Sharing files and folders on the network between Windows and Android without relying on cables and cables is not a complex affair: you just need to know the right tools!
In this guide we will see how to completely replace USB drivers, proprietary suites and “AirDroid” style apps to share files and folders over the network between the two operating systems.
This makes the use of the USB cable superfluous both to transfer files from Windows PC to Android and the reverse (transfer files and folders from Android to Windows). We will only deal with free and accessible software even without active root on the system (Android).
PLEASE NOTE: we assume that Windows and Android are connected on the same LAN network (which also includes WiFi connections).
Preliminary information
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Share files and folders on the network
From Windows to Android - Part of Windows
On Windows we can use the HomeGroup to share files on the LAN contained in the Pictures, Music, Videos and Documents folders or any other folder we wish.
Let's open the menu Start, look for Home Group and open the item indicated by the red circle.
Although the following was illustrated using Windows 8.1, the guide is very similar for Windows 7 and Windows 10 as well.
In the new window we will be able to choose which predefined folders we want to share on the LAN by clicking on the various check marks indicated as Disabled; we activate the folders on which we want to grant access from Android.
In my case I chose to share the Music folder.
The configuration is already finished! Compared to the past, the configuration of shared folders has become much simpler, it only takes a few clicks.
We ignore the Password field at the bottom of the window.
It is only used to connect other Windows PCs to the HomeGroup, it is not used to connect Android devices.
Let's get the name of our Windows account and the login password to it; the username to use on Android can be obtained in any Windows Explorer window.
Always on the subject "password logged in" we must specify that it is required on Android to access shared folders: we must therefore have at hand the password of our user account enabled on Windows.
If during the installation we have not set a login password we must do it immediately: press CTRL + ALT + DEL on the keyboard, choose Change Password, select our user, leave the Old password field blank (if we have never created one, otherwise we insert the old one) and type a password of your choice in the New Password fields.
PLEASE NOTE: we cannot access the Homegroup from non-Windows devices if we do not have a password enabled on the account.
TIP: even with the password active we can still set the autologin on Windows following the procedure described here.
If we want to add other folders to the Homegroup not included in the default paths just use the context menu on the folder of our interest (right click-> Share with).
We can use:
- Homegroup (view) if we want that the folder cannot be modified (read only);
- Homegroup (view and edit) to have full control of the shared folder (create, edit and delete files).
From Windows to Android - Part Android
On Android we can access shared folders on the LAN by installing an advanced and free file manager such as ES File Manager.
DOWNLOAD | ES File Manager
Once the installation is complete, go to the LAN tab (with the Swipe gesture) or by opening the entry of the same name in the Homepage.
Click on Scan at the bottom to enable the automatic search for the homegroup created on Windows. After a few minutes we will see the corresponding icon appear.
We perform a tap on the PC icon; we will be asked for access credentials.
We proceed as follows:
- We insert in Username the name of our Windows account;
- We insert in Password the one chosen for login on Windows;
- We check the item Remember the password to automate future logins.
- Click on OK.
If we did everything correctly we will have access to the shared folders on the Homegroup.
Da Android a Windows – Parte Android
What if we wanted to do the opposite? If we have to access all the photographs taken on the smartphone or screenshots on the fly?
What if we have to upload music to Android without a USB cable? We will now see how to do the reverse procedure simply turning our Android device into an FTP server accessible from Windows.
To create our FTP server we will always use ES File Manager, which also lends itself perfectly to this purpose (it is much more than a simple file manager).
DOWNLOAD | ES File Manager
Open the Remote control manager item in the app's side menu.
A new manager tab will open; in this new screen we click in the center on Start to start our FTP server on Android.
The app will automatically generate an FTP link with the local IP address of the device and the port open for PC access.
We copy the whole link, we will need it on Ubuntu to access the internal memory of the smartphone.
We're done mobile, we won't have to click on anything else, just go to PC to access this new FTP server available on the local network.
The FTP server created shows the internal memory of the system (also micro SD if present), now shared and accessible anywhere on the local network.
PLEASE NOTE: normally accesses are managed in guest mode also with this system, making the smartphone vulnerable just like shared folders on the PC (anyone can delete and modify the system's internal memory).
If we care about our security, click on Settings in the same ES File Manager window (before starting the FTP server) and set a username and password to increase security.
TIP: we can create a shortcut for accessing the FTP server directly from the Android homescreen, able to turn this feature on and off without opening ES File Manager every time.
From Android to Windows - Part of Windows
From Windows we can access the newly created server directly from the Explorer.
We open the Windows file manager (I recommend opening the link directly What PC) and in the Computer tab open the Add network path item.
We will be introduced to the add server wizard.
Click on Next; in the next screen we choose the item Choose a custom network path.
Click on Next and in the new screen we enter the network path (the URL of the FTP server) indicated by the ES File Manager app.
Share files and folders on the network between Windows and Android 18">
Share files and folders on the network between Windows and Android 19">
Click on Next again; in the next screen we can configure anonymous or username access to the server (based on the configurations chosen in the app).
In my case I removed the check and entered the username.
Share files and folders on the network between Windows and Android 20">
Share files and folders on the network between Windows and Android 21">
Click on Next again; in the last screen we can choose a fantasy name with which to identify the connection.
Click on Next for the last time to complete the configuration.
A new network location will have appeared in Windows Explorer and in the Explorer side panel.
Let's make sure the FTP server is started on Android and open the newly created network path.
The system will ask us for access with a password only if we have made a non-anonymous connection, otherwise access will be direct (check the item Anonymous access).
We enter our username and password; if interested in not entering these credentials anymore, enable the check mark on Save password.
Click on Log in to view the internal memory of our Android device.
But don't I first use AirDroid or similar instead of doing all these steps?
Personally the answer is no: AirDroid does not guarantee the same stability as an SMB connection or an FTP server in sharing files and folders on the network, in addition, once the initial configurations have been made, two mouse clicks are really enough to access our devices “bi-directionally” without going crazy between battery-draining apps and connections to be authorized.
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