Access Home Network Files Remotely via VPN

When you're away from home and need to access your NAS, home server, or PC file shares, a VPN is the safest way to do it. Once your phone is connected to your home VPN, AnExplorer can reach your SMB shares, FTP server, NAS, and any other local network resource exactly as if you were on home Wi-Fi.

This is more secure than exposing services like FTP or SMB directly to the internet, and it works with any of AnExplorer's network protocols.

How VPN + AnExplorer Works

Your phone (away from home)
  → Mobile data / hotel Wi-Fi
    → VPN tunnel (encrypted)
      → Your home router
        → NAS / PC / AnExplorer FTP Server

Once the VPN is connected, your phone's traffic to 192.168.x.x addresses routes through the tunnel to your home network. AnExplorer sees the NAS or FTP server at the same IP it would use at home.

VPN Options

WireGuard (Recommended)

WireGuard is the modern standard — faster than OpenVPN, simpler to configure, and supported natively by most modern routers:

Router-based WireGuard (easiest):

• ASUS routers (firmware 3.0+): Adaptive QoS > VPN Server > WireGuard
• GL.iNet routers: Built-in WireGuard server
• Synology NAS: VPN Server package > WireGuard
• QNAP NAS: QVPN Service > WireGuard

Setup steps:

1. Enable WireGuard server on your router or NAS
2. Download the client configuration (.conf file) to your phone
3. Install the WireGuard app from Google Play
4. Import the .conf file into WireGuard app
5. Toggle the VPN on — you're now on your home network
6. Open AnExplorer and connect to your NAS/SMB/FTP as usual

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is the older standard, more widely supported by older routers:

Router-based OpenVPN:

• ASUS: AiVPN > VPN Server > OpenVPN
• Netgear Nighthawk: Advanced > VPN Service
• QNAP: QVPN Service > OpenVPN
• Synology: VPN Server package > OpenVPN

Setup:

1. Enable OpenVPN server on the router
2. Export the .ovpn client configuration file
3. Install OpenVPN Connect from Google Play
4. Import the .ovpn profile
5. Connect — your phone joins the home network virtually
6. Use AnExplorer normally to reach local IPs

Tailscale (Zero-Config VPN)

Tailscale is the easiest option if you don't want to configure a VPN server:

1. Install Tailscale on your phone and on your home NAS/PC
2. Sign in with the same Tailscale account on both devices
3. Tailscale automatically creates a peer-to-peer VPN mesh
4. Your NAS gets a Tailscale IP (like 100.x.x.x) accessible from your phone anywhere
5. In AnExplorer, connect to the Tailscale IP instead of the LAN IP

Tailscale's free plan supports up to 100 devices, which is more than enough for home use.

Which Protocols Work Well Over VPN

For SMB over VPN, use the NAS IP directly instead of relying on hostname discovery — mDNS/NetBIOS discovery doesn't always cross VPN boundaries.

Remote Access to AnExplorer FTP Server

If you're away and want access to your phone's files from a computer at home (reverse direction):

1. Connect phone to home VPN
2. Start FTP Server or SFTP Server in AnExplorer
3. Your home PC can connect to the phone's FTP server via the phone's VPN-assigned IP

Alternatively: use Device Connect — start the HTTP server on the phone and access it from your home PC's browser via the phone's VPN IP.

Alternatives to VPN for Remote Access

If setting up a VPN is too complex:

Related Guides

• FTP client — connect to home server remotely
• SFTP — secure remote access
• SMB / LAN shares
• Connect Android to NAS
• FTP Server on Android

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