How can I access my files from anywhere?
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If you're part of the growing mobile workforce, having remote access to your files from anywhere means you never have to worry about forgetting something important. You can travel lightly and do business from just about anywhere you have an internet connection. There are several ways to access your files, remotely control your computer, or manage your computer from wherever you are. The method you choose depends on how you plan to access the files and what you need to use when you're away from your desk. Show Cloud Computing - Remote File ServersTo remotely access files from anywhere without having to set up any hardware, turn to cloud computing services, specifically online backup and file syncing web apps. Dedicated file-syncing services and applications are designed to keep your most important documents accessible wherever you go. Apple iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, and Google Drive provide access, editing, and sharing capabilities wherever you have internet. The basic plans are free and additional storage space is available for a low fee. Online backup services provide automatic offsite storage of files and typically allow you to download individual files from a web browser or mobile app. Carbonite, Mozy, CrashPlan, and BackBlaze are a few to consider. 21 Best Cloud Backup Services Reviewed There are additional options for free or low-cost backup, including using your webmail or web hosting service to store files online. For example, if you own a website and you want access to a handful of files when you're away, make a special folder on your website that only you can access. If using email, accessing files remotely is as easy as sending yourself the files in an email message. Dropbox, Box, and SugarSync automatically mirror a folder or several folders on your computer to their online servers. It's like having a file server in the cloud; you can share files with others and, in some cases, edit files in a browser and sync with mobile devices. Remote Desktop ToolAnother way to get files from anywhere there is Wi-Fi or some other form of internet is to remotely log in to your computer. When you do this, you create a setup that simulates you sitting in front of your PC at home. Anything you can normally get from your computer when you're at your desk is available remotely through a remote desktop tool. There are several subscription-based forms of remote desktop programs but there are also some free remote access tools that are perfect for most people. You can view your files at home while you're away, print remote files locally, and copy files to and from your home computer. Many remote desktop software programs don't limit you to connecting to your home computer with another computer. You can also use a mobile app that makes accessing your files remotely as easy as starting an app on your phone or tablet. NAS DeviceIf you don't need to remotely control or manage your home computer and only want to access shared files over the internet, use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device. The 8 Best NAS (Network Attached Storage) of 2022 A NAS is a mini remote file server that connects to a home network. They're great for file sharing and backups for multiple computers, and they typically offer remote file access over FTP or a web browser, depending on the device. Popular NAS boxes that provide access to files remotely include Buffalo Linkstation and Apple Time Capsule. External Hard DriveAdding an external hard drive to an existing router—if the router is capable of file sharing—is another way to access files. Because external hard drives can come in large sizes, it's easy to instantly provide terabytes of storage for remote access. Using an external hard drive connected to a router is slower than a dedicated NAS, but this option may be less expensive if you have an external drive or compatible router. However, even if you don't have an external HDD, they're usually inexpensive for the amount of storage they contain. The 9 Best External Hard Drives of 2022 LinksysHome ServerIf you don't want to use a third-party solution, set up a VPN and server. This option is the most expensive and time-consuming to set up—the software usually costs and you have to forward router ports—but it offers the most control. For Macs, macOS Server is one option that makes home or small business networking and remote access easy. There are also Linux server options such as Ubuntu Server, openSUSE, and Oracle Linux. There are also HTTP servers that are simple to use and set up in no time (HFS is one example of a free remote file server program for Windows and Linux). If you'd rather go with FTP, there are numerous free FTP server programs. Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe How can I access my files away from home?Cloud storage services are the best way to access your data from anywhere. Setting up a NAS on your home network is a good alternative to cloud storage. Remote access software is available if you prefer to keep your files on your main device.
Can I access my files from another computer?Turn on network discovery and file and printer sharing, and turn off password protected sharing. Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & internet , and on the right side, select Sharing options. Under Private, select Turn on Network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing.
How can I remotely access my computer from anywhere?On your Windows, Android, or iOS device: Open the Remote Desktop app (available for free from Microsoft Store, Google Play, and the Mac App Store), and add the name of the PC that you want to connect to (from Step 1). Select the remote PC name that you added, and then wait for the connection to complete.
How can I access my laptop files from mobile anywhere?On your Android device, go to "Device" tab, tap the PC that holds files you need on "My devices" list, and tap "Remote control". Immediately, you can see the screen of the remote computer from your Android device and access PC files from the Android device.
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