The FAQ is always under development, please feel free to suggest items to add to it based on your experience with
the product. Send suggestions to android@nextapp.com.
How do I select files/items?
Files or other items may be selected by long pressing on them, pressing the [+] button at the top of the screen, or by
dragging your finger horizontally across the item.
I'm having trouble creating a Windows (SMB) connection to a computer or network appliance (e.g. router).
FX defaults to using the SMB2 protocol for security reasons, and some older devices may not support it. If you have trouble
connecting to a device, try editing the connection, selecting the "Advanced" tab and forcing use of the legacy SMB1 protocol.
Why is using SMB1 "Not Recommended"?
SMB1 has been deprecated by Microsoft for security reasons. Newer versions of Windows are rapidly discontinuing support for it.
FX thus uses the SMB2 protocol by default for Windows network connections. Some older devices, most notably internet appliances
such as wireless routers support SMB but are limited to SMB1, so you may be required to use it if you wish to connect to such a
device.
Why does FX require each of its various Android permissions?
FX requires the following permissions:
- Access approximate location (network based): Required by Android 9.0 and later for FX Connect to discover nearby devices.
FX does not ever actually use this permission to query your location. Google decided to add this requirement because
applications using Wi-Fi Direct could theoretically infer a device's location using the hardware network address of nearby
Wi-Fi devices (as is used in "network based" location services). You will only be asked for location access permission if you
are using Android 9.0 or later and start FX Connect.
- Prevent Phone from Sleeping: Required to allow file transfers to occur in the background while the device is in a partial sleep state (e.g., when the screen is powered down). FX will only make use of this permission while a requested file transfer is in progress. Once file transfers have completed or been canceled, the device will be allowed to fully sleep.
- Read contents of your SD Card, Modify/Delete SD Card Contents, and/or Test Access to Protected Storage:
These permissions are required for basic file management functions.
- Full Internet Access: This permission is required to transfer files over any network (LAN or Internet).
- View Network State and View Wi-Fi State: Required for networking features. FX uses this permission to display the state of the phone/device's network connectivity.
- Create Bluetooth Connections and Bluetooth Administration: These permissions are required for FX Bluetooth features.
- Set Wallpaper: FX allows you set your home screen wallpaper from the FX Image Viewer.
- Modify System Settings: This permission is required to enable you to set your default ringtone, notification, and alarm sounds from within FX.
- Install Shortcuts: This permission is required to create home-screen shortcuts to your files and folders.
- Connect and Disconnect from Wi-Fi: FX provides the ability to turn Wi-Fi on and off from within its network screens. This permission is required to do so.
- Allow Wi-Fi Multicast Reception: The "FX Connect" feature uses Wi-Fi multicast to establish a connection between two devices for file transfers.
- Control Near Field Communication (NFC): The "FX Connect" feature can use NFC to establish a connection by touching the backs of two devices together.
- In-app purchases / Google Play billing service: This permission is used for purchasing FX Plus via in-app purchase.
FX does not require Google Play Services and will run on devices without it.