*** Update ***
The app used in this guide been removed from the Play Store by the developer.
However, he has kindly granted me permission to share the apk with you
directly. You can find it attached to the bottom of this post!
************
Hi everyone,
I've put together an 8 minute video guide that demonstrates how (using an FTP
server) you can transfer files between your Phone and a computer over a WiFi
home network (natively through Windows explorer).
I've tried to make it fairly beginner friendly and its available in all resolutions including 1080p:
You can view the video full size here: http://youtu.be/5EV9PfPXbz8
HELP & FAQ:
Applying the tutorial to an older Windows OS:
Windows Vista:
As far as I can recall, the method shown in my video should be virtually (if not completely) identical for Windows Vista Users. If you think I've missed something though, please let me know and I'll update accordingly.
Windows XP:
Mapping the Android FTP Server location in Windows XP should also work just fine. However, I don't think you can access the "add new network location" wizard in the manner shown in the video at 03:30 (I could be wrong). From memory - I believe you need to do the following instead:
a) Open 'My Computer' from the start menu or desktop shortcut
b) From the 'TOOLS' menu select 'MAP NETWORK DRIVE'
c) Click the link "Sign up for Online Storage or Connect to a Network Server"
d) Select "Choose a custom Network Location"
e) I think this should bring you pretty much back in line with the video at 03:45
Mac OS:
I'm not a Mac expert, but perhaps you can try the following...
Follow the video up to the point where I switch over to my PC (03:15), then try this on your Mac:
a) Press Command+K to launch the “connect to server” dialogue
b) Enter the Wifi/FTP URL from the phone app into the address field
c) Click on the “+” icon if you want to save as a favourite
d) Press Connect
e) Enter your Username and Password when prompted & press connect again
f) You should then be able to browse the contents of your phone as a local folder.
g) Rejoin video at 06:50
Web Browser:
Although the aim of this video is to avoid having to use a web browser, you can enter the 'WiFi URL' generated by the Android App (visible at 03:05) into the address bar of any FTP enabled web browser (eg. Firefox / Internet Explorer).
TROUBLESHOOTING
Worked Initially, then stopped:
If you were initially successful in getting everything to work, but some time later you find that you can't connect - this may be related to your router's DHCP configuration. Some routers allocate IP addresses on a dynamic/time lease basis. If your router is configured in this way, your phone's IP address may change every time it re-connects to your local network (thus invalidating the WiFi URL that we copied from your phone during the tutorial). If this is the case, you'll need to refer to your router's documentation and try to assign a static IP to your phone.
Error 550 (CHMOD):
If this error crops up immediately upon trying to access a location on your phone (eg. a sub folder), you have probably entered an invalid path in the "Stay Within Folder" field during the app configuration. Double check the path that you entered and make sure that you didn't accidentally deleted the preceding slash (/) too.
If this error only appears when trying to delete or move files, it could be a couple of things. Do check the steps mentioned in the above paragraph, but also remember what I mentioned in the video about avoiding paths that act as a shortcut to another folder. For example, don't enter "/sdcard" in the "Stay Within Folder" field during configuration of the app. On my phone, this results in read only access to the MicroSD card. I found that I needed to specify the full path (eg. "/mnt/sdcard") to obtain full Read/Write access.
Invalid Handle Error:
This error may occur when trying to move or delete files from your phone. If so:
1) Double check (in the FTP server setup on your phone) that you haven't added a trailing slash (/) after the path specified in the "Stay Within Folder" field.
2) You can also get this error if you start the FTP server, then launch an app that needs access to the folder containing the files you want to move or delete (eg. The Camera / gallery app). Simply exiting the app may solve this. If not:
a) exit your app
b) Stop the FTP server using the home screen widget
c) Restart the FTP server using the home screen widget
d) try again before launching your app.
No WIFI URL:
If you start the FTP server but don't receive a Wifi URL, double check that your phone's WiFi connection is turned on. This may sound obvious, but it could be an easy one to overlook.
Firewall Issues:
If you're convinced that you have everything set up correctly but you simply can't connect to the server - a firewall could be the cause of your problems..
If you're not familiar with firewalls, you may want to disconnect from the internet and temporarily disable your firewall completely to see if this solves your problem. If it does, at least you'll have a starting point. If not, you may need to look a little closer at any filtering rules on your router.
Unfortunately I can't help troubleshoot every possible combination, but generally speaking, you should double check that your internal network is configured as a trusted zone and that there are rules allowing (or no rules blocking) traffic on the required port ip / address etc. For example, 'ESET Smart Security' users will probably want to pay specific attention to the 'Network Filtering' options.
Good luck.
Bugsy.
Handy and very easy to follow. Nice vid and explanation. Everything went through without problems
Thanks
Sent from my SX-SP715A using XDA
Nice video, if is Possible can do one for Mac
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
_moe said:
Nice video, if is Possible can do one for Mac
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not a Mac expert, but perhaps you can try the following and let me know if it works?...
Follow the video up to the point where I switch over to my PC (03:15), then try this on your Mac:
a) Press Command+K to launch the “connect to server” dialogue
b) Enter the Wifi/FTP URL from the phone app into the address field
c) Click on the “+” icon if you want to save as a favourite
d) Press Connect
e) Enter your Username and Password when prompted & press connect again
f) You should then be able to browse the contents of your phone as a local folder.
g) Rejoin video at 06:50
I hope that works...
Cheers,
Bugsy
Thanks man,great tutorial.
You saved my life
I love you.
One problem is that I can't get the widget to show up -.-
Running AOKP 4.0.4
BTW loving your channel please post more vidoes!
iKarido said:
I love you.
One problem is that I can't get the widget to show up -.-
Running AOKP 4.0.4
BTW loving your channel please post more vidoes!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
Regarding AOKP 4.0.4, are you using a Galaxy SII / Nexus? If so, I think I've heard about people having trouble with widgets before. I think you have to drag them out of the widget draw instead. Does that make sense?
Bugsy
SenseBugs said:
Thanks
Regarding AOKP 4.0.4, are you using a Galaxy SII / Nexus? If so, I think I've heard something similar to this before. I think the solution involved having to drag the widgets out of the application menu (or something like that). Can you give that a try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I'm using a sensation. Tried adding it by the widget menu and it didnt work. Then I rebooted to get the widget to show in the widget drawer so I can drag it but it didn't show up.
iKarido said:
No I'm using a sensation. Tried adding it by the widget menu and it didnt work. Then I rebooted to get the widget to show in the widget drawer so I can drag it but it didn't show up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. In that case I'm afraid I really don't know. Unfortunately I've never tested AOKP, so I don't have any first hand experience to go on.
Off the top of my head, my suggestion would be to try widgets from several other market apps and see if any of them act in the same way. I realise that won't solve your problem, but it could go some way towards establishing the source of it.
Best of luck,
Bugsy,
Nice one thx buddy
SenseBugs said:
Hmm.. In that case I'm afraid I really don't know. Unfortunately I've never tested AOKP, so I don't have any first hand experience to go on.
Off the top of my head, my suggestion would be to try widgets from several other market apps and see if any of them act in the same way. I realise that won't solve your problem, but it could go some way towards establishing the source of it.
Best of luck,
Bugsy,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I figured that looking for a similar app with a widget is easier. thanks for eveything though.
much easier if use airdroid
SenseBugs said:
I'm not a Mac expert, but perhaps you can try the following and let me know if it works?...
Follow the video up to the point where I switch over to my PC (03:15), then try this on your Mac:
a) Press Command+K to launch the “connect to server” dialogue
b) Enter the Wifi/FTP URL from the phone app into the address field
c) Click on the “+” icon if you want to save as a favourite
d) Press Connect
e) Enter your Username and Password when prompted & press connect again
f) You should then be able to browse the contents of your phone as a local folder.
g) Rejoin video at 06:50
I hope that works...
Cheers,
Bugsy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANKS, I'll give it a shot when I get off work.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
iKarido said:
I figured that looking for a similar app with a widget is easier. thanks for eveything though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome. If you happen to find another FTP server that comes with a widget though, would you mind letting me know? I couldn't find one anywhere.
Cheers,
Bugsy
shiningarmor said:
much easier if use airdroid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your suggestion.
I’ve actually used AirDroid before, but while it is a great app in its own right - its file management capabilities only seem to go as far as letting you export stuff from your MicroSD card in a zip archive.
The method I show in the video is certainly more cumbersome initially (hence the reason for making it), but I find the end result more functional for simply copying/moving/deleting files.
Bugsy
SenseBugs said:
You're welcome. If you happen to find another FTP server that comes with a widget though, would you mind letting me know? I couldn't find one anywhere.
Cheers,
Bugsy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried some of the free ones on the market but still no luck of finding one with a widget. Will search tomorrow for paid ones there must be one with a widget! haha
Great Guide!
Thanks Bugsy......
Thanks for the awesome guide I was looking for something like that to use.
SenseBugs said:
I'm not a Mac expert, but perhaps you can try the following and let me know if it works?...
Follow the video up to the point where I switch over to my PC (03:15), then try this on your Mac:
a) Press Command+K to launch the “connect to server” dialogue
b) Enter the Wifi/FTP URL from the phone app into the address field
c) Click on the “+” icon if you want to save as a favourite
d) Press Connect
e) Enter your Username and Password when prompted & press connect again
f) You should then be able to browse the contents of your phone as a local folder.
g) Rejoin video at 06:50
I hope that works...
Cheers,
Bugsy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
_moe said:
THANKS, I'll give it a shot when I get off work.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please let me know how you get on. I don't have a mac to hand, so it would be good to know that I'm not adding useless info to the FAQ
How do I save my edited build prop? I'm on liquid smooth beta2. I can access it via astro file manager but it doesn't let me save my changes.. Any ideas on how to save them?
I tried copyright it to another folder. Editing it. It saved. But couldn't move it to my system folder.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Built in text editor in Root Explorer.
If you are asking about editing a file like that, and don't have root explorer, just go buy it because you need it, even if you have other root level file managers.
The best way to edit a build.prop is to export to a computer and do it in linux( or using notepad plus plus in windows...), but apps like Absolute System will pre-format the lines in the file for easy editing.
One of the reasons the export to pc method is the best way is because it forces you to make a backup (or at least to have two different copies of the same file on different physical devices at once - at least until you edit it the one on the pc if you didn't make another copy first)
Another reason the export to pc method is preferred for editing files like that is because you can see more of the file at once on the larger screen, and catch things you miss being restricted to a few lines in view at a time on the device. Sometimes getting a better look at the big picture can teach you a lot.
Anyways, my recommendation about buying root explorer goes well beyond just this one instance with this file, time and again it's the one rock-solid root level file explorer that just gets the job done right the first time. Always finding this or that little problem with others. YMMV.
I can export it. But its read only so I can't over write it. Root explorer didn't help my case either. Said it was read only. How do i change that.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
I use Root Browser and open as a text file and just edit/add/comment out stuff and save, no hassle.
Jarrid42 said:
I can export it. But its read only so I can't over write it. Root explorer didn't help my case either. Said it was read only. How do i change that.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you are in it, look at the top of the app - right above the first listed item.
Tap the "mount R/W" button, if you granted the app root access you are now writeable.
Blue6IX said:
When you are in it, look at the top of the app - right above the first listed item.
Tap the "mount R/W" button, if you granted the app root access you are now writeable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your awesome! Thanks for the help. Ended up buying root explorer. Thanks!!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Ps: i dont know if somebody did this already so dont judge me.
While i was trying to change mac address with apps and terminal on my samsung it didnt work.i have the new samsung A5.i have found a method to change the mac address manually on samsung but needs the following:root and a root browser(can be found in playstore.first root your phone, there are alot of methods online to do that, and download esfile explorer(the root browser).when you open esfile explorer swipe from left to the right or press something on top left to open a black window called on top fast access, on this window there is a category called tools press it and now enable "root explorer" and "show hidden files", now change the category to local and press device, now go to efs-->wifi and now youll se 2 files, .mac.cob and .mac.info , in both of these files there should be only you original mac address, open each of these files if necessary,as text then with es note editor and now press on top right and press edit, now just change the mac address of yours to your victims and save these files(but dont forget the original mac address)and get out of esfile explorer and restart the phone to take changes, then go to setting--> about device-->status and youll see that your wifi mac address have changed.this operation can be reverted by doing the same method.
Wiked dudes production
Wiked dudes production
Thread close at OP's request.
I managed to get an FTP sever running on my gwatch r using ES file explorer (yes it does work on wear and with root access as well if you are rooted)
I found it useful for transferring files to and from the watch to my phone LG G 3 obviously it's much faster than the other methods of Bluetooth file transfer I came accross. I also managed to do all this without touching a p.c just my phone, watch and a wifi connection.
If anyone is interested in how I did this then leave a reply and if enough people are interested I'll make a guide laugh
Sorry about the delay in getting this up lots going at work and home lately
Please read carefully as you can brick your device while playing in TWRP and I will not be held responsible for any damage caused by using this Guide.
Pre-requisites
Android device/phone (I’ll be using An LG G3 D855) or Tablet Rooted with ES file explorer and Wear media installed (play store)
Android wear device (I’ll be using a G-watch R) with root/unlocked bootloader? and TWRP installed
Wifi access point/router (your home wifi)
First of all we need to get ES file explorer on to the watch.
There are a few ways to do this (ADB ect) but I am trying to do these instruction without using a PC.
Using ES file explorer on you android device ensure root access mode is enabled (Slide from the left of the screen and scroll down to ‘Root Explorer’ and switch on) Then go to Local--- /Device/data/app Locate the ES file Explorer .APK and copy the file to another folder that doesn’t require root access ie Downloads folder
Ensure your Wear device is connected to your Android device and open Wear media on your Phone/Tablet.
Click on the picture of the Watch at the top and choose a non root destination folder for the .APK
Then click on the picture of the Phone at the top and locate the ES file Explorer .APK and click transfer/copy this will the put the .APK on your watch but not install it.
Now to install ES on your watch
Now go to your watch and reboot into recovery (TWRP)
Click mount and ensure System has an X next to it by clicking on it
Click advanced and File explorer Locate the ES .APK (mine is called something like com. Estrongs.android.pop) in the wear media destination folder you chose earlier
Click the file and click copy
Navigate to System/app and paste the .APK into this folder
Go to Wipe Advanced wipe and select Davlik Cache and Cache then swipe to wipe and reboot your device
Es should then be installed on your watch
Open the app on your watch open the menu and scroll to near the bottom and turn on root explorer and turn off gestures (there really annoying on a watch)
Then find Network and click Net manager to turn on the wifi on your watch and let it connect to your wifi access point
Just above should be Remote manager click on this and then ‘Turn on’ (this should then enable FTP access to your watch. If your go back to the watch face you should see a notification that an FTP server is running and it will give the IP address ie 192.168.xxx
Now open ES on your Phone (ensure connected to same network as the watch) open the menu and scroll to network and choose FTP
Click new at the bottom then FTP
For Server enter the address your watch is showing (192.168.xxx) tick Anonymous box
Choose a name for the device in ‘display as’ field and click ok. (please note the default port is 21 and should work in most cases but if the notification on your watch has a different port number ie 192.168.0.2:3721 use the numbers after the : so in this case I would enter 3721 into the port box under the Server part 8n ES and not leave the default of 21.
This should test the connection when you click ok
If all has worked you should now be able to click on the FTP you just created and it will show the files and folders on the watch. You can now use this to transfer files between your Phone and watch at a decent speed? ( I do backups on the watch using TWRP and transfer these to my phone or home server which also has an FTP service setup in ES)
Done
This was thrown together in about 10mins So I know it’s a bit rough. I would like to add screen shots at some point and if there are any errors you spot please let me know and I will correct ASAP (I’m sure there are loads lol)
Please also let me know if this worked for you
I would say most people would be interested so it'd would be good if you shared.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using XDA Free mobile app
FTP on a watch? lol that sounds amazing. I am interested in hearing out how you did this.
We are waiting for u
waitting
nice idea.
Sorry guys thanks for the positive response been really busy of late will try to get some basic instructions up this weekend
awesome.
gotta try it tomorrow
You can also run Airdroid app on your watch over wifi. You can upload/download files and install apks using webinterface. The tricky part is to read the port number and ip address that it displays when the app is launched. On the phone this app can do much more than that.
While i was trying to change mac address with apps and terminal on my samsung it didnt work.i have the new samsung A5.i have found a method to change the mac address manually on samsung but needs the following:root and a root browser(can be found in playstore.first root your phone, there are alot of methods online to do that, and download esfile explorer(the root browser).when you open esfile explorer swipe from left to the right or press something on top left to open a black window called on top fast access, on this window there is a category called tools press it and now enable "root explorer" and "show hidden files", now change the category to local and press device, now go to efs-->wifi and now youll see 2 files, .mac.cob and .mac.info , in both of these files there should be only you original mac address, open each of these files if necessary,as text then with es note editor and now press on top right and press edit, now just change the mac address of yours to your victims and save these files(but dont forget the original mac address)and get out of esfile explorer and restart the phone to take changes, then go to setting--> about device-->status and youll see that your wifi mac address have changed.this operation can be reverted by doing the same method.
Wiked dudes production