Linux How To: Wireless Access And View Android Phone Filesystem in Ubuntu

Figure 1: Android phone file system view in Ubuntu Nautilus file explorer

Like me, I'm sure it's happened to you as a smart phone user - the need to get files on or off your device for some reason or the other. 

Perhaps free space has drastically diminished with all the photos being taken and stored. Or the important chat logs you've saved and want to back up elsewhere. Or the new music album of MP3s that you want to transfer over for later listening. Without exception, there usually exists some reason for modern smart phone users to get data on and off their device.

Typical methods involve the use of a USB cable connected between a computer and the phone, registering the phone as a media or storage device before being able to transfer data back and forth. But what if, like me, you want an easier way without the inconvenience of cables, mounting, safe removal and associated paraphernalia? This little How To will show you one such method, over a wireless network connection. 

Although I'm using Ubuntu Linux and a LG Nexus phone for this post, the general methodology should be applicable for Windows and Mac users as well.

ES File Explorer Manager is an app available from ES Global through the Google Play Store. It can be found using the search term "ES File Explorer", and should show up as follows:

ES File Explorer App at Google Play Store

After downloading, installing and launching, the app should display the following on startup:

ES File Explorer - Startup Screen

ES File Explorer has number of useful tools and features available for viewing the filesystem from the phone while on the go, but in this case the specific feature is found under the "Network" option from the main menu on the upper-left hand side. Expanding the Network sub-menu brings up the following options:

Network option under ES File Explorer Main Menu

ES File Explorer: Network option sub-menu

The particular item of interest in this case is the Remote Manager option. Pressing that should bring up a screen for wireless/wifi access. This allows for selection of the local wirless/wifi network of choice to be used, and prompts to turn on the service. If your phone wifi service is not already active, you will have to separately activate your phone wifi capabilities, and log on with the relevant SSID and password:

ES File Explorer: Network SSID Access

After network selection and activation, Remote Manager will prompt with the necessary FTP address to be used from the client-side (in this case, a desktop, laptop or tablet device). In this case, Remote Manager has assigned an address of ftp://192.168.0.11:3721:

Typical FTP address to be used from client side

In Ubuntu (or the Linux distribution of your choice), file explorer or manager application being used by the distribution needs to be opened. This is usually Nautilus under GNOME, Files under Unity or so on. The Files application window under Unity in Ubuntu 16.04 has a "Connect to Server" option on the left-hand side of the window. Clicking that brings up a window for a remote address to be entered. The server in this case is the ES File Explorer app running on the Android phone, with address ftp://192.168.0.11:3721/:

Figure 2: Connecting as client to ES File Explorer server on Android phone

With the address entered and the "Connect" button clicked, the following window option should show up, requiring authentication from the client side:

Figure 3: Client-side authentication to access ES File Explorer server on Android phone

Depending on how you have configured the authentication process for your phone security and access configuration, you may or may not need a password to log on. Once that has been properly selected, "Connect" should bring up the phone's filesystem for remote view in the File Manager window, as shown in Figure 1 above.

Using the wireless remote access option with the ES File Explorer app and Remote Manager option has turned out to be faster and far more convenient. It does not run the risk of a faulty, damaged or defective USB cable. It is faster than the connection process over USB, waiting for device detection and mounting, safe disconnection and removal. And as long as the wireless connection is in range and with a strong signal, the phone does not have to be physically tied to the accessing device.

I hope this little "Linux How To" has been helpful. See you on the next Engineering Excursion! Have a great week!

Regards,

The Sage (湯馬士 凱文)

Multidisciplinary, award-winning and intrepid Systems Engineer with business & sales acumen. Creative systems thinker and skilled problem solver. Achieves win-win solutions and value for all stakeholders. Interested in applying my skill set to deliver value at the intersection of technology and business.