Connecting to a mobile device through a VPN for file access
Connecting to a mobile device through a VPN for file access
Hello. I just set up a home server PC where I keep my family photos and other files. I created an OpenVPN server using my RT-AC3200 and connected my iPhone to it, so I can reach those files from anywhere. I’m trying to fix some issues. Currently working: when connected to the home Wi-Fi, my iPhone can ping my phone from a PC, and it shows Apple devices on my iPhone when it’s through the VPN. Not working: I can’t access shared LAN files over the VPN, and I don’t see other computers besides Apple devices on my iPhone. Please help me resolve this!
Which application are you employing to navigate the server via the VPN? Your login details must align for access. Additionally, have you configured a fixed IP for your residence, or are you relying on dynamic DNS services such as DDNS to keep your VPN connected to the accurate server location?
Remote file explorer, FilebrowserGO, and Fileexplorer all claim VPN support. What login details are you referring to? The PC username and password? Yes, I’m using a DDNS service on my router. The connection works fine, and I can reach LAN devices from my phone with a ping app.
You're likely trying to connect to Samba file shares. It seems you have access to your PC but not others, which suggests the credentials are tied to the specific user account on that machine. To share files, you'd set up a username and password for the target user, then enable sharing from your PC. Some users might use VPN connections to reach the shares securely.
I managed it! But it’s not going well yet. I’m dealing with a Windows 7 Pro system running about 10TB on RAID 0, which is definitely pushing limits. The raid setup works fine locally—my phone can access it over Wi-Fi using the right credentials. Still, trying to connect through a VPN fails completely and causes timeouts. Need to fix this fast before it impacts everything.
The device attempting to link to the shares on your home network should have a VPN connection already set up. It likely downloaded the necessary files to the correct devices. If everything checks out, the issue might be with the login credentials—ensuring they match will allow it to connect properly at home.
I connected my phone to the VPN and accessed the router control page by typing 192.168.2.1 in the browser from the VPN device. I was able to ping most devices over the VPN to my home network, though I didn't test all of them. I couldn't access shared files or connect to the server to view them. I'm using the correct login information.
That seems unusual... I'm sure you don't mind me bringing it up. When entering names, case sensitivity can play a role—especially if you're unsure about how they're stored. I remember getting confused once because I mistakenly capitalized the folder name.
I couldn't really help with this issue, but I think it might be related to the server blocking connections from outside. Maybe testing another network share in a virtual machine would help.
If you're connecting from home, try disabling your phone's Wi-Fi and using cellular data instead—it usually works better. Let me know if that helps!