Solid Explorer is more than a simple file browser. In addition to allowing you to view and modify device files, you can also use it for other things. For instance, you can use it to set up an FTP server on your Android device to transfer files from Android to PC and vice versa.
Similarly, you can view files from other cloud platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc right in its interface. In case you don’t use these apps often, this feature will save you extra space needed to install these apps.
Furthermore, Solid Explorer allows you to access PC files on your Android device. This is in contrast to an FTP server where your Android files are available on your PC. It is achieved with the help of LAN/SMB connections that can be made with this application.
But how do I establish an SMB connection? That is what we will demonstrate in this article. We will help you access the SMB server on Solid Explorer. Before diving into this, let’s first briefly understand SMB.
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SMB stands for Server Message Block, which is a File Server protocol. The main use of SMB is to allow users (clients) to access files available on the server. The client can access and view these files without transferring them from the server.
You can also make changes to files directly on the server, without saving a copy of it on the client side. Therefore, there is no need for hosting from the client side as is the case with FTP. Only when you want to move files from server to client will memory be needed. Unlike FTP, in SMB, if a file on the server is changed, it is immediately reflected on all clients.
Currently, there are three versions of SMB. SMBv3 is the newest and most secure version, while SMBv1 is the oldest and least secure version, so Windows 10 doesn’t support SMBv1 by default. However, SMBv2 and v3 are fully supported in Windows 10. After years of using SMBv1, Solid Explorer recently switched to SMBv2.
In the case of Solid Explorer, our PC is the server and our Android device is the client. So we can basically view PC files on our Android device by setting up an SMB server on our PC and accessing shared files on our Android.
Set up SMB server on PC
To set up the server, two requirements need to be met. That is:
1. Your Android device and PC must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Share a folder or drive on your PC
To share folders, printers, and other services between different devices connected to the same network, you need to enable network sharing.
1. Enable Network Sharing on PC
Step 1: Open the Start menu and go to Control Panel.
Step 2: In Control Panel, change View by mode to Small icons. Then click on Network and Sharing Center.
Step 3: In the Network and Sharing Center, click the Change advanced sharing settings option on the left.
Step 4: On the next window, you will see three profiles — Private, Guest or Public, and All Network. Click the small down arrow next to the current profile. Here enable network discovery and file and printer sharing.
Note:
Step 5: Then click the arrow next to All networks to expand the options. Scroll down and you will see Password Protected Sharing.
If you want to access files without a password, select Turn off password protected sharing. However, for extra safety, we recommend enabling password-protected sharing. Finally, hit the Save Changes button at the bottom.
You do not need to set a new password. A network share that uses your PC username and password as login details is required while establishing an SMB connection in Solid Explorer.
Find PC username
We assume you remember your PC password but if you don’t know the username, here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Go to the Start menu and search for Run. Alternatively, you can press the Win + R shortcut on your keyboard.
Step 2: Type cmd in the Run window to open Command Prompt and press Enter.
Step 3: Command Prompt window will open. You should see your username mentioned right after Users\.
To verify, type echo %username% and press Enter. You will need this username while establishing a connection on Android.
Note:
2. Windows Folder Sharing
After enabling Sharing, you need to share the folders. You can share an individual folder, or if you want, you can share an entire Drive. Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Open My Computer and navigate to the folder or drive you want to share. Right click on the folder and select Properties from the menu.
Step 2: The Properties window will open. Click the Share tab present at the top. On the next screen, click the Share button present under Network File and Folder Sharing.
Step 3: You will be taken to the Network Access window. Here, you need to specify the people with whom you want to share the folder. From the drop-down box, select People and click Add.
By default, the read and write permissions of the shared folder are set to Read Only. However, if you want others to also have Write permission, click the small down arrow next to Read and select Read/Write. By granting Read/Write permission, others can modify the file or add new content to the folder in addition to viewing the file.
Step 4: Click the Share button on the Network Access Window and finally press the Done button on the next window. You will be returned to the folder properties window. Click Close.
Then if you want to revoke access right click on the folder and from the option Grant access to choose Revoke access.
That’s all you need to do from the PC side. Now to access files on your Android device, you need to establish a LAN/SMB connection.
Access files on Android
Step 1: Open Solid Explorer on your device and press the Add floating button in the bottom right corner to expand it. From the expanded options, select New Cloud Connection.
Step 2: On the next screen, select LAN/SMB and press the Next button at the bottom.
Step 3: Your Android device will start searching for shared devices on your network. If all goes well, you should see your Windows PC there. Tap on it to select it and press the Next button.
Step 4: However, in case nothing shows up, tap the up arrow at the bottom. You will be taken to the Server details screen. Here, you need to enter the IP address of your PC manually.
Do not be afraid. We will tell you how to find it. Open Run by pressing Win + R key. Then type cmd to open Command Prompt. In the cmd window, type ipconfig and press Enter. You’ll find your PC’s IP address next to the V4 IP Address label.
Now that you know your IP address, enter this in the Solid Explorer setup and press the Next button.
Step 5: You will then be taken to the Authentication screen. If the network share on your PC is password-protected (Check Enable network sharing steps above), select Username and password. However, if password protection is disabled, select Guest.
Since we chose password protected above, we will use the second option. Then click the Next button.
Step 6: Now enter your PC username and password on the next screen and press Next. If the details are correct, you will be taken to the Advanced Set screen. Select No here.
Step 7: Check the details on the Review screen. If you feel something is wrong and you want to fix it, tap Previous, otherwise, tap Next.
Step 8: You have reached the final step. A large Connect button will appear on the Android screen. Touch it. If all goes well, the button will turn green. Then tap the Finish button at the bottom. However, if it doesn’t connect, make sure you’ve entered the correct login details for your PC.
The application will then ask you to further protect your network connections. You can choose to enable it or ignore it. If you tap No, you will be taken to the network storage screen.
Here you will see all the shared folders. Tap them to open and view PC files on your Android.
Enjoy
In addition to viewing and transferring files, you can also stream media from PC to Android using this method. If Write permission is granted, you can add new files and also make changes to existing files. As mentioned above, changes made to the file will also reflect on your PC file.
We hope you enjoyed this guide. Let us know if you face any problem while installing the SMB server.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
