Configure a local file sharing setup on your PC.
Configure a local file sharing setup on your PC.
You can create a shared folder on your Windows 7 PC that other devices can access via your router. Use a file sharing method like Windows File Sharing or a cloud service, then set up a folder structure so Android phones can connect and view it.
The procedure on Windows 7 works similarly. This method can also be used for folders rather than entire hard drives.
To connect the drive on an Android device, you can use a USB cable and a computer with appropriate drivers installed. Make sure the device is recognized by checking its status in the system settings.
I recently discovered that sharing a folder on your PC and enabling LAN in the network settings of ES File Explorer allows you to access the shared folder. This approach isn't the most optimal, but it's simpler than other options. Let me know if anyone learns about the method I mentioned in the original post.
It would likely be easier to use a cloud service such as Google Drive. That way, everything stays accessible on any device, you avoid buying and maintaining your own hardware (like electricity for the computer), and mobile experiences become smoother. Historically, SMB/CIFS apps on mobile have been quite poor.
It varies based on what you're discussing. Uploading everything to the cloud isn't feasible, particularly since it's already running on a NAS, making equipment and power usage manageable. Adding your video collection is unnecessary because it keeps changing and I have a huge amount of files. Still, a Plex server seems more practical in that case.
I agree it isn’t the top choice but it’s improved over cloud services that rely on the internet. On a strong day I manage about 3mbps (WiFi, no plans to upgrade), and perhaps with a faster connection I’d have considered cloud storage. What I’m after are files that are ready instantly—not downloading then waiting hours or days.