How to see and connect a network folder on Android: a complete guide

Network folders are a convenient way to share files between devices on a local network, but connecting them often raises questions. Unlike Android their connection often raises questions. Unlike Windows or macOS, where network drives are displayed automatically, smartphones require manual configuration. The reasons for the difficulties lie in the limitations of the operating system: by default Android does not support the protocol SMB (used for network folders in Windows), and access via FTP or WebDAV requires third-party applications.

In this article you will find current methods of connecting to network folders on Android 10–14including bypassing manufacturer restrictions (for example, Samsung or Xiaomi block SMB by default). We will look at options for different scenarios: from a home NASserver to corporate networks, and also solve typical problems such as authentication errors or lack of access. If you need to quickly copy files from your computer to your phone without clouds or cable, this guide is for you.

1. Preparation: what you need to know before connecting

Before trying to see the network folder on Android, make sure that the basic conditions are met:

• 📶 Devices on the same network: the phone and computer/server must be connected to the same Wi-Firouter. Check this in the settings Wi-Fi on both devices.
• 🔓 Access permissions: the network folder should be shared (in Windows — through the folder properties, on NAS — in the control panel).
• 🔑 Login data: prepare your login and password (if the folder is protected). For Windowsnetworks, this is often an account Microsoft or a local user.
• 📱 Phone rights: some applications require permission to access the storage (android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE).

If you are connecting to Windows-PC, enable protocol support SMB 1.0 (if you are using an old version Android) or SMB 2/3 (for new devices):

1. Open Control Panel → apps → Turn Windows components on or off.
2. Find Support for SMB 1.0/CIFS file sharing and check the box (only if compatibility with older devices is required).
3. For SMB 2/3 no additional actions are needed - it is enabled by default in Windows 10/11.

2. Method 1: through the built-in file manager (for Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei)

Some manufacturers add support for network folders to branded file managers. For example, Samsung My Files and Xiaomi File Manager are able to connect to SMBresources without third-party applications. Let's look at the process using an example Samsung:

1. Open the application My Files (folder icon with a blue background).
2. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Connect to server.
3. Enter data:
   • Server address: computer IP or NAS (for example, 192.168.1.100).
   • User name and password (if required).
   • Shared folder name (for example, SharedDocs).

Click Connect. The folder will appear in the section Network.

On Xiaomi the path is a little different:

1. Open File Manager → Network → LAN.
2. Click Add server and enter IP address (for example, 192.168.1.5).
3. Select a folder from the list of available resources.

Make sure that network discovery is enabled on your computer|Check that the antivirus is not blocking access to the folder|Reboot the router if the devices do not see each other|Disable VPN on your phone (it may interfere with local connection)-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14+) support SMB may be disabled by default. If folders are not displayed, try third-party applications from the next section.

3. Method 2: third-party file managers (Solid Explorer, FX File Explorer)

If the built-in manager does not support network folders or is unstable, use specialized applications. The best options:

• 📁 Solid Explorer (paid, but with a trial period): supports SMB 1/2/3, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV.
• 🔍 FX File Explorer (free): convenient interface for connecting to Windowsnetworks and NAS.
• 🌐 ES File Explorer (caution: contains advertising): supports LAN, but has privacy problems.

Instructions for Solid Explorer:

1. Open the application and tap on the icon ⋮ (three dots) → Network storage → Add.
2. Select Windows (SMB).
3. Fill in the fields:

   Server address: 192.168.1.100 (or host name, for example \\DESKTOP-ABC123)
   Port: 445 (default for SMB)
   Username: your Windows login
   Password: 
   
   Shared folder name: SharedFolder

4. Click Save. The folder will appear in the section Network.

FX File Explorer configured in the same way:

1. Go to Network → Add cloud storage → LAN.
2. Enter the IP address and credentials.
3. Select a folder from the list of available resources.

Application	SMB support	FTP/WebDAV support	Free version
Solid Explorer	✅ (SMB 1/2/3)	✅	❌ (14-day trial)
FX File Explorer	✅	✅	✅
ES File Explorer	✅	✅	✅ (with advertising)
MiXplorer	✅	✅	✅ (without excess water)

Built-in (Samsung/Xiaomi)|Solid Explorer|FX File Explorer|ES File Explorer|Other-->

4. Method 3: specialized applications for SMB/FTP (Cx File Explorer, AndSMB)

If you need advanced functions (for example, mounting a folder as a local drive or working with FTP), use highly specialized utilities:

• 🔗 AndSMB: free application for SMB/CIFS with support for bookmarks and encryption.
• 📂 Cx File Explorer: supports SMB, FTP, SFTP i WebDAV, as well as cloud services.
• 🖥️ FileBrowser: convenient interface for working with NAS and network folders Windows/macOS.

Example of configuration in AndSMB:

1. Launch the application and click + in the lower right corner.
2. Select New SMB server.
3. Fill in:

   Server name: My storage (custom name)
   Address: 192.168.1.100
   Port: 445
   User name: User
   Password: 
   
   Shared folder: \\192.168.1.100\SharedFolder

4. Save and tap on the created server - the folder will open in the application interface.

For FTPconnection (for example, to a home server on Raspberry Pi):

1. B Cx File Explorer go to Network → FTP.
2. Enter:

   Address: ftp://192.168.1.200
   Port: 21
   Username: ftp_user
   Password: 

3. Click Connect.

⚠️ Attention: When connecting via FTP data is transmitted in clear text. For security, use SFTP (port 22) or FTPS (port 990).

5. Method 4: connection via NAS applications (Synology DS File, QNAP Qfile)

If you have a home NASserver (for example, Synology, QNAP, Western Digital My Cloud), use the manufacturer's official applications. They are optimized for working with specific models and support all functions, including multimedia streaming.

• 📱 Synology DS File: for servers Synology DSMAllows you to view files, download them to your phone and download them back.
• 💾 QNAP Qfile: works. s QNAP NAS, supports offline access and automatic synchronization.
• ☁️ WD My Cloud: for devices Western Digital. Integrates with Google Drive i Dropbox.

How to connect via Synology DS File:

1. Install the application from Google Play and run it.
2. Click Add account.
3. Select Connect via local network.
4. Enter your IP address NAS (for example, 192.168.1.150) and login information.
5. After connecting, all shared folders will be available in the application interface.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔒 Security: data is transmitted over an encrypted channel (if configured to NAS).
• 🎵 Media: you can stream video/music directly from the server without downloading.
• 🔄 Synchronization: automatic backup of photos from your phone to NAS.

How to find IP address of the NAS server?

If you do not know the IP address of your NAS, check it through the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) in the Connected devicessection Or use. utility Synology Assistant (for Synology) or QNAP Qfinder (for QNAP).

6. Method 5: mounting a network folder as a local drive (for root only)

For experienced users, there is a way to mount a network folder as a local drive so that it appears in any file manager. This requires root access and work with Terminal Emulator or ADB.

Instructions:

1. Install Terminal Emulator (for example, Termux) and Root Explorer.
2. Connect to the SMBresource with the command:

   su
   mkdir /sdcard/SmbShare
   mount -t cifs //192.168.1.100/SharedFolder /sdcard/SmbShare -o username=User,password=,vers=2.0

   Where:

   • 192.168.1.100 — server IP address,
   • SharedFolder — shared folder name,
   • vers=2.0 — protocol version (1.0, 2.0 or 3.0).

The folder will appear in /sdcard/SmbShare and will be available to all applications.

To ensure that the mount is preserved after a reboot, add a command to the file /etc/fstab (an editor with root access is required).

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect mounting can lead to system failures. Before experiments, make a backup copy of the data on your phone.

💡

Mounting a network folder as a local drive is convenient for automatic synchronization (for example, photo backup), but requires root access and can reduce performance if the network connection is unstable.

7. Solving common problems

If the network folder is not displayed or errors occur, check the following points:

Problem	Possible reason	Solution
Network devices are not visible	Network discovery is disabled on the computer	Enable Network detection in Windows (Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network Control Center)
Authentication error	Invalid login/password or access rights	Check your credentials. For Windows try the format COMPUTER_NAME\UserName
The connection is lost	Unstable Wi-Fi or session timeout	Reconnect to the network. On the router, increase the inactivity time for DHCP
No access to files	Permission restrictions on the folder	On the computer, check the permissions for the user (Properties → Security)
Slow file transfer	Slow Wi-Fi speed or network congestion	Connect to the network 5 GHz or use a cable Ethernet via an adapter USB-C

If the problem persists, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the router and all connected devices.
• 📱 Update phone firmware (in new versions Android improved support SMB).
• 🛠️ Use an alternative protocol (for example, WebDAV instead of SMB).

8. Alternative ways to share files without network folders

If you cannot connect to a network folder, consider alternatives:

• ☁️ Cloud services: Google Drive, Dropbox, Yandex Disk. Minus - dependence on the Internet and volume limitations.
• 📲 Local transfer:
  • Snapdrop (browser service type Airdrop),
  • LocalSend (open source application),
  • Send Anywhere (transfer via QR code).
• 🔌 FTP server on your phone: applications like Servers Ultimate or Simple FTP Server allow you to distribute files from your phone over a local network.
• 🖧 SSH/SFTP: if you have access to the server via SSH, use Termux + rsync for synchronization.

For regular exchange of large files (for example, backups) the best solution the NAS or SMBserver remains. But for one-time tasks, cloud services or LocalSend may be easier.

💡

If you need to transfer files between Android and Mac, enable sharing on Mac data-i="320">and connect via System settings → Sharing → File sharing and connect via AFP or SMB via Solid Explorer.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to connect to a network folder without Wi-Fi (via mobile data)?

No, to access the local network folder (SMB, FTP) the devices must be on the same network. An alternative is to set up a VPNserver on a router or computer, but this requires additional settings. For remote access, it is easier to use cloud services.

Why does SMB connection not work on Android 13+?

In Android 13 and newer Google has tightened restrictions on access to local networks due to privacy policy. Solutions:

• Use applications that support SMB 3.0+ (for example, Solid Explorer).
• Set up VPN on the router and connect through it.
• Update the phone firmware - some manufacturers (for example, Samsung) add support for SMB in new versions.

How to find the IP address of the computer to connect?

On Windows:

1. Open Command line (Win + R → cmd).
2. Enter ipconfig and find the line IPv4 address (for example, 192.168.1.100).

On macOS/Linux: use the command ifconfig or ip a.

Is it possible to connect a network drive as permanent storage (for example, for applications)?

On most devices without root no. Network folders are connected only for reading/writing files manually. For automatic operation (for example, saving screenshots to a network drive), you will need:

• Root access and mounting via fstab.
• Use Tasker + AutoTools to automatically download files.

Is it safe to connect to network folders via public Wi-Fi?

No, it’s risky On public networks, traffic can happen! intercept. If you need to access files:

• Use VPN (for example, WireGuard or OpenVPN).
• Configure SFTP or WebDAV with SSL instead SMB/FTP.
• Disable sharing after finishing work.