DLNA / UPnP on Android with AnExplorer
DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is the standard that lets smart TVs, NAS devices, media players, and computers share media on a local network. If your NAS has a DLNA server, or you run Plex, Jellyfin, Kodi, or Windows Media Player, AnExplorer can browse these servers and access the files.
DLNA is particularly useful for reading what media is on a NAS or TV's DLNA server, and for downloading individual files from a NAS DLNA share to your phone.
What DLNA Is (and What It Isn't)
DLNA is a media browsing and streaming protocol based on UPnP/AV. It's not a general-purpose file transfer protocol like SMB or FTP.
| DLNA | SMB | FTP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General file browsing | Limited (media files) | ✅ Full filesystem | ✅ Full filesystem |
| Photos, music, video | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Upload files | ❌ (read-only) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Non-media files (ZIPs, APKs) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Works with smart TVs as server | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Works with Plex, Jellyfin | ✅ | ❌ (separate) | ❌ |
DLNA is best for reading media from a server. For full file management, use SMB or FTP where available.
Common DLNA Sources
| Device / App | DLNA server type |
|---|---|
| Synology NAS | Media Server app (DLNA/UPnP) |
| QNAP NAS | DLNA Media Server (built-in) |
| Kodi (on TV or PC) | UPnP/DLNA server |
| Plex (free account) | DLNA compatible |
| Jellyfin | DLNA/UPnP server |
| Windows PC | Windows Media Player network sharing |
| Smart TV | Some act as DLNA servers (Samsung, LG, Sony) |
| VLC (desktop) | UPnP renderer + server |
How to Browse DLNA in AnExplorer
- Open AnExplorer
- Tap + > DLNA / UPnP
- AnExplorer scans your local network for DLNA servers
- Tap a discovered server to browse its media library
- Navigate through categories: Photos, Music, Videos (as organized by the DLNA server)
- Tap a file to open it or long-press > Download to save it to your phone
Note: DLNA discovery uses UDP multicast. If no servers appear:
- Confirm the DLNA server is running on your NAS / PC
- Make sure phone and server are on the same Wi-Fi network (not different VLANs or separated by a smart router's network isolation)
Synology DLNA Setup
- Synology DSM > Install Media Server from Package Center
- Open Media Server > Enable UPnP Media Server
- Add indexed folders (your video/photo/music shared folders)
- AnExplorer will discover "Synology Media Server" on your network
QNAP DLNA Setup
- QNAP QTS > App Center > install DLNA Media Server (if not already active)
- Go to the DLNA Media Server settings, add shared folders
- Browse from AnExplorer under the QNAP device name
Jellyfin Setup
Jellyfin has DLNA support built-in:
- Jellyfin server web UI > Dashboard > DLNA
- Enable DLNA
- AnExplorer discovers Jellyfin as a DLNA server on the local network
Jellyfin's media library appears organized by category in AnExplorer. Individual files can be downloaded to your phone for offline viewing.
DLNA vs Accessing NAS Files Directly
If your NAS supports both DLNA and SMB, SMB gives you more control — you see all files (not just media), can upload, delete, rename, and manage the full filesystem. Use DLNA when:
- You only need to browse and download media
- The device exposes only DLNA (e.g., some smart TVs, older streaming boxes)
- You want to browse Plex/Jellyfin library structure without the dedicated app
For full NAS file management, see the NAS connection guide.
DLNA Troubleshooting
No DLNA servers discovered:
- The DLNA server may not be running — check the NAS/server application
- Router AP isolation may be blocking UPnP — check router settings
- Some Android versions and VPNs block multicast discovery — try disabling VPN temporarily
Server visible but files don't load:
- The DLNA server may not have indexed the files yet — wait a few minutes after adding content
- Re-trigger indexing in the server's Media Scanner settings
Can browse but can't download:
- Some DLNA servers disable download for DRM-protected content
- Check DLNA server settings for download permission