Many experienced users of technology from the Apple giant are wondering how to connect their gadgets to network servers. The answer is simple! The application Files will help with this.
The stock Files app lets you manage your filesystem on an iPhone or iPad. What’s more, you may connect to online services and other locations, including OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox, with its help. If you have upgraded iOS, you may also connect to a network server or storage that enables you to access some folders and files. Today we will try to discover how to do that. Let’s dive in!
Adding a network share
Open the Files app first. You may look for it on your home screen, in your app library, or by using Spotlight because it is already installed. If Files doesn’t appear, you might need to reload it from the App Store because it is now a disposable app.
Verify that the Overview tab is selected at the screen’s bottom. The context menu for the app will appear when you tap the three dots in the upper right corner.
On the menu’s top, select “Connect to Server.” Enter the connection string for your server on the next screen. This has to be a valid hostname or IP address on your existing network. To proceed, click the “Next” button in the top right corner.
You can enter your login credentials on the next screen if you’re connected to a secure network resource. Your SMB* username and password should be entered in the “Name” and “Password” sections after you click “Registered User”. If connecting to an unsafe shared folder, choose “Guest” instead. In such circumstances, we recommend using VPN. Check how to set it up here https://clario.co/blog/set-up-vpn-on-iphone/.
*Your server or NAS must have Server Message Block (SMB) enabled to use the server connection function in the Files app. SMB is a widely used and accepted protocol that allows gadgets to exchange files with other networked devices. Checking the version is also necessary because the Files app needs SMB 2.0 or above.
To finalize the connection, click the “Next” button in the top right corner. A list of accessible shares should appear on your iOS device after a successful connection to the server.
Where to find added networks?
From the Browse menu, you may access all of your network servers. At the bottom of the screen, tap the Browse tab.
Your servers will be mentioned under the “General” category at the bottom of the menu. Through the Locations section above, you can access your current iOS locations, including iPhone storage, app-based file systems, and iCloud Drive.
To see the list of shared resources, tap any server in the list. You may cut off the connection by pressing the eject icon on the right of the server name.
Network servers use cases
The Files app fully integrates online resources, and there are no limitations on how you may approach them. The system share menu allows you to add new files, copy already-existing ones to your gadget, and add material to network shares from other applications.
The last use case is helpful if you save crucial papers or pictures in a network folder. While Apple would prefer that you utilize iCloud Drive, many customers still need to save their data on a personal or business NAS.
You may store email attachments, pictures, and site downloads straight to your network storage by adding network shares to Files. Use the iOS share menu’s “Save to Files” option, then pick your server from the list of accessible locations.
Good news: once your server’s information has been uploaded, you shouldn’t have to close or reopen connections manually. When you return to the relevant Wi-Fi networks, iOS automatically stores your servers and re-connects to them.
Wrap up
A network service is essentially gigantic storage that is accessible from anywhere in the world, for which you don’t have to pay anyone every month. It makes you a lot more flexible in where you store your content without using iCloud.
In it, you can share links to files, stream movies and music from there, back up your Mac and iPhone, and open and work with files directly from the app of the same name on iOS. And set it up the way your heart desires: any disks, rights, folders, passwords, and more.
We hope our guide on how to set up the network server was helpful to you. Still have some questions? Leave them in the comments!
