows:

1. open the item in the viewer,
2. go to its Info page,
3. tap on the button with a tag icon (or go to the top right ... menu and select Edit tags),
4. in the text field enter your tag,
5. tap the top right button with a check mark to save.

To quickly add one of the most recently used tags:

1. long press on the tag button,
2. drag your finger to the tag,
3. release.

For multiple items, you can do as follows:

1. select the items (with a long press),
2. go to the top right ... menu and select Edit > Edit tags.
3. in the text field enter your tag,
4. tap the top right button with a check mark to save.

How do I delete a tag?

1. go to the Tags page,
2. select the tag (with a long press),
3. go to the top right ... menu and select Delete.

How do I rename a tag?

1. go to the Tags page,
2. tap on the tag (you should now see all the items with that tag on the Collection page),
3. select all the items,
4. go to the top right ... menu and select Edit > Edit tags (you should now see the tag editor),
5. tap on the X next to the tag you want to rename,
6. type in the text field the new tag and apply it,
7. tap on the top right Save button (the check mark icon).

Misc

Can I change the size of thumbnails?

Yes. Use the pinch-to-zoom gesture on a thumbnail.

Can I play videos with an external player?

Yes. Enable Settings > Video > Controls > Buttons > Open with other player.

Any hidden feature?

Yes.