X-plore has functionality to share device’s files over WiFi. Actually, this file sharing happens on LAN, but most native and usual way to connect Android device to a LAN is over WiFi.
Your Android device acts as a server and provides access to its files.
There are two main modes how you can access the shared files:
- From X-plore on another Android device connected on same WiFi (LAN) network
- From a web browser from any computer connected on same LAN network
If you’re looking to access your Android device from a web browser, check X-plore in Web browser.
WiFi server can be started and configured by opening WiFi file sharing item, and using topmost Server item.
To start/stop WiFi server, click button on right side of this item. When server is running, this item will show address of the server, for example http://192.168.1.22:1111.
To configure WiFi server parameters, click on the item, after which a dialog will appear where you can configure it, or read help.
WiFi file sharing options
WiFi sharing server may have configured several options:
- Read-only access
Enable this if you want avoid other devices to delete/rename/create files on the server device. - Password
This enables needed password for connecting to the server device. - Port
Default port 1111 should work just fine. You may change this in case of some conflict with other apps on device. - Auto-start WiFi sharing
Option to start WiFi sharing when WiFi network is connected. This happens also after device restart.
What is being shared
X-plore acting as server will share these items:
- all local mass storage (/sdcard, external memory card, USB memory)
- installed applications
This means that you can access files on the device, and installed applications. Network locations (LAN/FTP/Clouds/etc) are not shared.
Share selected files
Stopping WiFi file sharing
You can stop sharing server in either of these ways:
- Click WiFi Server entry, then Stop button
- Exit X-plore from main menu
- Open system status bar and click X button in X-plore WiFi server.
Connecting from another Android device
If you want connect two Android devices, and access files of one device from another device, one of devices have to act as sharing server. It’s also possible to enable server on both devices, in such case you can browse files both ways.
The other Android device is then client, and can connect to server device, and work with its files. This is same as when you connect from X-plore to FTP, Samba, or a cloud server – the X-plore WiFi server is there to provide the files.
Permanently saving scanned devices
You can also save scanned device, so that you don’t need to scan it again when starting X-plore next time. To do so, long-click on scanned device and choose Add device.
This will invoke a dialog where you can change device’s Label, and optionally enter other fields:
- Password – Save device’s password if server has configured one.
- Path – Specify path on server where you wish to start browsing files. By default, server will list all mass-memory locations. You may wish to limit access to some folder, for example /sdcard/Pictures or similar.
- Server – no need to change or update this.
Browsing files on remote device
With X-plore acting as client, you can access files on other Android device (where X-plore runs as server). You can do normal operations on the shared files, such as listing, viewing, copying, and if they’re not shared as read-only, you can also rename, delete, create folders and upload files.
Another useful function is access to Apps installed on the other device. This way you can see applications installed on other Android device, and by simple click install these on your device.
Connecting from a web browser
This allows to access device’s files from a web browser from any computer connected on same LAN.