Connect Android to WebDAV with AnExplorer

WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning) is an extension of HTTP that lets you read, write, and manage files on remote servers. It's the protocol behind Nextcloud, ownCloud, and many NAS devices, and it runs over HTTPS which means it's secure by default when the server uses TLS.

If you self-host files or use open-source cloud storage, WebDAV is probably the protocol you need. AnExplorer connects to any WebDAV server with username/password authentication.

What Services Use WebDAV

Note: AnExplorer also supports Box, pCloud, and Yandex Disk as native cloud integrations — those dedicated connections are easier than WebDAV for cloud storage services.

Step-by-Step: Add a WebDAV Connection

1. Open AnExplorer
2. Tap + in the sidebar > WebDAV
3. Enter the WebDAV URL — include the full path (e.g., https://cloud.example.com/remote.php/dav/files/myuser/)
4. Enter Username and Password
5. If your server uses a self-signed certificate, AnExplorer may ask you to trust it — accept it to proceed
6. Tap Connect
7. Bookmark the connection for repeat access

Nextcloud via WebDAV

Nextcloud is the most common self-hosted WebDAV target. Setup:

1. Find your WebDAV URL: log in to Nextcloud > click your profile icon bottom-left > Settings > WebDAV URL (shown on the page)
2. URL format: https://your-domain.com/remote.php/dav/files/USERNAME/
3. Username: your Nextcloud login
4. Password: your Nextcloud password (or an app-specific password from Nextcloud > Security)

Using an app-specific password is recommended: Nextcloud > User icon > Settings > Security > Create new app password. This way you can revoke the phone's access without changing your main password.

Once connected, your full Nextcloud file tree is browsable in AnExplorer — the same files you see in the Nextcloud web interface.

Synology NAS WebDAV

1. DSM > Control Panel > File Services > WebDAV
2. Enable WebDAV (check HTTP/HTTPS, choose port — default 5005/5006)
3. In AnExplorer, connect to: http://192.168.1.50:5005/(orhttps://...:5006/` for TLS)
4. Username and password: your DSM credentials

Synology WebDAV exposes your shared folders at the root level.

WebDAV vs SFTP vs SMB

WebDAV excels for self-hosted cloud storage accessible over the internet. For local NAS transfers, SMB is faster. For SSH servers, SFTP is more standard.

Setting Up a Basic WebDAV Server (Nginx)

If you run your own Linux server and want to expose a folder via WebDAV:

location /dav/ {
    alias /data/files/;
    dav_methods PUT DELETE MKCOL COPY MOVE;
    dav_ext_methods PROPFIND OPTIONS;
    auth_basic "WebDAV";
    auth_basic_user_file /etc/nginx/.htpasswd;
}

Create a user: htpasswd -c /etc/nginx/.htpasswd youruser

Then connect from AnExplorer to https://yourdomain.com/dav/ with your .htpasswd credentials.

Troubleshooting WebDAV

"Connection refused" or timeout:

• Verify the WebDAV service is actually enabled on the server (Synology: check DSM Settings > WebDAV)
• Check port number (Synology defaults to 5005, Nextcloud defaults to 443 via HTTPS)

"Authentication failed":

• Nextcloud users: create an app-specific password (avoids 2FA conflicts)
• Check username capitalization

"SSL certificate error":

• Server using a self-signed certificate — AnExplorer will ask you to trust it manually
• If you see this on a public Nextcloud, verify the domain is correct before trusting

Works on Wi-Fi but not on mobile data:

• Your server may only be accessible on LAN — you'd need a VPN or proper port-forwarding/DDNS to reach it remotely

Related Guides

• WebDAV Server on Android
• SMB / LAN file sharing
• SFTP for SSH servers
• NAS connection guide

Install

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