SambaLite

A lightweight, modern, and open-source Android client for SMB/CIFS shares.

New in version 1.2.0

• Enhanced folder operations with better progress tracking
• New background service for long-running operations
• Lifecycle-aware components to prevent memory leaks
• Improved progress reporting for all file operations
• Major architecture refactoring following MVVM best practices
• Enhanced error handling for network operations
• Improved thread safety for concurrent operations
• Smoother UI experience during long-running operations
• Fixed memory leaks during file operations
• Improved cleanup

SambaLite is a lightweight, modern, and open-source Android client for SMB/CIFS shares (Samba). The goal is to provide a minimalist, reliable, and secure tool that allows users to access SMB shares on their local network - without any unnecessary features, ads, or bloat.

The app is designed for tech-savvy users who are looking for a lean, transparent solution and value privacy and open source.

Main features:

• Network Discovery: Automatically scan for SMB servers on your local network
• Manage connections: Enter SMB server (hostname or IP) and share/path, username, password, optional domain (workgroup)
• Manage multiple connections with individual names
• Connection testing with clear error messages
• Automatic, secure storage of credentials (Android Keystore)
• File browser: Navigate through the share directory tree, display of name, type, size, and modification date
• Folder operations: Upload and download entire folders using ZIP compression
• Multi-file operations: Select and transfer multiple files with progress tracking
• Background transfers: Large file operations continue in the background
• Enhanced search: Find files and folders with progress indicator and cancel option
• Refresh view ("Pull-to-Refresh")
• Sorting options (name, date, size)
• File operations: Download, upload, delete, rename, open with external app
• Display file properties
• Modern Material Design 3 interface with app logo colors
• Dark/Light Mode (system default)

Security & Privacy:
• No telemetry or third-party connections
• No unencrypted storage of sensitive data
• Minimal permissions (only network and access to user-selected storage locations)

SambaLite is the open-source Samba client for Android that many have wanted for years: Modern, lean, secure, without unnecessary features, but with everything needed for practical access to SMB shares.

Versions

Although APK downloads are available below to give you the choice, you should be aware that by installing that way you will not receive update notifications and it's a less secure way to download. We recommend that you install the F-Droid client and use that.

Download F-Droid

Version 1.2.0 (10200) suggested Added on Jul 24, 2025

This version requires Android 9.0 or newer.

It is built by F-Droid and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.
Permissions
- view network connections
  
  Allows the app to view information about network connections such as which networks exist and are connected.
- view Wi-Fi connections
  
  Allows the app to view information about Wi-Fi networking, such as whether Wi-Fi is enabled and name of connected Wi-Fi devices.
- run foreground service
  
  Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
- run foreground service with the type "dataSync"
  
  Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "dataSync"
- have full network access
  
  Allows the app to create network sockets and use custom network protocols. The browser and other applications provide means to send data to the internet, so this permission is not required to send data to the internet.
- show notifications
  
  Allows the app to show notifications
- ask to ignore battery optimizations
  
  Allows an app to ask for permission to ignore battery optimizations for that app.
- prevent phone from sleeping
  
  Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
- de.schliweb.sambalite.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Download APK 14 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log
Version 1.1.0 (10100) - Added on Jul 21, 2025

This version requires Android 9.0 or newer.

It is built by F-Droid and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.
Permissions
- view network connections
  
  Allows the app to view information about network connections such as which networks exist and are connected.
- view Wi-Fi connections
  
  Allows the app to view information about Wi-Fi networking, such as whether Wi-Fi is enabled and name of connected Wi-Fi devices.
- run foreground service
  
  Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
- run foreground service with the type "dataSync"
  
  Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "dataSync"
- have full network access
  
  Allows the app to create network sockets and use custom network protocols. The browser and other applications provide means to send data to the internet, so this permission is not required to send data to the internet.
- show notifications
  
  Allows the app to show notifications
- ask to ignore battery optimizations
  
  Allows an app to ask for permission to ignore battery optimizations for that app.
- prevent phone from sleeping
  
  Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
- de.schliweb.sambalite.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Download APK 14 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log
Version 1.0.2 (12) - Added on Jul 11, 2025

This version requires Android 9.0 or newer.

It is built by F-Droid and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.
Permissions
- view network connections
  
  Allows the app to view information about network connections such as which networks exist and are connected.
- have full network access
  
  Allows the app to create network sockets and use custom network protocols. The browser and other applications provide means to send data to the internet, so this permission is not required to send data to the internet.
- de.schliweb.sambalite.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Download APK 12 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log

Versions

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