Re: How do nonroot Android & nonjailbroken iOS run SMB servers to connect to each other & Windows?

On Apr 16, 2025 at 2:35:09 AM EDT, "Chris" <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:

Marion <marion@facts.com> wrote:

Frank Slootweg and I discussed this years ago and the problem with Android
running an SMB server is the ports are 139 (SMB over NetBIOS) and 445 (SMB
directly over TCP/IP) both of which are below 1024 and hence impossible on
a non-rooted Android. Since 139 is deprecated, let's just talk about 445.
 
It's my understanding non jailbroken iOS has the exact same restrictions.
Windows expects SMB to be on port 445.

 
As per usual your understanding of iOS is lacking. There is no such
restriction.
 
I use "LAN Drive Samba server" and these are the server settings:
https://i.postimg.cc/8CK3h4bT/IMG-6999.jpg
 
Works just fine.

That is one of the apps I looked at yesterday.

So I installed it today. The free version works fine, but is sort of slow.  I
was able to start the server on an iPad and create a user account with
read/write access. The folder it creates is a folder in the Files app.

BTW the "localhost" in the picture above is just the default name used for the
iPad/iPhone.  I changed that to "ipad1'. 

I then did a standard "Map Network Drive" in Windows 11. I connected to
\ipad1\LANDrive". I entered my name and password (that I setup on the iPad
SMB Server).  All very standard Windows networking stuff. So it clearly IS
using port 445.

I then transferred a random PDF file from Windows to the iPad. Worked fine.
LAN Drive Samba Server also gives you access to DCIM on the iPad. Yes, you can
copy photos from the iPad to Windows.  Note that the iPad appears as a mapped
drive on Windows. I used drive letter X.

I then moved a file in the Files app on the iPad into the LANDrive folder. 
On Windows 11, I was able to see and copy this file over to Windows.  Just
like any network drive.

The DCIM access appears to be read only. At least, in 30 minutes of testing
this app, I don't see a way to get write access. But you DO have access to it.

So, the Apple-hating trolls can lose more sleep. Yet ANOTHER thing that they
were absolutely SURE could not be done (because "iOS is a toy") CAN BE DONE.
 Direct transfers between iOS and Android is possible. You can access the DCIM
folder. You CAN map an iPad/iPhone as a drive letter on Windows, so you can
move files back and forth FROM Windows instead of FROM iOS.  Certainly such
apps are available for Android as well.

As I said yesterday, all that is needed is an SMB Server.