How to Map Network Drives as Local Folders on Android?

Are you looking for a way to access a network storage device or folder on your Android? In this guide, I will explain how to map a network drive on your Android. Regardless of which Android model you have, read on to learn how to set up your Android to access your network storage.

What Does It Mean to Map a Network Drive on Android?

Mapping a network drive on an Android doesn’t work exactly like it does on Windows. In fact, it’s not technically possible to map a network drive on an unrooted Android like it is on Windows.

Nevertheless, by using a compatible file manager, you can access external network drives on your Android device and read data stored on those drives. You will need to use a file network sharing protocol like SMB (Server Message Block). Using such a protocol, you can access external drives over the network.

What You Need Before Connecting a Network Drive

Before you connect to a network drive, make sure you meet the basic requirements for connecting to the folder over the network.

First, the Android device must be connected to the same LAN (local area network) as the device. You can connect to this network wirelessly through Wi-Fi, as long as the drive or NAS (Network Attached Storage) is connected to that same network, either wirelessly or via a cable connection.

You should also know the IP address of the drive in case you can’t detect it automatically. If you don’t know the IP address, you can use a tool like Angry IP Scanner on your computer to scan for connected drives and view their IP addresses (the drives must already be connected to the network). Various manufacturers, such as Synology, and QNap, also offer web-based tools for finding their drives, such as the Synology scanning tool.

How to Access a Network Drive Using a Files App on Android

On most Android devices, you will need to download a third-party file app to access a network drive, as you can’t do this using the built-in Files app.

However, Samsung does offer this functionality in the My Files app, so if you have a Samsung with this app preinstalled, you won’t have to download a third-party app.

How to Add a Shared Network Drive or NAS on Android

The exact steps to add an NAS or network drive to Android will vary depending on which file manager app you are using. The following steps are for Solid Explorer. Other apps will be similar, as the basic details you need to enter are the same.

Open the Solid Explorer app.
Click on the plus icon.
Select New Cloud Connection.
Choose LAN/SMB and click on Next. Then:
1. The app will scan the network for drives. Select it once it is detected and click on Next.
2. If nothing appears in the scan, swipe up on the “Didn’t Find What You’re Looking For?” and manually enter the server name or IP address, port number, and custom display name, and click on Next.
On the next screen, enter your username and password for the drive. If authentication is not enabled for the drive, choose to access it as a guest and click on Next.
Set Advanced as “No” and click on Next.
Review the details on the screen and click on Next.
Click on the blue Connect button to connect.

Once you do that, the drive will be saved in your network connections so you can access it later, just like a folder.

Best Apps to Open Network Drives on Android

While I recommend Solid Explorer for ease of use, there are a few other awesome apps you can use to access a network drive as well. Here are some great alternatives:

CX File Explorer
Syncthing
Total Commander

Remember, though, that if you have a Samsung, the built-in file explorer app already offers this functionality!

Why Your Android Device Cannot Find the Network Drive

There are a few reasons your Android may not automatically detect the drive on the network. These include Wi-Fi connectivity issues, either device not being connected to the network, or the server not being discoverable via its settings.

Usually, even if the device isn’t detected automatically, you can manually enter its details, as mentioned earlier. If that doesn’t help, make sure the NAS is discoverable, can be accessed without authentication (if you are trying to log in as a guest), and is connected to the network. Try restarting both devices as well.

Network Drive vs. Cloud Storage on Android

It’s easy to get confused between a cloud storage device and a network drive, but they’re not really the same thing.

A network drive is located locally on your own network and can thus be accessed over the network, whether via a cabled connection or Wi-Fi.

Cloud storage is when you store your files on external storage devices owned by third parties, such as Google or Dropbox. These are not located on your own network and cannot be accessed via SMB.

Think of cloud storage as network drives offered as a service. You don’t need to buy any hardware. Instead, Google allows you to store your files on their own hardware, and you can access them from anywhere over the internet, even when you are not connected to your local network, over Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Since the actual drives are owned by a third party, you don’t need to worry about things like maintenance, energy costs, or physical damage. However, owning your own NAS may offer benefits such as additional privacy and faster access.

Conclusion

I hope this Android network storage guide was useful, and you can now access both local and external files on your Android! Connecting a shared network storage drive to your Android is rather straightforward, but you usually need to download a third-party app for it.