How to Access a Shared Folder or Network Drive on Android

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Easily connect to a shared folder on your Android phone or tablet
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Do you have a shared folder on your local area network that you want to access from your Android? While you can easily access a shared folder with a third-party file manager app like Cx File Explorer, there are also alternatives that require no additional downloads. Read on to learn more about using Cx File Explorer to access a shared folder and other easy ways to share folders that don't require another download.

How to Access a Shared Folder on Android

If you have a shared file on your computer, you can access it from your Android phone or tablet with Cx File Explorer. You can also use Quick Share to quickly share folders from Windows to Android or Google Drive to share folders online from a Mac or Windows PC to an Android.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Cx File Explorer

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  1. Cx File Explorer is a free file browser app for Android that allows you to browse files and folders on your phone, SD card, cloud storage, and shared folders on your local area network. Use the following steps to download and install Cx File Explorer: [1]
    • Open the Google Play Store .
    • Enter "Cx File Explorer" in the search bar at the top.
    • Tap Cx File Explorer in the search results.
    • Tap Install below the Cx File Explorer banner.
  2. It has an icon that resembles a blue folder that says "CX" on the front. Tap the icon on your Home screen or Apps menu to open Cx File Explorer. Alternatively, you can tap Open in the Google Play Store when it is finished downloading and installing.
    • The first time you open Cx File Explorer, you may need to tap Allow to grant it access to your phone's file system.
    • You can only access folders that have been shared over a local area network.
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  3. It's the third tab that appears above the storage locations when you open Cx File Explorer.
  4. It's the blue icon that has a plus (+) sign in the middle. It's under the "Network" tab. This option allows you to connect to a new network device.
  5. It's the second tab at the top. This displays options for connecting to devices remotely.
  6. It's the first option at the top. This will scan your local area network for devices you can connect to.
    • If the device you want to connect to doesn't appear, you can tap Manual Input in the lower-right corner and enter the IP address or network path of the device you want to connect to next to "Host."
    • This is essentially the same as selecting SMB, but the network information fills out automatically.
  7. Devices may be listed by the device name or by the IP address.
    • If devices are listed by IP address, you can find out the local IP address for each device using the Command Prompt (CMD) on Windows, or the Network settings area of System Settings on Mac.
  8. If prompted, you may need to enter the username and password to log in to the computer where the shared folder is stored to access the folder.
  9. If the device is listed by IP address, you may want to use the field next to "Display name" to change the name of the device to something you will more easily recognize.
  10. This will verify the username and password and display the shared folders on that device.
  11. This allows you to access the shared folder. From now on, any time you want to access a shared folder on your Android, just open Cx File Explorer. Then tap Network and tap the device name.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

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  1. 1
    Turn on Quick Share on your Android. Quick Share has replaced Nearby Share as the default sharing software, and Nearby Share is no longer included on some Android phones, like the new Galaxy phones and tablets. You can use Quick Share to share files between your Android and your Windows PC. [2]
    • You can long-press the Quick Share icon in the Quick Settings panel, or find it in Settings > Connected devices > Quick Share.
    • Make sure "Who can share with you" is set to Contacts only or Everyone for your PC to be able to send pictures to your Android.
  2. 2
    Open Quick Share on your computer. You need a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or later to use this software. Go to this link to download the Android Quick Share software . This is not the same as downloading the Samsung version of Quick Share, which is available through the Microsoft Store; that version will only work with Quick Share on Samsung phones and tablets.
    • Make sure Bluetooth is on for both your Android and computer.
    • Turn on Wi-Fi on your Android and computer .
    • Connect both devices to the same network.
    • Make sure both devices are within 16 feet or 5 meters of each other.
  3. 3
    Click Select or drop files to share with your phone. Find the folder or the file of images that you want to share, then share them using "Select" or by dropping them in the Quick Share dotted section.
  4. 4
    Click your Android in the "Nearby Devices" section. You should see the name of your Android here. If not, make sure Quick Share is enabled on your phone or tablet (it's in the Quick Settings panel). You might need to redo the sharing process (Selecting "Who can share with you") if it's been more than 10 minutes.
  5. 5
    Tap Accept on your phone. If your phone is unlocked, you'll see a Quick Share request pop up at the bottom of your screen.
    • If your phone was locked when you sent the image from your computer, swipe down to open the Notification panel on your Android, then tap the "File Share" notification to accept the share. [3]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using Google Drive

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  1. 1
    Upload the file you want to share to your Android to Google Drive. Go to Google Drive's online website , and click New > Folder Upload.
    • Use this method if you don't want to download any additional software, but want to share a file from your computer to your Android phone or tablet. You can use Google Drive whether you're using Windows or Mac, and the Google Drive mobile app may already be installed on your Android!
    • You can also share this folder with others if you'd like.
  2. 2
    Access the shared folder on your Android. Open the Google Drive mobile app, log in if you aren't logged in already, then locate and double-click on the file you uploaded from your computer.
    • You'll see "Suggested" as soon as you open the app, which lists newly uploaded files and folders as well as what you open frequently.
    • If you save files to this folder, you can access them from your Android and your computer!
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      References

      1. ↑ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cxinventor.file.explorer&hl=en&gl=US
      2. ↑ https://blog.google/products/android/ces-2024-android-updates/
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/13801258?hl=en

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Download and install Cx File Explorer from the Google Play Store.
      2. Open Cx File Explorer .
      3. Tap the Network tab.
      4. Tap the plus icon
      5. Tap the Remote tab.
      6. Tap Local Network .
      7. Tap the device with the shared folder.
      8. Enter the username and password if prompted.
      9. Change the device display name if needed.
      10. Tap Ok .
      11. Tap a shared folder.

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