Solved Wireless connection PC and Android phone

Hello!

I sometimes work at the basement where the WiFi signal is terrible (very slow and with frequent disconnects) and I need to transfer some files from my Android smartphone to a tablet running Windows. I tried to pair the two via Bluetooth but one time is successful another isn't. Even then when I tried to share the files from the phone via Bluetooth the transfer always failed without any popup from the Windows side to accept the files. I thought to use WiFi Direct to connect directly the phone to the tablet, but the tablet is not detected by the phone and I don't have a clue what to do next. Could you please guide me step-by-step how to do a WiFi Direct connection between the two so I can exchange files? I have the application AndSMB at the phone to access the shared folder on the tablet via SMB protocol once I have a successful connection.

Thank you in advance.

PS: The tablet runs Windows 10 22H2 32-bit, if that matters, but I don't think the steps will be two different between Windows 11 and 10. Should I post it at www.tenforums.com as well?

Phone link requires that both endpoints be connected to same WI-FI network, I'm not sure WI-FI direct is supported for this scenario.
And BT is needed only to make calls from PC or tablet.

I am not using the Phone application. I do it the old school way. Pair both devices via Bluetooth, send file from one device, accept from the other. For some reason it didn't work. The Windows device never displayed a message that the Android device is trying to send a file so I would accept and receive it. After a few seconds the Android device reported that sending the file failed. Maybe I have to configure some Bluetooth settings from the Windows device, but I didn't have the time to investigate.

What about plan B? Can I make a direct wireless connection between the two devices (ad hoc, without an access point). How?

On my setup you have to visit the Bluetooth Icon and click on "Receive a File" before you attempt to send from the source.

@spapakons
If you have both, wi-fi and BT enabled there might be interference because both work on 2.4ghz, try switching your wi-fi to 5ghz band or turn it off and see if that works.

Rollback_Jockey said:

On my setup you have to visit the Bluetooth Icon and click on "Receive a File" before you attempt to send from the source.

Click to expand...

I did that, didn't make any difference.

zebal said:

@spapakons
If you have both, wi-fi and BT enabled there might be interference because both work on 2.4ghz, try switching your wi-fi to 5ghz band or turn it off and see if that works.

Click to expand...

I will try that later and post back. Thanks.

Why not invest in some homeplugs that will transmit thorough housing wiring?

Then you get a good signal.

I don't believe it! Once I disabled WiFi on my smartphone I was able to successfully send a file via Bluetooth to the tablet. Thanks you for your help. However the transfer is very slow. Anyone can please guide me to create a direct wireless connection between my Windows tablet and my Android smartphone? Thanks.

cereberus said:

Why not invest in some homeplugs that will transmit thorough housing wiring?

Then you get a good signal.

Definition of HomePlug

What does HomePlug actually mean? Find out inside PCMag's comprehensive tech and computer-related encyclopedia.

www.pcmag.com

Click to expand...

I cannot add anything, it is my work place, not my house. Thanks.

spapakons said:

Anyone can please guide me to create a direct wireless connection between my Windows tablet and my Android smartphone?

Click to expand...

try nearby sharing.
Nearby sharing is built into windows, and for android you have to install Google's nearby app
edit:
Nearby sharing is built into windows as well as into android, you need an app on windows for android.

You can hotspot your phone's internet though I can not say how successful you will be. The only way I've had any resonable success hotspotting my iphone cellular data to my PC is through USB.
Maybe you'll have better luck with Android. How to set up mobile hotspot on Android

Yes I can hotspot it but would then be able to access the shared folder via AndSMB? In theory yes, I will try and post.

spapakons said:

Yes I can hotspot it but would then be able to access the shared folder via AndSMB? In theory yes, I will try and post.

Click to expand...

I use X-plore File manager on my Android phone and I can SMB into all my computers. The feature cost a cup of coffee to unlock fully but it is well worth the price. I use the app for many things.

Yes, it works. I made my smartphone a hotspot and I configured AndSMB to access the shared folder using the assigned IP address. I tried it at home where I have good 4G mobile signal. I will try it at job were the signal is weak, but I don't think it matters.

PS: I use AndSMB for free. The only drawback is it doesn't presents you with the computers of the network to connect. You must provide the IP address of the target. If that changes you must edit the profile and change the IP address accordingly.

I describe the weird issue here and the workaround, just in case anyone else has the same problem...

At home where I have a strong 4G mobile signal, I make my Android smartphone a Wi-Fi hotspot to share the mobile connection and I connect my Windows tablet on that hotspot. Since now essentially both devices are connected on the same "access point", I can use AndSMB application on the Android to connect to the tablet via SMB protocol (aka Samba) and upload/download any files I need. The only requirement is to leave the mobile data on and manually provide the IP address of the tablet to create the connection profile (the free version of AndSMB doesn't support browsing the network to detect computers and shared resources). Of course I have to set the hotspot as "Private" on the tablet, it won't work in "Public" mode. I tried to turn off the mobile data on the phone but then all the connection profiles are grayed and not work properly. If I try to connect I can see my phone files but not the tablet files. If I just ignore this and try to upload a file, I get an error that I have to chose a destination folder first, which is not possible, unless I switch the mobile data on and reconnect. So the mobile data must be on regardless if I use it or not.

At work where the mobile signal is weak (at the basement) that I hardly have 4G, when I switch off the mobile data, the profiles are again grayed and not work properly. So I turn on the mobile data, I won't need internet access so it shouldn't make any difference, right? However, AndSMB has hard time accessing the tablet shared folder, probably because it tries to also look at the outside network (internet). I wait several seconds without the remote files populating the list. As soon as I switch off the mobile data I can see the remote files and upload/download whatever I want at a very good speed! So when you try this with weak mobile signal, you must first let the mobile data on to connect using the relevant profile in AndSMB and once connection is established turn off the mobile data to access the remote files. Stupid, I know, but this is the way it works. Maybe some other SMB application would be better, but since it works with AndSMB I don't care.

I tried this scenario (hotspot) with my phone, PC and X-plore. Works equally well both with mobile data on and off. Also because I have the paid version of X-plore it can find all SMB devices on same network with a click of a button.

AndSMB Pro, the paid version supports scanning the network for computers to connect. Since I only need a couple profiles (one for home and one for work), I don't mind manually configuring the IP address and connect credentials for the free version. Other than that I don't think the paid version would be any different from what I described in my previous post. When the mobile signal is weak, you have to first enable mobile data to properly connect to the target system and then disable mobile data to access the shared resources.

Try this one instead.

Just tried it. Very good! Million thanks!

I also wanted to add that you define the target IP once and it automatically creates a profile to access all the shared folders, you don't have to define a specific folder. A big advantage is that you can play any videos directly, while AndSMB requires to download locally the file first.