Android Enthusiasts

Q&A for enthusiasts and power users of the Android operating system

Latest Questions

1 votes

0 answers

171 views

How to start a ftp/ssh server on android though adb without root

Is it possible to start a ftp server or SSHD (SSH server) on android though ADB without root, then I can use WinSCP to access files on android from PC? Currently I use some apps on android as a FTP server, but this needs operations on the phone, I wish to find a way only by PC CLI method (then for m...

                                  Is it possible to start a ftp server or SSHD (SSH server) on android though ADB without root, then I can use WinSCP to access files on android from PC?

Currently I use some apps on android as a FTP server, but this needs operations on the phone, I wish to find a way only by PC CLI method (then for my scripts).

furynerd (11 rep)

Nov 19, 2024, 03:43 AM • Last activity: Nov 19, 2024, 06:09 AM

0 votes

0 answers

584 views

Can't connect to FTP Server since switching to a Pixel 8 Pro

google-pixel ftp

I have been using the app "FTP Server" for many years. Recently I have become unable to connect to it, since switching from a Pixel 6 Pro to a Pixel 8 Pro. I always get a "connection refused" error. I have tried connecting with Telnet, and get the same response. I can ping the phone without issue. I...

                                  I have been using the app "FTP Server" for many years. Recently I have become unable to connect to it, since switching from a Pixel 6 Pro to a Pixel 8 Pro.

I always get a "connection refused" error. I have tried connecting with Telnet, and get the same response. I can ping the phone without issue.

I also tried the "primitive FTPd" app from Play/F-Droid.

FTP Server app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theolivetree.ftpserver 
primitive FTPd: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.primftpd 

Is something different about networking on the Pixel 8? Or in Android 14?

Edit: For reasons unknown, the next day, without rebooting the phone or anything like that, both "FTP Server" and "primitive FTPd" have started working. Perhaps it was a temporary issue, perhaps something else. I will report back if I make any progress on determining what circumstances cause this.

user (101 rep)

Oct 24, 2023, 01:23 PM • Last activity: Oct 25, 2023, 09:07 AM

3 votes

0 answers

1508 views

Stream video on VLC Player Android over SFTP with SSH key authorization

ssh ftp vlc

I would like to connect via SFTP with public/private key encryption with VLC on Android (both on my Chromecast TV and Android phone). I have installed Termux, configured my keys, and can access the SSH server via Termux. How would I supply my ssh keys to VLC?

                                  I would like to connect via SFTP with public/private key encryption with VLC on Android (both on my Chromecast TV and Android phone).

I have installed Termux, configured my keys, and can access the SSH server via Termux. How would I supply my ssh keys to VLC?

David Alsh

Feb 12, 2023, 09:29 AM • Last activity: Feb 12, 2023, 10:24 AM

12 votes

4 answers

26937 views

Mounting a remote folder as local folder

linux mount remote-control ftp

I have spent hours researching this and unable to come up with a solution, if anyone knows of one please let me know. I am looking for a way to mount a remote folder on a server (using either WebDAV, FTP, etc) on my Android device as a local folder so that all apps can have access to it and save and...

                                  I have spent hours researching this and unable to come up with a solution, if anyone knows of one please let me know. I am looking for a way to mount a remote folder on a server (using either WebDAV, FTP, etc) on my Android device as a local folder so that all apps can have access to it and save and read from it as if it were just any other folder on the phone or SD card. Note that I am not looking for a way to "sync" a folder on my phone with a folder on my server, everything in this folder should be stored on the server only and read as if it were local.
                                

S Gregg (121 rep)

Sep 23, 2014, 04:11 AM • Last activity: Jan 2, 2023, 07:54 PM

0 votes

1 answers

122 views

Issue with FTP over hostapd hotspot and specifically an Android client using ProFTPD

networking wifi-hotspot ftp

So I have been using this setup with an iPhone quite successfully. The "server" box is running Fedora 34, on which is installed ProFTPD. I went through and configured through the visual client the firewalld zone to allow the FTP service through, I even disabled the firewall to check. I have an Andro...

                                  So I have been using this setup with an iPhone quite successfully.

The "server" box is running Fedora 34, on which is installed ProFTPD.
I went through and configured through the visual client the firewalld zone to allow the FTP service through, I even disabled the firewall to check.

I have an Android phone which is a tad aged. It's using Android version 5.1. I try to connect via an Android client and via the Chrome browser in the usual manner.

Now, on my server machine, I opened up Wireshark and watched the hotspot interface. Sure enough, ARP hits "Who is 192.168.x.x", no problem, reports the correct MAC and IP addresses. The FTP request is visible. Even pinging the device from the server works. But for some reason, no response is being sent back from the server, and it's not because it's blocked. The connection just times out.

I note that this only seems to be happening when I use this Android phone, it's a ghost in the shell scenario for sure. I'm going to try a different phone, shouldn't matter right? Makes no sense that it should matter!

The local login of the server still works and there are no options regarding bind address, so I cannot assume it's that.

John Sohn (101 rep)

Jun 15, 2022, 04:46 PM • Last activity: Jun 26, 2022, 01:21 AM

1 votes

0 answers

320 views

How to remotely access full file system on Android for backup?

external-sd ftp

I have always used SFTP servers on my Android devices, with sync scripts run on my server daily to perform backups. I also transfer files to and from the devices this way. With each version of Android, it becomes increasingly challenging. I now have a Samsung Tab7 FE with Android 11. I have spent ho...

                                  I have always used SFTP servers on my Android devices, with sync scripts run on my server daily to perform backups. I also transfer files to and from the devices this way. 

With each version of Android, it becomes increasingly challenging. I now have a Samsung Tab7 FE with Android 11. I have spent hours buying and trying FTP servers, and none are working. Some only allow access to /storage/emulated/0, and the physical (external) sd-card is completely unavailable. After reading about Storage Access Framework (SAF) , I found the Primitive ftpd  from F-droid says it supports SAF, but it can only access new folders created by the Primitive sftpd app, and not the full file system. 

What are workable approaches to provide filesystem access on Android over Wi-Fi, to enable unattended automatic backup and file transfer? 

Edit - I am aware of ADB approaches, but as far as I know they are not unattended and automatic. I want to leave the tablet idle, connected to Wi-Fi, and have my script backup the tablet unattended at 2am.

tim11g (433 rep)

May 28, 2022, 09:33 PM • Last activity: May 30, 2022, 03:48 PM

1 votes

1 answers

1092 views

Uploading files from desktop to remote FTP, using ES File Explorer to initiate and the related traffic?

es-file-explorer ftp

At home have an older Windows desktop with a TB of hard drive and I constantly send files to it over my home network from my Note 4 and have amassed quite the collection. This morning, I started to upload a lot of it to a remote FTP server using ES File Explorer on my Note 4. I can click on my Windo...

                                  At home have an older Windows desktop with a TB of hard drive and I constantly send files to it over my home network from my Note 4 and have amassed quite the collection. This morning, I started to upload a lot of it to a remote FTP server using ES File Explorer on my Note 4. I can click on my Windows desktop then select a group of files, copy and paste them to the FTP server and I get a progress bar of the transfer from "smb://desktop/users/"  to "ftp://ftp.myserver.net/" and my question is if the data literally moves like that? The Windows machine is connected to the cable modem on an Ethernet wire and my Note 4 is on the crowded wireless network. 
                                

RawWreckedEm (66 rep)

Jul 16, 2016, 05:42 PM • Last activity: Apr 6, 2022, 01:07 PM

0 votes

1 answers

2119 views

Proxy error while trying to connect to FTP/computer, but proxy is not enabled already

wi-fi connection-issues proxy ftp

I'm using Lenovo A7000's inbuilt application. Everything was fine, but suddenly, I am getting an error while trying to access the default FTP service via WiFi. > ![Windows PC warning][1] > > The folder 'ftp://192.168.1.3:2121' is read-only because the proxy server is not set up to allow full access....

                                  I'm using Lenovo A7000's inbuilt application. Everything was fine, but suddenly, I am getting an error while trying to access the default FTP service via WiFi.

> 
>
> The folder 'ftp://192.168.1.3:2121' is read-only because the proxy server is not set up to allow full access.

No proxy is set up on WiFi neither on my Android nor Windows PC. And, I am on the same network.

I've verified using another phone, so it's unlikely the Windows problem. 

(Moreover, Xender is not working too. When I tap on connect to PC, my computer's browser showed an error unable to connect).

Devansh Jani (9 rep)

Feb 17, 2017, 09:01 AM • Last activity: Mar 3, 2022, 08:03 AM

0 votes

0 answers

276 views

WiFi connection is unstable when uploading (or perhaps downloading) large files with FTP

wi-fi internet ftp

I use an app like WiFi FTP Server or Files on Xiaomi Poco 3. Everything works perfectly. However, often the upload break. I notice that I cannot access the internet either when that happens. Quickly turning on and off WiFi fixes the issue and if fast enough, the file transfer will resume. I use an a...

                                  I use an app like WiFi FTP Server or Files on Xiaomi Poco 3. Everything works perfectly. However, often the upload break. I notice that I cannot access the internet either when that happens.

Quickly turning on and off WiFi fixes the issue and if fast enough, the file transfer will resume.

I use an app for pinging.

.

As you see, after a while, pinging the router IP will fail.

However, turning off and turning on WiFi quickly will restore connections. This is of course a very annoying problem. That's because I have to keep guarding the smartphone.

As far as I know, this is only happening when uploading large files. If I do nothing, the WiFi is fine. I am using WiFi FTP Server app on Android and FileZilla on my computer. I don't think the problem is in either software. Using Xiaomi's own Files will have the same problem.

How to fix this? What can possibly go wrong?

user4951 (384 rep)

Jan 5, 2022, 03:41 AM • Last activity: Jan 5, 2022, 04:15 PM

1 votes

0 answers

57 views

I want to download torrent files to a fashdrive attached to modem or router (local server ) by initiating the download from the mobile device

downloading ftp torrents

I want to download torrent files from my mobile but since I don't have enough storage I want the files to be downloaded to my local server (the flashdrive/pendrive attached to my modem which can be accessed wirelessly), Is there a way to do this? I don't want my laptop running continuously for downl...

                                  I want to download torrent files from my mobile but since I don't have enough storage I want the files to be downloaded to my local server (the flashdrive/pendrive attached to my modem which can be accessed wirelessly), Is there a way to do this?

I don't want my laptop running continuously for downloading torrent files, instead I would like to use my mobile phone but the problem is that I have very limited storage in my android device. Is there a way to download to a remote Pendrive or storage device attached to my modem or router?
Thanks in advance.

HishamKool (41 rep)

Apr 18, 2021, 04:28 PM

1 votes

1 answers

302 views

sftp to lineage

lineageos photos ftp

In lineage 17.1 I installed the app `SSH server` (by Banana Studio, from Play store). When starting and accessing by my PC (smartphone and PC are in WiFi) via `sftp -P 2222 myuser@192.168.0.7` I see no files there, but there are photos in the smartphone folder `/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera`. When...

                                  In lineage 17.1 I installed the app SSH server (by Banana Studio, from Play store).
When starting and accessing by my PC (smartphone and PC are in WiFi) via sftp -P 2222 myuser@192.168.0.7 I see no files there, but there are photos in the smartphone folder /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera.
When doing cd storage the connection is closed. My PC has ubuntu 18.04.
                                

ubuntuuser (111 rep)

Mar 21, 2021, 08:36 AM • Last activity: Apr 4, 2021, 10:10 PM

4 votes

4 answers

48035 views

How can I change my pictures' and videos' date on my phone by their filenames?

photos file-management scripts ftp exif

Yesterday, I moved a bunch of old pictures and videos to my phone, using a FTP server I installed on my phone. Everything went fine, but today I discovered that the date of all the copied photos and videos was set to yesterday. As a result, my photos and videos are now showing up in the wrong order...

                                  Yesterday, I moved a bunch of old pictures and videos to my phone, using a FTP server I installed on my phone. Everything went fine, but today I discovered that the date of all the copied photos and videos was set to yesterday. As a result, my photos and videos are now showing up in the wrong order in the Gallery app.

(Click image to enlarge)

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Luckily, the date and time is still preserved in the filenames. Right now, I want to restore the photos' and videos' date using their filenames.

I'm interested in a way to do so. I don't really care whether it's by using an app or script or something else.

I'm aware of the fact that I can copy the files from my computer to the phone again using a different protocol, but that is not what I'm looking for.

Exeleration-G (199 rep)

Sep 17, 2015, 11:36 AM • Last activity: Mar 27, 2021, 08:19 PM

7 votes

2 answers

2606 views

Airdroid modifies timestamps of copied files

linux photos airdroid ftp

MTP does not work in Ubuntu so I am using Airdroid to copy photos off my phone (Galaxy Nexus) to my computer (Ubuntu 12.04). My problem is that the files downloaded via Airdroid all have modification date of when I transferred them. I want the files to keep the timestamps they have on the phone (whi...

                                  MTP does not work in Ubuntu so I am using Airdroid to copy photos off my phone (Galaxy Nexus) to my computer (Ubuntu 12.04).  My problem is that the files downloaded via Airdroid all have modification date of when I transferred them.  I want the files to keep the timestamps they have on the phone (which is the date and time I took the photo).  

How can I do this?

wim (999 rep)

Oct 4, 2012, 02:13 PM • Last activity: Feb 27, 2021, 08:45 AM

3 votes

1 answers

1346 views

Does Android have a built-in FTP client?

ftp

Does Android have a built-in FTP client? Even a basic one, like ones that are built into PC browsers and file managers? I know there are good free apps with FTP clients (like Ghost Commander), but I'd like to know if there's a way that doesn't require app installation. I'm excluding chrome's FTP sup...

                                  Does Android have a built-in FTP client? Even a basic one, like ones that are built into PC browsers and file managers? I know there are good free apps with FTP clients (like Ghost Commander), but I'd like to know if there's a way that doesn't require app installation. I'm excluding chrome's FTP support, since that is being deprecated, and not all android phones have chrome built-in.
                                

Hiccup (130 rep)

Dec 3, 2020, 08:56 PM • Last activity: Dec 30, 2020, 03:58 PM

2 votes

0 answers

3273 views

Connect Synology NAS to samsung android phone trough sftp with samsungandroid "My Files" app

samsung file-system ftp

There is a "DS File" Synology app to browse your Synology NAS via your Android phone, but the app is really laggy etc. On Samsung phones there is the "My File" app, a file browser that really does the job, and that would be perfect could it browse the NAS. (In fact I already tested it when the phone...

                                  There is a "DS File" Synology app to browse your Synology NAS via your Android phone, but the app is really laggy etc. On Samsung phones there is the "My File" app, a file browser that really does the job, and that would be perfect could it browse the NAS. (In fact I already tested it when the phone is on the same (wifi) network as the NAS as the app allows it with the "connect to a network drive (SMB)".)

Now, the app also allows to connect to an FTP or SFTP server. Hence in Synology I did a "control panel -> FTP -> Enable SFTP server" with port number 16666 (in the range allowed by my router) and a "control panel -> Terminal & SNMP -> Enable SSH Service" with the same port. Then I said to my router to forward that port.

In the "My File" app, I did an "add SFTP server" where I added the IP address from the Synology NAS, the 16666 port, my admin user name and password, and I keep having an error not allowing me to connect.

Olórin (161 rep)

Dec 29, 2020, 05:23 PM • Last activity: Dec 30, 2020, 05:47 AM

6 votes

1 answers

16097 views

How to open FTP URLs on Chrome for Android?

chrome-for-android ftp

I can open the following link in Chrome on my PC, but my phone browser, which is also the latest version of Chrome, doesn't open it: [ftp://tchdata.eili.ir][1] (can only be accessed from Iran) How can I open such links on my phone (Huawei P smart, if relevant)? [1]: ftp://tchdata.eili.ir

                                  I can open the following link in Chrome on my PC, but my phone browser, which is also the latest version of Chrome, doesn't open it: ftp://tchdata.eili.ir  (can only be accessed from Iran) 

How can I open such links on my phone (Huawei P smart, if relevant)?

Mori (197 rep)

Nov 24, 2020, 08:24 AM • Last activity: Nov 26, 2020, 07:37 AM

1 votes

1 answers

4962 views

How to connect an Android device to an FTP server?

ftp

How to connect an Android device to an FTP server?

                                  How to connect an Android device to an FTP server? 
                                

user52882 (11 rep)

Feb 5, 2014, 07:35 PM • Last activity: Nov 24, 2020, 08:49 AM

-1 votes

1 answers

3367 views

Cannot use FTP to download BT Notifications.apk for Android Watch

applications apk ftp smartwatch

I bought Yuntab Bluetooth Smart Jogging Watch U8 from [Amazon][1]. The printed directions say to download an APK from an IP address with FTP: thufir@doge:~/.bluetooth$ thufir@doge:~/.bluetooth$ ftp 120.24.66.245 Connected to 120.24.66.245. 220 (vsFTPd 3.0.2) Name (120.24.66.245:thufir): anonymous 33...

                                  I bought Yuntab Bluetooth Smart Jogging Watch U8 from Amazon . The printed directions say to download an APK from an IP address with FTP:

    thufir@doge:~/.bluetooth$ 
    thufir@doge:~/.bluetooth$ ftp 120.24.66.245
    Connected to 120.24.66.245.
    220 (vsFTPd 3.0.2)
    Name (120.24.66.245:thufir): anonymous
    331 Please specify the password.
    Password:
    530 Login incorrect.
    Login failed.
    ftp> exit
    221 Goodbye.
    thufir@doge:~/.bluetooth$ 

The directions don't specify a user or password.

How do I get the app?
                                

Thufir (215 rep)

Jan 18, 2017, 02:22 PM • Last activity: Sep 18, 2020, 07:28 AM

1 votes

3 answers

458 views

Simplest way to transfer files from PC to Android device (wireless)

applications wi-fi file-transfer ftp

What's the simplest way to transfer files (often around 100 MB) from PC to Android device, **with wireless connexion** ? Should I use an application for this? *Remark 1 : I want to set "wifi=off" after the file transfer is done, because I never use it except for the file transfer. Moreover I really...

                                  What's the simplest way to transfer files (often around 100 MB) from PC to Android device, **with wireless connexion** ?

Should I use an application for this?

*Remark 1 : I want to set "wifi=off" after the file transfer is done, because I never use it except for the file transfer. Moreover I really would like to do a direct transfer PC -> Android device ; no Dropbox or similar tool.*

*Remark 2 : I have a Samsung Galaxy 3.6 Player YP-GS1CB (limited to Android 2.x as far as I know)*

*Remark 3 : If possible, I would like to be able to see the Android device's microSD card filesystem from computer, access to subdirectories, copy files there, etc.    Would a FTP server on the Android device be a good way to do it ? If so, with which app?*

Basj (819 rep)

Apr 19, 2014, 01:15 PM • Last activity: Jun 16, 2020, 08:09 AM

0 votes

0 answers

28 views

ES File Folder Remote Manager is disconnect by auto?

ftp

I am using ES File Folder for exchanging the file from Mobile to PC. The issue is , the Remote Manager is automatically disconnected in times. I want to manual set to Start (the connection) and to Stop the connection. Is there is any way to achieve this ?

                                  I am using ES File Folder for exchanging the file from Mobile to PC. 
The issue is , the Remote Manager is automatically disconnected in times.
I want to manual set to Start (the connection) and to Stop the connection. Is there is any way to achieve this ?
                                

Satish Kumar (1 rep)

May 20, 2020, 06:17 PM

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