AnExplorer is an Android file manager. It does not have a native iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, or watchOS app today — but that does not mean Apple device users are completely out of options.
Device Connect, AnExplorer's built-in browser-based file server, works from any device with a modern browser. That includes Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. When your Android phone runs Device Connect, any Apple device on the same Wi-Fi network can open that address in Safari and get a full file browser interface — no install, no pairing app, no cable.
What Works on Apple Devices Today
| Apple device | Device Connect in browser | Native app | Transfer from Android |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac | ✅ Safari/Chrome (Device Connect, FTP, SMB) | ❌ Android app only | ✅ Device Connect, FTP, SMB |
| iPhone | ✅ Safari | ❌ Not yet | ✅ via Device Connect or cloud |
| iPad | ✅ Safari (large screen) | ❌ Not yet | ✅ via Device Connect or cloud |
| Apple Vision Pro | ✅ visionOS Safari | ❌ Not yet | ✅ via Device Connect |
| Apple TV | ❌ No browser on tvOS | ❌ Not yet | ❌ Limited |
| Apple Watch | ❌ No browser on watchOS | ❌ Not yet | ❌ Not applicable |
How Device Connect Works on Apple Devices
Device Connect turns your Android phone into a local HTTP file server. On the same Wi-Fi network, any browser can connect and see your files.
Setup takes about 30 seconds:
- Open AnExplorer on your Android phone
- Tap the menu and select Device Connect
- Tap Start — the server starts and shows an address like
http://192.168.x.x:8080 - On your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro, open Safari
- Type the address shown on your Android into Safari's address bar
- Your Android's files appear as a full browser-based file manager
From there you can download files to your Apple device, upload files from your Apple device to Android, and navigate folders — all over your local Wi-Fi network. Nothing is uploaded to the internet. Your files stay on your devices.
What You Can Do from an Apple Browser
- Browse all folders AnExplorer has access to on the Android device
- Download individual files or folders directly to iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro
- Upload files from your Apple device to the Android — photos, documents, anything accessible from the iOS share sheet or Files app
- Stream music and video files directly in the browser without downloading first
- Transfer entire photo libraries, document sets, or media collections over fast local Wi-Fi
Transfer Files Between Android and iPhone
If you are moving between Android and iPhone — switching phones, sharing files with a family member, or working across platforms — Device Connect is the most reliable no-install method. For a full step-by-step guide, see Transfer files from Android to iPhone.
Cloud storage is also a strong option. AnExplorer Pro connects directly to Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box from the Android side. If those apps are also installed on your iPhone, files in those providers become available on both platforms instantly without any local transfer needed.
Mac
Mac has a full desktop browser (Safari or Chrome) and Finder's built-in FTP and SMB clients — making it the most capable Apple surface for Device Connect. You can browse Android files in Safari, mount Android storage as a Finder network drive via SMB, or use FTP for large batch transfers without installing anything on the Mac. Works on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. A major reason to use this over Android File Transfer: bidirectional, wireless, no size limits, no USB required.
iPhone
Device Connect in Safari works on every modern iPhone. The workflow is the same whether you are on an iPhone 12 or iPhone 16 Pro. The main use cases are downloading photos from Android, uploading files from iPhone camera roll to Android, and browsing shared media over home Wi-Fi.
iPad
iPad's large Safari viewport makes Device Connect especially comfortable. You can see more folders at once, drag larger file lists, and work in split-view with Files app on the same screen. If you use an iPad as your primary computer, Device Connect gives you desktop-class access to your Android storage.
Apple Vision Pro
visionOS has a full Safari browser with spatial window management. Device Connect opens in a floating window in your spatial environment, letting you browse Android files as part of your immersive workspace. This is the most visually distinct way to use Device Connect — and it works today without any visionOS app.
Apple TV and Apple Watch
Apple TV guide · Apple Watch guide
tvOS has no browser. watchOS has no browser. Neither supports Device Connect today. Both pages explain what the limitations mean in practice and what the roadmap looks like. For TV-based file management with a similar use case, Android TV is the supported path. For smartwatch file access, Wear OS is the Android equivalent.
Native iOS App: What to Expect
A native iOS and iPadOS app is planned. When it ships, it will make the above workflows much smoother — direct storage access, app-to-app file sharing through iOS share sheets, Files app integration, and no need to stay on the same local Wi-Fi network.
Until then, Device Connect covers the most common cross-platform use cases. If you have a specific workflow that Device Connect does not handle, the cloud storage bridge through Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box is the next best option.