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SimbaDroid

A simple SMB file server (needs root)
New in version 0.5
- Added Italian translation courtesy of @crazycoder1999
SimbaDroid is an SMB server for Android, allowing you to access the contents of your storage (both internal storage or an external SD card) from your computer via wi-fi.

Due to Android limitations, this app requires root (as on all Unixoid operating systems, it is not possible to open a port < 1024 otherwise, and the default SMB port is 445 and Windows doesn't work with anything else). Without root, you either need some sort of SMB client which allows configuring the port used (SimbaDroid uses port 4450 behind the scenes), or some kind of port mapping software to allow Windows to transparently connect to port 4450.

Due to JFileServer limitations, only SMBv1 is supported, which isn't ideal for modern Windows, either, but c'est la vie…

Since the app is mostly for my private use, at the moment there are no configuration options – shares for the internal storage as well as an external SD card (if one is detected) are set up automatically and are accessible without authentication, so be careful about using this app in public networks. I might add some options for configuring your own custom shares and user authentication eventually, but no guarantees as to if and when.

READ/WRITE/MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE is required for filesystem access.

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 0.5 (6) suggested Added on Apr 22, 2025

    This version requires Android 6.0 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.
    • change network connectivity
      Allows the app to change the state of network connectivity.
    • run foreground service
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
    • run foreground service with the type "specialUse"
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "specialUse"
    • 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.
    • android.permission.MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
    • show notifications
      Allows the app to show notifications
    • read the contents of your shared storage
      Allows the app to read the contents of your shared storage.
    • prevent phone from sleeping
      Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
    • modify or delete the contents of your shared storage
      Allows the app to write the contents of your shared storage.
    • de.buttercookie.simbadroid.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION

    Download APK 2.3 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log

  • Version 0.4 (5) - Added on Dec 29, 2024

    This version requires Android 6.0 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.
    • change network connectivity
      Allows the app to change the state of network connectivity.
    • run foreground service
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
    • run foreground service with the type "specialUse"
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "specialUse"
    • 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.
    • android.permission.MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
    • show notifications
      Allows the app to show notifications
    • read the contents of your shared storage
      Allows the app to read the contents of your shared storage.
    • prevent phone from sleeping
      Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
    • modify or delete the contents of your shared storage
      Allows the app to write the contents of your shared storage.
    • de.buttercookie.simbadroid.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION

    Download APK 2.3 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log