These days, we can do just about everything on the HTC EVO 4G without having to use a (potentially hazardous) microUSB cable. We can update our software wirelessly, stream our music collections from the cloud, install apps from the Market on the web, send links and other information from our computers, and charge without wires, among other things.
Perhaps the only time most people really ever have to physically connect their phones to their computers is to access the microSD card. Whether it's to backup or move files (zips, apks, photos, music, videos, whatever) to and from the computer, most folks associate accessing the card with needing the cable.
But not anymore! Thanks to a handy little tip from G&E reader Gary, managing your EVO's microSD card from your Windows computer can be done wirelessly. Find out how to do it below.
All we're really going to do is install an FTP server app on the EVO and then map the card as a network drive using Windows Explorer, so if you already know how to do that, then feel free to jump ahead and use any app/method you want.
For everyone else, let's get started.
Note: This method will only work when the EVO and computer are connected to the same WiFi network or tethered to each other. If you're on a 3G or 4G connnection, you'll need to use a standard FTP client on your computer.
1. Download Rapfox's FTP Server (free) from the Market.
There are other FTP servers available in the Market, but what I like about this one is that it's free, very basic, and dead-simple to use.
2. Open the app on your EVO 4G and tap Start. You can change the username and password by tapping Options.
3. On your Windows computer, go to Windows Explorer/Computer and click the "Map a Network Drive" button at the top.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to map a drive. The steps will vary slightly depending on which version of Windows you're using. In Windows 7, which is what I'm using, the steps are:
- Select a drive letter.
- Click "Connect to a Web site that you can use to store your documents and pictures," which launches the Add Network Location wizard.
- Click Next > Choose a custom network location > Next.
- Type the address shown in the FTP URL line in the Rapfox app on your EVO and follow the rest of the prompts.
When it's properly set up, the folder will appear in Windows Explorer/Computer, as shown in the first screenshot above.
5. Now whenever you want to access your EVO's microSD card, all you have to do is start the FTP Server app on your EVO and then open the folder on your computer. When you're done, just tap the Stop button.
It's fast, easy, and so much more convenient than using the cable.
Thanks, Gary!
