How to Add Network Storage on a Samsung Phone (PC or NAS)

To add network storage on a Samsung phone, open the My Files app, scroll to Network storage, tap Add network storage, pick Network drive (SMB), FTP or SFTP, then enter your PC or NAS IP address, username and password and tap Add. The shared folder then appears inside My Files, so you can copy photos and videos to your computer or NAS over WiFi with no cable and no cloud. The phone and the PC or NAS must be on the same network, and the share must allow SMB2 or SMB3.

I use this to move phone videos onto my homelab NAS, so below are the exact steps, how to set up the share on Windows and on a NAS first, and the fixes for the problems people hit most.

Quick steps

1. On the PC or NAS, share a folder and note its IP address, a username and password.
2. On the Samsung phone, open My Files.
3. Scroll down to Network storage and tap it.
4. Tap Add network storage and choose Network drive (SMB).
5. Pick your PC or NAS from the scan, or tap Add network drive manually.
6. Enter the address, port 445, username, password and a display name.
7. Tap Add, then tap the new entry to browse the share.

The first time you use it, the phone may download a small helper app called Network Storage Manager from the Galaxy Store. Let it install.

Watch the video

What you need

• A Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet with the My Files app (it is preinstalled on One UI).
• A Windows PC, Mac, NAS (Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, Asustor) or Linux server with a shared folder.
• Both devices on the same WiFi or LAN for SMB.
• A user account on the PC or NAS with a password.

Which type to choose: SMB, FTP or SFTP

Step 1: Share a folder on the PC or NAS

Windows 11 or Windows 10

1. Make sure your network is Private: Settings, Network and internet, WiFi or Ethernet, your network, Network profile type: Private.
2. Turn on sharing: Settings, Network and internet, Advanced network settings, Advanced sharing settings, switch on Network discovery and File and printer sharing for Private networks.
3. Right-click the folder you want, Properties, Sharing tab, Advanced Sharing, tick Share this folder, then Permissions and give your user Change and Read (or Full Control).
4. Find the PC's IP address. Open Command Prompt and run:

ipconfig

Use the IPv4 Address of your WiFi or Ethernet adapter, for example 192.168.1.50.

5. Note the login. If you sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account, the username is your Microsoft account email and the password is the account password, not your PIN. A local account uses its own name and password.

Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS or Asustor NAS

1. Create a shared folder and a user, and give that user read/write permission on the folder.
2. Check that SMB is enabled. On Synology DSM: Control Panel, File Services, SMB, Advanced Settings, and set the minimum SMB protocol to SMB2 or higher. QNAP, TrueNAS and Asustor have the same setting under their SMB or Windows file service settings.
3. Note the NAS IP address from its control panel or your router's client list. A DHCP reservation on the router stops the address changing later.

Linux with Samba

If you run Samba yourself, make sure SMB1 is not the only protocol allowed. In /etc/samba/smb.conf, under [global]:

server min protocol = SMB2

Add a Samba password for your user and restart Samba:

sudo smbpasswd -a youruser
sudo systemctl restart smbd

Step 2: Add the network storage on the Samsung phone

1. Open My Files.
2. On the main screen, scroll down to Network storage and tap it.
3. Tap Add network storage (or +).
4. Choose Network drive (SMB).
5. The phone scans the network. Tap your PC or NAS if it appears. If not, tap Add network drive manually.
6. Fill in:
   • Address: the IP address, for example 192.168.1.50
   • Port: 445 (leave the default)
   • Shared folder (if your One UI version shows this field): the share name, or leave it blank to pick from the list
   • Display name: something like Home NAS
   • Username and Password: the account from Step 1
7. Tap Add.

Your share now shows under Network storage. Tap it to open folders just like internal storage.

Step 3: Copy files to and from the PC or NAS

1. In My Files, open Images, Videos or Internal storage and find the files.
2. Long-press to select them, then tap Copy (or Move).
3. Go back, tap Network storage, open your share and the folder you want.
4. Tap Copy here.

The same works in reverse to bring files from the NAS onto the phone. For large video files keep the screen on or the phone on charge, as Android can pause long transfers.

Troubleshooting

Do not open port 445 on your router to reach the share from outside the house. SMB is not meant to face the internet. For remote access use SFTP with a strong password or keys, or a VPN back to your home network.

Automatic backups

My Files only copies when you tell it to. To back up the camera folder automatically:

• Synology users can use Synology Photos; QNAP has Qfile and QuMagie.
• On a self-hosted NAS, Nextcloud or Immich apps upload photos in the background.
• FolderSync or Syncthing can copy a folder to an SMB share on a schedule when you are on home WiFi.

Related guides

• Build your own NAS: creating a NAS for home or office with FreeNAS or Openfiler for home and small office.
• Want a ready-made box? See my Asustor Drivestor 2 Lite (AS1102TL) review.
• Keep more than one copy: strategies for data security and backup.

Summary

Samsung's My Files has a proper network client built in. Share a folder on your PC or NAS with a real user and password, make sure SMB2 or SMB3 is on, then add it under My Files, Network storage, Add network storage, Network drive (SMB). If the option is missing, update My Files and Network Storage Manager; if it will not connect, check the network profile, firewall, account and SMB version in that order.