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How can I access files on my home PC, using my phone, with Tailscale?
I have been using Tailscale on all my devices for a few months and I'm a huge fan. It's fantastic.
Only thing I haven't really taken the time to solve yet: how to access certain files/folders on my various PCs, from my phone?
I have the network setup so I can access all of my PCs remotely,. which is great.
But how can I access my home PC for example, from my phone? Sometimes I need to check a file when I am out and about, from my mobile phone.
Any advice on the best way to do this would be much appreciated!
Same way you do it at home without Tailscale, just use the Tailscale ip or hostname instead
If Android, install CX File Explorer, and define a network connection to your home PC over Tailscale. You can then copy and move files back and forth as needed
By using Tailscale? I’m on iOS and I can Connect to Server from Files using the Tailscale IP Address of the device I’m trying to connect to and log right in.
What sort of files would you be accessing?
If it's just general stuff, a shared folder or drive would need to be defined on the computer and then accessed with the appropriate application(s) on the phone. Another option for that would be, hosting a FTP server on the computer and accessing that with an FTP client on the phone.
If it's something more specialized like multimedia, hosting a server application (ex. Plex, Emby, etc.) on the computer and accessing that via its client applications is how it's done.
In either scenario the client applications on the phone would merely need the Tailscale assigned IP addresses for access. Tailscale needs to be active on the phone, of course, before starting the client applications.
I'm using the second scenario with Tailscale in that I use it to remotely access Logitech Media Server and Emby hosted on my computer.
Honestly, downvote me like crazy, but after hours of surfing and trying things, I can't make heads or tails of Tailscale (pun intended). Loved Himachi, and use RealVNC easily, but nothing can make Tailscale work to connect my Win11 and Samsung phones. Uninstalling. Glad others are enjoying and finding useful! Will keep looking for other solutions.
Just FYI - I was just looking into this too and tried to use the RDP client from my iPhone, but what is much easier if all you want is access to files, is to use the iOS file explorer, and use the tailnet IP address of the computer you want to access the file system, set up a user that only has access to the files folders and drives you want to give access to, and then use that username and password ... and the iOS file explorer on iPhone will remember it, but of course isn't wasting storage space trying to download anything unless you actually want that file.
What sort of Phone? on iPhone you can just use the files app to connect to a network share.
I do that through sftp
Can I communicate with you
I have a Samsung phone and the Samsung files app has a network storage feature. I connect to my computer via SMB by using the tailscale ip address. If you’re on an iPhone, go into the files app and tap the menu icon (circle with three dots inside) that's in the top right corner, and tap the option "Connect to Server" complete the setup prompts and use the tailscale ip address.