Run a WebDAV Server on Android

AnExplorer's WebDAV Server exposes your phone's storage over the HTTP-based WebDAV protocol. This lets macOS Finder, Windows Explorer, and any WebDAV-capable client on your network mount your phone as a network drive — without USB, without an app on the computer.

The big advantage over FTP Server: macOS Finder has native WebDAV support. You can mount your phone directly in Finder and drag files without any extra downloads.

How to Start the WebDAV Server

1. Open AnExplorer
2. Open the menu sidebar (tap ≡)
3. Select WebDAV Server
4. Tap Start
5. AnExplorer displays the server URL: http://192.168.1.105:8765
6. Set a username and password in WebDAV Server settings (recommended even on home networks)

The server runs while AnExplorer is actively running. Close the app or swipe it away and the server stops.

Connect from macOS Finder (Most Useful Feature)

macOS has built-in WebDAV support as a "network drive":

1. Open Finder
2. Menu bar: Go > Connect to Server (keyboard: ⌘K)
3. Enter: http://192.168.1.105:8765
4. Click Connect
5. If prompted, enter the username and password from AnExplorer WebDAV Server settings
6. Your phone appears as a mounted drive in Finder's sidebar under "Locations"
7. Drag files between phone and Mac like any other folder

This is the fastest way to move photos, videos, or documents between an Android phone and a Mac without Android File Transfer or a USB cable. For more Mac transfer options, see transfer files from Android to Mac.

Connect from Windows

Windows supports WebDAV but requires a small tweak to work reliably:

Method 1 — Map Network Drive:

1. Open File Explorer > right-click "This PC" > Map network drive
2. Choose a drive letter (e.g., Z:)
3. Folder: http://192.168.1.105:8765
4. Check "Connect using different credentials"
5. Enter WebDAV username and password
6. Finish — the phone appears as drive Z:

Method 2 — Windows known limitation: Windows WebDAV client only connects to https:// URLs by default (not http://). If Method 1 fails, run this in an elevated Command Prompt:

reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WebClient\Parameters /v BasicAuthLevel /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
net stop webclient && net start webclient

This enables Basic Auth over HTTP for WebDAV on Windows.

Alternatively, use a dedicated WebDAV client for Windows:

• NetDrive
• WinSCP (also supports FTP and SFTP)
• CarotDAV (free, lightweight)

Connect from Linux

# Mount with davfs2
sudo apt install davfs2
sudo mount -t davfs `http://192.168.1.105:8765` /mnt/phone
# Enter username and password when prompted

Or use Nautilus (GNOME Files): Other Locations > enter dav://192.168.1.105:8765

WebDAV Server vs FTP Server vs SFTP Server

Security Note

AnExplorer's WebDAV Server uses plain HTTP (not HTTPS). This means traffic is not encrypted. For transfers on a private home Wi-Fi network, this is acceptable. Do not enable the WebDAV Server on public Wi-Fi without a VPN.

Always set a password in the WebDAV Server settings — this at minimum prevents other devices on your network from accessing your phone silently.

Troubleshooting

macOS Finder says "The server address is invalid":

• Use http:// prefix explicitly, not just the IP
• Try http://192.168.x.x:8765/` with a trailing slash

Windows can't connect:

• Apply the registry fix above to enable Basic Auth over HTTP
• Confirm WebDAV Server is running (visible in AnExplorer notification)

Very slow file transfer speeds:

• WebDAV over Wi-Fi can be slower than FTP for large files. For high-volume transfers, FTP Server is typically faster.

Related Guides

• WebDAV client — connect to remote servers
• FTP Server on Android
• Transfer Android files to Mac
• Device Connect — HTTP browser server

Install

Install AnExplorer