Download Files From a Computer on Your Local Network

GoodReader WiFi File Transfer

Use your local WiFi-network to transfer files from your desktop computer to GoodReader.

Please note that WiFi-networking can sometimes be tricky; there are some hidden options that can prevent usual networking. Should you have any difficulties, please consult our Troubleshooting Guide or contact our customer support service.

If you`re having trouble setting up a WiFi network, consider using USB File Transfer instead, which is much faster and much simpler to use.

Preparation steps

(must be performed the first time only, no need to do it every time)

If you`re thinking of connecting your iPhone and your computer to a public wireless access point to transfer files from computer to iPhone - forget about it. Most public access points try to protect everybody`s privacy by forbidding any peer-to-peer communication. Each of your devices will be able to access the Internet, but most likely they will not be able to communicate with each other.

This leaves you with another option - creating your own WiFi network.

Creating WiFi network with a WiFi router. Please consult your router documentation on the exact procedure, but keep two things in mind:
- some routers block peer-to-peer communication by default, preventing your computer and your iPhone from being able to communicate with each other directly, so you will have to check for a setting that blocks such communication. Such setting may be called something like L2 Isolation or some other isolation. Please consult your router documentation for more details.
- some routers offer wireless connection for wireless devices, and Ethernet (cable) connection for your computer. Such routers will often block direct communication between your computer (connected by a wire) and your iPhone (connected wirelessly). Please consult your router documentation for more details.
Creating computer-to-computer ("ad hoc") WiFi network directly from your computer, without any router

if your network is hosted by your computer (i.e. it is an ad hoc or computer-to-computer network, then skip this step
connect your computer to WiFi network created by your WiFi router

Launch the Settings app on your iPhone / iPod touch / iPad:

Go to Wi-Fi section. Turn the Wi-Fi switch on, if it`s off. Find your network (to which your computer is connected, or which is hosted by your computer) in the list, select it, and enter the password for this network, if needed. It is very important to ensure that you`re entering the password correctly, because sometimes, if the password is incorrect, it may look like you`re connected to a network, but no actual file transfer will happen. The checkmark should appear against your network name.

Wait for the WiFi antenna logo to appear at the top of the screen. It may take some time, during which your device registers within the network, so just wait for antenna to appear.

Actual Transfer

Step 4. Start GoodReader app on your iPhone / iPod touch / iPad.

Step 5. Tap the WiFi button at the bottom of the GoodReader`s main screen to open the WiFi-transfer page, keep it open all the time while transferring, note the IP-address on this page (you`ll need it in Step 6).

For security reasons, and to save your battery power, transfer is only allowed when the WiFi-transfer page is open.

The important things here are:

The device WiFi icon at the top left corner of the screen should display three bars, indicating a strong network connection. If you don`t see a three bar WiFi icon, your connection may not be strong enough for a reliable transfer; and if you don`t see a WiFi icon at all, you`re not connected to a WiFi network — go back to Steps 1 – 3.
WiFi status: ON (if it`s OFF, then you`re not connected to WiFi network - go back to Steps 1 and 3).
IP-address (if you don`t see it, then you`re not connected to WiFi network - go back to Steps 1 and 3).

Don`t worry if you see the "Connection: waiting for incoming…" line. That`s normal. It means that GoodReader is ready to connect, but a connection from a computer hasn`t been made yet. Once you initiate a connection from a computer, this line changes to, "Connection: established"

Once you initiate a file transfer from your computer, this line changes to "Connection: established." This line is mainly for Troubleshooting purposes - if you`re experiencing problems with WiFi transfer, this line is a good indication of where to look for a problem.

Note the IP-address you will use it to initiate a connection from your computer.

IMPORTANT

IP-addresses change from time to time, even if nothing else changes in your setup. So please don`t assume that the IP-address is the same as it was during your last transfer session, check this address whenever connecting.

Step 6. This transfer technique connects your device to your computer as a network folder, allowing you to transfer files using a web browser.

It creates a network folder shortcut, which you can use later to connect.

You can connect to GoodReader from any web browser on your computer: Internet Explorer, Safari, or any other. You will be able to upload multiple files to GoodReader from your computer, however, folders cannot be uploaded with this technique. To upload folders, save them as .zip or .rar archives first, since GoodReader can uncompress .zip and .rar archives. You can download files and folders from GoodReader to your computer, as well as create new folders in GoodReader, and rename or delete files and folders.

File transfer instructions:

On your computer, open a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any other).
In the URL address bar of your web browser, enter your device`s IP-address taken from Step 5 of the WiFi File Transfer instructions. Enter it exactly as you see it on GoodReader`s WiFi-transfer page, including the http:// and :8080 parts.
Please do NOT assume that the IP-address is the same as it was when you were connecting the last time — IP-addresses change periodically; check it whenever connecting.
The GoodReader Connection page will open in your web browser.
To upload a file from the computer to GoodReader, click the Upload button, then use the Choose File button, or drag and drop a file into the drop files here box. To download files or folders from GoodReader to the computer, click the check box next to file or folder names to select them. Once selected, click the Download button. After selecting a file or folder, you can also use the Rename or Delete buttons to execute those actions. Alternatively, click the "x" on the far right of a file or folder name to delete it. With either Delete technique, a Delete file? Yes/No message will pop up to confirm if you want to delete or cancel the action.
Use the New Folder button to create a new folder in GoodReader.
Click on a folder name to display its contents. While the folder`s contents is displayed, any subsequent uploads will go into that folder. To navigate back out of that folder to GoodReader`s main file list, click Parent Folder.

← Back to Importing Files

Download Files From a Computer on Your Local Network

Related Questions