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  • Re: Discussion of FTP vs WebDav for Android/iOS filesystem sharing on W

    From Arno Welzel@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 12:58:19
    Subject: Re: Discussion of FTP vs WebDav for Android/iOS filesystem sharing on Windows PC

    Maria Sophia, 2026-01-27 18:11:

    [...]
    1. Windows includes a native FTP client, but it does not include an FTP
    filesystem redirector.

    2. Because there is no redirector, Windows cannot mount an FTP server as a
    drive letter.

    3. Windows Explorer can open an FTP server as a virtual folder.
    This is called a Network Location, not a Network Drive.

    This is called a "Shell namespace".

    Also see: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Shell_namespace>


    --
    Arno Welzel
    https://arnowelzel.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Arno Welzel@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 12:59:40
    Subject: Re: Discussion of FTP vs WebDav for Android/iOS filesystem sharing on Windows PC

    Maria Sophia, 2026-01-27 21:43:

    Maria Sophia wrote:
    a. The built-in WebClient service is considered legacy by Microsoft.

    Even so, it has been working for me on Windows 10 for, oh, 5 years or so.

    Yes - but Windows 10 itself is also legacy now and for Windows 11
    Microsoft did not improve anything for the WebDAV support.

    --
    Arno Welzel
    https://arnowelzel.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Arno Welzel@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, January 29, 2026 06:58:38
    Subject: Re: Discussion of FTP vs WebDav for Android/iOS filesystem sharing on Windows PC

    Maria Sophia, 2026-01-28 18:51:

    Arno Welzel wrote:
    Maria Sophia wrote:
    a. The built-in WebClient service is considered legacy by Microsoft.

    Even so, it has been working for me on Windows 10 for, oh, 5 years or so. >>
    Yes - but Windows 10 itself is also legacy now and for Windows 11
    Microsoft did not improve anything for the WebDAV support.

    Yes... but... all you need is the file explorer and "net use" & that works.
    <https://i.postimg.cc/BvJdKWzt/webdav06.jpg>

    You can't mount the Android filesystem as a Windows drive letter with FTP (unless you add third-party software). But WebDAV needs no software.

    The issue with WebDAV in Windows is, that it does not work realiable.

    Having the Android phone as a Windows drive has huge advantages, e.g., the Windows file explorer can save DIRECTLY from Windows to Android in 1 step.

    Using the Windows file explorer you don't need a drive letter at all.
    That's the reason, why namespaces exist in the explorer - to be able to
    access locations even when they don't have a drive letter.

    A drive letter is only useful if you want to access the data in *other* applications besides the Windows file explorer which *require* a drive
    letter.

    --
    Arno Welzel
    https://arnowelzel.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)