Access your Android phone's files from a PC, Mac or another phone (web browser)

With Solid Explorer's File sharing (WebFS), you can open your phone's files in a web browser on almost any device: a Windows PC, a Mac, a Chromebook, an iPhone or iPad, or another Android phone. Start sharing on your phone, type the address it shows into the browser, enter the password, and your phone's storage opens in a web page. You can view photos, play videos, and download files. With Pro you can also upload, move, rename and delete them. Nothing has to be installed on the other device.

Start sharing on your phone

1. In Solid Explorer, open the side menu (swipe from the left edge) and, under Toolbox, tap WebFS Server.

2. The first time, Solid Explorer downloads the feature ("This feature requires additional installation"). Tap Install and wait a few seconds. From then on, the menu entry is called File sharing (WebFS).

3. Tap Start. If Android asks whether Solid Explorer may show notifications, allow it.

The screen now shows:

• Server address, for example http://192.168.1.23:8081

• Password, an 8-character code such as k4T9xQ2m

• A QR code with the address, handy for opening it on a tablet or another phone

Open your phone in the browser

1. On the other device, open any web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari).

2. Type the server address exactly as shown, including http:// and the number after the colon, and press Enter.

3. Under Enter Password, type the password from your phone and click Login.

Your phone's storage appears. Use the menu on the left to switch between internal storage, an SD card or a USB drive if one is connected.

On an iPhone, iPad or another phone: scan the QR code on your phone's screen with the other device's camera instead of typing the address. Then enter the password as above. On an iPhone or iPad, downloaded files go to the Files app, in the Downloads folder.

What you can do in the browser

Free:

• Browse folders, in a list or grid, sorted by name, date, size or type.

• View photos, including HEIC and RAW, and play videos and music directly in the browser.

• Download files to the other device. Click a file, then Download.

With Pro (turn on Allow writing on the phone):

• Upload files from the other device to your phone: click Create → Upload File and select one or more files. Large files are fine, because they're uploaded in parts.

• Create folders, and Move, Copy, Rename or Delete files.

Without Allow writing, the other device can only look and download. If you try to change something, the browser shows "The file system is read-only." This is a safe default when you just want to grab a few photos.

Stop sharing

Tap Stop on the File sharing (WebFS) screen, or Stop in the notification. The address stops working immediately, and the next time you start sharing you'll get a new password.

While sharing is on, your phone keeps its Wi-Fi awake so transfers don't stall, which uses more battery. Stop sharing when you're done.

Is it safe?

• Every file request needs the password, including downloads and thumbnails. Without it, nobody on the network can see or download anything.

• The password is never sent over the network as text. The browser uses it to sign each request instead.

• The password changes every time you start sharing, and the browser forgets your login when you close the tab.

• The files themselves travel over your Wi-Fi unencrypted (it's http, not https). Your browser may show "Not secure" for this reason. On your home Wi-Fi or your phone's own hotspot that's fine. On public Wi-Fi (hotels, cafés), avoid sharing anything private.

• Leave Allow writing off unless you need to upload or change files.

Limitations

• Downloads are one file at a time. You can't download a whole folder or a ZIP of several files from the browser. To move whole folders, use the FTP server or a shared folder on your PC (see below).

• Only your phone's own storage is shared (internal storage, SD card, USB drives). Cloud and network connections you've added in Solid Explorer aren't.

• It works only on your local network. You can't reach your phone over the internet.

If it doesn't work