Do you want to access specific files and folders on your Windows computer right from your iPhone or iPad? Thanks to the built-in Files app, it’s fairly simple and straightforward to connect to SMB file servers which includes shared Windows folders on a network.
This feature was added to the Files app in modern iOS and iPadOS releases, so if you’re running a version older than 13 you won’t find this option available on your device. Aside from that, you can take advantage of it as long as you’re sharing folders from your Windows computer on a local network. This makes it a whole lot easier to access files that are stored on your computer without fiddling around and installing third-party apps on to your device.
Read on to learn how you can access shared folders from Windows directly on an iPhone or iPad.
How to Access Windows Shared Folders from iPhone & iPad
If you don’t have any shared folders on your Windows PC, you’ll need to turn on sharing for a folder of your choice by right-clicking on the folder -> Properties -> Sharing. Also, you’ll need to obtain your computer’s local server IP address, username and password. If you’re unsure of your server address, open Command Prompt on your computer, type “ipconfig” and note down the line that reads “IPv4 Address”.
- Open the built-in Files app on your iPhone or iPad.
- In the Browse menu, tap on the “triple-dot” icon located at the top-right corner of your screen.
- Now, tap on “Connect to Server”.
- Next, type in your local server address that you obtained from Command Prompt. Tap on “Connect”.
- Here, select “Registered User” and enter the local username and password for your computer. Once you’re done, tap “Next”.
- This will establish the connection and you’ll be able to view all the shared folders on your computer. Tap on any of the folders to view its files and other contents.
- If you have the necessary permissions for a folder, you’ll be able to move, rename and delete files from the shared folder. To do this, simply long-press on any of the files as shown below.
- If you want to disconnect from your computer at any time, tap on the “eject” icon located right next to your computer’s local server address in the Browse menu.
That’s pretty much all you need to do. Now you know how to access shared folders on your Windows PC, right from your iPhone or iPad.
It’s worth mentioning that while SMB is typically associated with Windows shares, many other devices also use SMB for compatibility, and you’ll also be able to connect to SMB shares from other devices in the same way aside from Windows, including Linux, Mac, Android, and many other networked devices.
If you’re unable to connect to your computer, make sure that your iOS or iPadOS device is connected to the same local Wi-Fi network as your PC. This server connection feature is made possible with SMB protocol, which stands for Server Message Block. It allows your computer to share files and printers with different devices on a network.
Until iOS and iPadOS 13 came out, iPhone and iPad owners had to resort to third-party file manager apps from the App Store to take advantage of SMB server connectivity. Now that this feature is baked into the stock Files app, there’s no need to install additional third-party apps anymore to use SMb shares.
If you own a Mac or if your computer runs Linux, don’t feel left out. You can still connect to SMB shares from iPhone & iPad with Files app in a very similar way. This feature eliminates the need to manually transfer files from a computer to your iOS device and help save a lot of storage space. And if you’re on a Mac, you can also share files between a Mac and PC by using sharing in Finder.
Did you successfully connect to your Windows computer to access its shared folders from your iPhone and iPad? If not, what issues are you facing? What are your thoughts on this handy feature that’s built into the Files app? Let us know your experiences and thoughts run the comments.
After iOS 13 and iPad OS 13, Files App has become more feature-packed and powerful. You can now compress files, scan documents in Files App. Even, can share folders using iCloud, and can access Samba servers. Which will be useful when you have to connect to Network-attached storage (NAS). Also, you can transfer files from PC to iPad and iPhone. Yes, now, you don’t need to use iTunes for file transfer. All you need is, both Windows PC and iOS devices should be on the same WiFi network. And, you can easily access shared Windows folders on the iPhone and iPad. Also, can copy shared files in your iPad or iPhone storage.
Access Shared Windows Folders on the iPhone and iPad.
Turn on Network Sharing on Windows.
The first thing you need to do is, do enable network discovery and file sharing. Else, Your iPhone/iPad will not able to connect to your PC and access files. Though, if it’s already enabled you can skip this part.
1. Right-Click on WiFi icon in Windows 10, and, click on “Open Network & Internet Settings”.
Click on “Network and Sharing Center”. (In Windows 7, you can open the same settings by going into Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center.)
2. From the left pane, click on “Change advanced sharing settings” to open the sharing settings.
3. Here you can see three different profiles. Private, Public and All Networks. Enable these two options for all three profiles.
- Turn on network discovery.
- Turn on file and printer sharing.
After that, click on “Save changes”.
Note: If you’re concern about privacy, then, you can enable this only for your current profile. In my case, the Public is my current network profile.
Share a Windows Folder.
To share a folder on the iPhone and iPad, you have to change the sharing settings of that folder. Here, to demonstrate, I am sharing the movies folder from E Drive. You can share any folder of your choice.
1. Right-Click on the folder that you want to share, and, then click on properties.
2. In Folder Properties Windows, click on the Sharing tab. And, then click on the ‘share’ button under network file and folder sharing.
3. The network access window will get open. Here you can select, with whom, you want to share that folder.
Type ‘Everyone’, click on ‘Add’ and after that click on “Share”.
Your folder is now shared. But the folder only has read permission. Means, you will not able to make changes in folder contents from your iOS devices. If you want to, then click on the “Share” button again and then give Read/Write permission.
Find the hostname of your Windows PC using CMD.
To connect to the Windows server through your iPhone or iPad. You need the IP address of your PC. But, usually, in the home WiFi network, dynamic IP assigned. And, every time you restart the computer, your IP address gets changed. If you have static IP then you can use it. Else, You can use the Workgroup name instead of the IP Address.
1. To find out hostname or Workgroup name, do open command prompt. (Press Windows + R key simultaneously. And, then type CMD in run window & press enter.)
2. Type hostname in command prompt and press enter. As you can see my hostname in BounceGeek. And with that, I can connect, and, can access shared Windows folders. (Do note your hostname somewhere.)
Access Shared Windows Folders on your iPhone/iPad.
First, make sure you’re using the latest version of iOS and iPad OS. And, connected to the same WiFi network.
1. Open the Files app, tap on the three-dot button and then select the “Connect to Server” option.
2. The app will now ask you to enter server details. As you know my hostname was BounceGeek. So, this is the server address, which I entered.
smb://BounceGeek.local (Remember, You have to enter your hostname.)
After that, tap on Connect.
3. On the next screen, you have to enter the username and password. Enter the credentials, that you use to unlock your Windows Computer. (your Microsoft account details.)
Tap on Next.
4. That’s it. You can now able to see all shared folders.
You can even copy the files you want. Just tap on the file and hold for a few seconds.
That’s how you can access a shared Windows folder on your iOS devices. You can even access NAS from your iPhone. It works on any kind of Samba Server. Though, copying large files could be an issue with this method. But, copying text and image files will be easy. If you have faced any problem while trying out this method, feel free to comment.
With iPadOS 13, Apple updated the Files app to allow connections to SMB file servers, including shared Windows folders, on a network. This removes the need to download and install any third-party apps. Users can easily create, edit and delete files in the shared folders as if they are locally accessible. Here is how you can connect and use shared Windows Folders from your iPhone or iPad.
Access Shared Windows Folders on iPad & iPhone
Before you begin, note the below:
- You should have the latest version of iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 on your iPhone or iPad. While this guide focused on the iPad, it works in the same way on an iPhone.
- You would also need to have shared folders available either from a Windows PC, Mac or NAS (network attached storage). These servers can be located locally or over the Internet.
- Obtain the server address, user name, and password. The server address might be in the form of an IP address, for example, 192.168.1.1 over a local network or 64.233.160.0 over the Internet. It can also be in the form of a domain such as exampleurl.com/server.
Once you have all the information, follow the next steps:
- Open the Files app n your iPhone or iPad and tap on the three dots button on the top left. Tap on Connect to Server in the menu.
- Put in the server address and tap Connect.
- You will be given the option to connect as a guest user or a registered user. Based on how the security permissions and accounts are set up on your file server, select the right option and enter the username and password if required. Tap next once done.
- That’s it. You will now be connected to the shared folder. The folder will show under a new ‘shared’ heading in the left sidebar. You can browse through your folders as you would with local iPad files or iCloud Drive files.
- Files app supports features like copy, move, delete, duplication and file renaming for shared folders. Whether you are accessing shared Windows folders, Mac folders, or Linux file servers, the same file management functions are supported. You might not be able to open certain files if you don’t have a supported app on your iPad or iPhone to open them.
- You can also create new folders by long pressing in an empty space in the app. The app will also give you the option to scan documents and save them directly to the shared folder on the file server.
- Tapping on Info will show details like Folder name, location and creation dates, however, Files app does not show the folder size.
Once you are done using your file server, you can tap the eject button next to the file server address under Shared in the left sidebar. This will disconnect you from the file server. You can easily reconnect by going to the Connect to Server option, as the Files app will have saved the details under ‘Recent Servers’ list. You can remove your recent servers, if you don’t want them to show here.
Do you connect to your file servers often from your iPhone or iPad? Let us know your experience and workflow in the comments below.
Check out our other guides for iPadOS and iOS 13:
- How to Resize App Icons on iPadOS Home Screen
- How to Use Picture-in-Picture Mode on YouTube in iPadOS
- Turn off Memoji Stickers in iOS 13 / iPadOS 13 on iPhone, iPad
- How to Add Filters to Videos in iOS 13 / iPadOS 13 on iPhone and iPad
- How to use WhatsApp on iPad with iPadOS
Do you have an extensive collection of large files on your MAC or PC and wish to access them effortlessly from your iPhone or iPad? Our apps provide a simple solution.
Follow these steps to enable seamless access between your computer and iOS device using the SMB protocol:
Step 1: Enable SMB Protocol on Your Computer
For MAC:
1. Open «System Preferences» on your MAC.
2. Click on «Sharing.»
3. Enable the «File Sharing» service.
4. Add your music folder to the «Shared Folders» section. Add a user and choose the permission level (Read & Write or Read Only). You can opt for «Everyone: Read Only» for the added music folder.
5. Remember the computer URL (smb://192.168.xx.xx), as you will use it in the next steps.
6. Click on «Options» and activate «Share files and folders using SMB.»
7. Enable «Windows File Sharing» for available accounts.
For Windows PC:
1. Right-click on your music folder.
2. Select «Properties.»
3. Navigate to the «Sharing» tab.
4. Click on «Share…»
5. Choose the individuals with whom you want to share the folder and specify the permission level. You can select «Everyone:Read» for the chosen music folder.
6. Click «Done.»
7. Click «Done» in the «File Sharing» window, and remember the folder path.
Step 2: Connect Your iOS Device
1. Open the app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to the «Connections» Tab.
If Your Computer Appears in «Available Devices» Section:
If your computer is visible in the «Available devices» section and you selected «Anyone:Read Only» in the previous step, simply tap on your computer, and it will connect automatically.
If Your Computer Doesn’t Appear Automatically:
1. Tap «Connect a cloud service.»
2. Select «SMB» in the «Connect a cloud service» screen.
3. In the «SMB Connect» screen, enter the server URL with the shared folder path. You may use the server name or server IP:
For Example:
smb://ameleshko.local/Music/
smb://192.168.0.102/Music/
smb://192.168.0.102/
4. Enter your Login and Password or leave these fields blank if you selected «Anyone:Read Only» in the previous step.
5. The «WORKGROUP» field is optional and should be used if you have an Active Directory Domain.
6. Once you’ve connected your computer using the SMB protocol, it will appear in the «Cloud services» section of the «Connections» screen.
7. Open the connected service and navigate to the desired folder.
8. You can utilize the built-in file manager to edit your files as needed.
SMB2 Folders with Special Characters Issue
Sometimes you may encounter issues with folders containing special characters when using the SMB2 protocol. Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:
1. Enable SMB 1:
• As a temporary solution, try enabling SMB 1 on your server and in the app settings. This can help bypass the issues related to special characters in folder names.
2. Use System File Open Menu:
• Navigate to “Local files”.
• Scroll down to the “Files on this device” section.
• Tap “Open files…” or “Open folders…”.
• Locate your server and select the files or folders you need.
• Tap “Open” to confirm your selection.
3. Alternative Protocols:
• If the problem persists, consider connecting to your NAS using WebDAV or DLNA protocols if your NAS supports these options. These protocols might handle special characters more gracefully.
By following these steps, you can mitigate the issues with special characters in folder names when using the SMB2 protocol.
Conclusion
With these steps, you can effortlessly access your vast collection of files from your MAC or PC on your iPhone or iPad using our apps.
If you searched for ways to access your Windows files from your Android/iOS devices, chances are you landed on guides suggesting you to download all sorts of external applications, free or paid. Did you know that you absolutely don’t need any external application for file transfers across your devices? Well, now you do. Windows Network Share is a really easy way of sharing files, folders, or entire drives across devices on the same network. Let’s learn how to set up Windows Network Share to access your PC files from Android/iOS.
What Is Network File Sharing?
When you want to share a file or folder with someone, sometimes it is faster to share it over your local network, rather than uploading to the cloud or looking for a USB flash drive. This process is called network file sharing. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is also a valid option for file sharing remotely or on the local network but, it’s much more of a hassle to set up than Windows Network Share.
Windows Network Share utilizes the SMB protocol internally to make files, directories, or, entire drives available for read/write access for devices on the local network. While it’s super easy and swift to set up, it’s also a common target for adversaries. So, it’s wise that you learn how the SMB protocol works and some common SMB vulnerabilities to ensure that your network perimeter isn’t breached.
To access your computer’s files, you need to share them on the local network. For the demonstration, I’ll be sharing a drive on the local network. If you wish to share a folder or a single file instead, you can follow the same steps but with only the folder(s) and file(s) selected.
Before you dive into the steps, it’s recommended you create a separate, local Windows user account to be used solely for network drive access.
Here are the steps to share files on the local network in Windows 10/11:
- Right-click on the drive you want to share.
- From the drop-down menu, click on Properties.
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In the Properties menu, go to the Sharing tab.
- Click on Advanced Settings in the new pop-up menu, check the Share this folder box, and wait, it’s not over yet. Now to prevent unsolicited access to your locally shared drives, click on Permissions.
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In the new menu that pops up, click on Add. Yet another box should pop up. Here, type in the username of your user account. Use a dedicated user account only for network access or use your primary account’s username and press Enter. You should find your name is present on the list of users with permission to the shared drive.
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Finally, click on your account name, and in the Permissions for <account name> section, check the Full Control box and hit Apply.
That’s all the steps to share your drive on the local network. However, if you run into any trouble, it’s recommended you check out the dedicated guide on enabling Windows Network Share.
How to Access Your Windows Files From an Android Device
Now that you have shared the drive on the local network you’ll be able to access your newly shared drives and files from your Android device in just a few taps. Make sure your Android device and Windows PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. With these checks out of the way, let’s look at the steps to access Windows network shared files from Android:
- Fire up the Files application on your Android device.
- On the Files application, scroll to Network Storage and tap on it.
- Inside Network Storage, tap on Add network storage. You might be asked to select an option from a list of protocols. Tap on Network Drive or any option with SMB in the name.
- Your device will start to scan for locally shared drives. Wait for it to locate your Windows drive. If your device is unable to locate it follow the next steps. First, you need to find the IP address of your Windows PC.
- After noting the IP address, go back to your Android device and tap on Add Manually.
- In the new window, type in the IPv4 address you copied earlier into the Address field. Then, type 445 into the Port field. Finally, fill in the Username and Password fields with your account credentials and hit on Add or Connect.
Now, you should be able to access files on your Windows PC from your Android device. You can modify the files or download them to your Android device. All done without ever needing any external application!
On some devices, such as Samsung phones, when you click on Network Storage, you might be asked to update the Files app to add the network access functionality. Proceed to do so, and then return to the guide.
How to Access Your Windows Files From an iOS Device
The steps to access Windows files from iOS are pretty much identical to the steps required for Android devices. Here’s how you can access your Windows PC’s files from iOS:
- Before opening your iOS device. You need to grab the IP address of your Windows PC. There are multiple ways to do it. The easiest one being typing in cmd in the search box and then using the ipconfig command to fetch network-related details. Note down the value of the IPv4 field.
- Fire up the Files application on your iOS device.
- Click on the three horizontal dots (ellipsis) in the top right corner. From there, select Connect to Server.
- A new window should open up asking you to input the IP address of the shared drive. Type in the IP address that you previously noted down and tap on Next.
- Then, you will be prompted to enter the user account credentials to access the shared drive. Type them in and tap on Next.
Now you should be able to view the files on the shared drive. You can now download, upload or modify the local files on your Windows PC with ease and without having to download any third-party application.
Access Your PC Files on iOS/Android Without Third-Party Apps
Now that you know how to access your PC files using Windows Network Share, uploading, downloading, and modifying files should be super easy to do. You won’t have to rely on downloading and testing third-party applications for minor tasks like copying over a PDF file from your Windows PC to your Android/iOS devices.
If you wish to share files between computers on the same network, that is possible as well. But, for heavy file sharing between two computers, a few alternatives to network sharing may be worth checking out if you’ll be sharing large chunks of data.