On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 6:19:21 PM UTC-7, Arlen Holder wrote:

UPDATE:
I was able to get 3 free Android SMBv2 clients to work with Windows.

I have reliability issues due to an apparent hiccup in NETBIOS (since the desktop is connected to the router via the Ethernet to a Mikrotik Wi-Fi transceiver which apparently blocks NETBIOS broadcasts by default).

Once I reboot the router, it works perfectly for a few days, where most people won't have that problem, so we now have at least three freeware
SMBv2 clients on Android that I've tested in the past few weeks in daily
use (synching files across the WiFi LAN) that work well with Windows.

As always, to help others with every thread that is posted to Usenet,
o This is how I set up SMBv2 connections between Android & Windows.

Windows:
1. Settings > Network & Internet > Change connection properties >
Network: Network profile (o) Private
2. Settings > Network & Internet > change your network settings >
Sharing options > Change sharing options for different network profiles Private (current profile) Network discovery >
When network discovery is on, this computer can see other network
computers and devices and is visible to other network computers.
(o) Turn on network discovery
[x]Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices.
3. Settings > Network & Internet > change your network settings >
Sharing options > Change sharing options for different network profiles
All Networks: Public folder sharing >
When Public folder sharing is on, people on the network, including
homegroup members, can access files in the Public folders.
(o)Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write
files in the Public folders
4. Settings > Network & Internet > change your network settings >
Sharing options > Change sharing options for different network profiles
All Networks: Password protected sharing >
When password protected sharing is on, only people who have a user
account and password on this computer can access shared files,
printers attached to this computer, and the Public folders.
To give other people access, you must turn off password
protected sharing.
(o)Turn on password protected sharing
5. [Save changes]
6. In Windows file explorer, right click on the public folder to be shared: Properties > Sharing > [Share] > (username) > [Share] > [Done] > [Close]
7. Make a note of the PC IP address (if NETBIOS is flaky).
Settings > Network & Internet > Change connection properties >
IP settings > IPv4 address: 192.168.1.xxx

Android:
A. You can obtain the free *MiXplorer* APK here (it's not on Google Play): <https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4966993&d=1583692659>
B. Obtain the MiXplorer SMBv2 client plugin via Google Play: <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mixplorer.addon.smb>
C. Launch MiXplorer > top-left (big) hamburger >
top-right (small) hamburger > Add storage > LAN (Samba) > Search local
(it should find your pc in the resulting NETBIOS list)
If that does not find your PC due to NETBIOS issues, then:
C. Launch MiXplorer > top-left (big) hamburger >
top-right (small) hamburger > Add storage > LAN (Samba) > smb://192.168.1.xxx
Username = <put the Windows username used in sharing>
Password = <put the password for that Windows username>
Display name = SMB
[Save]

You can obtain *CX-Explorer* on Android with its freeware SMBv2 client: <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cxinventor.file.explorer> A. CX-Explorer: Network > (press + sign) > REMOTE > Local Network >
(it should find your pc in the resulting NETBIOS list)
Domain = <blank>
Host = 192.168.1.xxx
Port = 445
A. CX-Explorer: Network > (press + sign) > REMOTE > SMB >
(use this method if it doesn't find your PC in the NETBIOS list)
Domain = <blank>
Host = 192.168.1.xxx
Port = 445

You can obtain *X-Plore* on Android with its freeware SMBv2 client: <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lonelycatgames.Xplore>
A. X-Plore: Show > LAN
B. LAN > Add server > Add server > Scan
(it should find your pc in the resulting NETBIOS list)
Label = <blank>
Server = 192.168.1.xxx
Username = <put the Windows username used in sharing>
Password = <put the password for that Windows username>
[Test]
B. LAN > Add server > Add server > Add server
(use this method if it doesn't find your PC in the NETBIOS list)
Label = <blank>
Server = 192.168.1.xxx
Username = <put the Windows username used in sharing>
Password = <put the password for that Windows username>
[Test]

Note: 192.168.1.xxx is the actual IP address of your Windows PC.
--
Usenet works best when adults post with purposefully helpful intentions.

For those trying to get SMB server in WSA in 2023, LAN Drive app worked very nicely but I had to disable "Advanced Networking" in the WSA Settings page.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.webrox.landrive&hl=en_US&gl=US

According to this https://winaero.com/windows-subsystem-for-android-has-got-new-settings-and-networking-improvements/ Microsoft made a change to how WSA networking operates around July 2022 (after this article was posted)... under Advanced Networking,
among other things, WSA takes the ip address of the host vs creating it's own... I finally realized that meant we would be hitting the SMB port 445 of our Windows host machine essentially "covering up" the LAN Drive app's SMB Server ... once i disabled
Advanced Networking and restarted Lan Drive UI, it showed running on a \\172.26.x.y address of it's own and i was immediately able to browse to it in Windows File Explorer.

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