WiFi file transfer apps suddenly don't work anymore on my Samsung Galaxy A20s

[Antarmanu71]

I have had my Samsung Galaxy A20s phone for several months. One of the first apps that I usually install is "WiFi File Transfer Pro", which is an older app, but it still works well for transferring files over WiFi. When the app is started, I can just type something like:

http://192.168.0.191:1234

into my laptop's Firefox or Chrome browsers, and I get the complete list of folders on my phone. Then I can download or upload files from and to my phone, by using laptop only. No cable connection is necessary, everything goes over my WiFi router.

Well, this worked normally until today, when I wanted to transfer some files and started the app on the phone, went to my laptop's firefox and when I tried to open the above mentioned address, I got this message in Firefox:

Unable to connect
Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at 192.168.0.191:1234.

I get a similar message in Chrome on laptop as well:

This site can’t be reached
http://192.168.0.191:1234/ is unreachable.
ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE

I don't remember that I made any major updates to my phone in the past month (which is when I used the Wifi file transfer app for the last time, and when it worked). I may have installed some new apps in the past few weeks, but, as far as I know, those apps are unlikely to mess with wifi (I could be wrong here, though).

Strangely enough, if I open Firefox or Chrome browsers on my Samsung A20s phone, and go to the above mentioned address, I DO GET the list of folders from Wifi File Transfer Pro app, as if everything is working fine!

However ,on my laptop, it looks as if the phone's web server (I believe that is how it's called) is not reaching it at all.

I had a similar issue before because one app on the phone used to block the web server from being seen on other devices. It was "Open VPN Connect", which I use to access my VPN provider. However, now even when that app is not working, the web server from my phone doesn't reach my laptop over WiFi.

I tried many other similar apps that enable one to transfer files by using the web or ftp server, and none of them now works with my laptop. However, they all DO work on the phone's browsers.

Could someone please help me diagnose and fix this problem? This phone definitely worked well with these file transfer apps, and they worked normally with my laptop.

By the way, on my laptop I have Manjaro XFCE with the latest updates.

 

[mustang7757]

I don't use that type of app but see if I can help. Have you tried turning your VPN off ?

 

[Antarmanu71]

Yes, I tried turning off VPN both on the phone and on my laptop, but the problem persists.
Earlier, while the app (and all similar apps) worked normally, the VPN on the laptop didn't affect its functioning, but I had to turn off VPN on the phone.

It's all so strange because, as far as I know, I didn't implement any updates on that phone.

 

[Antarmanu71]

I've just found the solution!

It seems I ticked an option in my router settings a few days ago which messes with this file transfer function (and then kinda forgot about it). The setting is called "All the wireless client device is completely isolated". This should be switched off, and I have probably ticked it on inadvertently.

 

[B. Diddy]

I've just found the solution!

It seems I ticked an option in my router settings a few days ago which messes with this file transfer function (and then kinda forgot about it). The setting is called "All the wireless client device is completely isolated". This should be switched off, and I have probably ticked it on inadvertently.

Excellent, glad you figured it out, and thanks for sharing the solution!

 

[mustang7757]

Yes, I tried turning off VPN both on the phone and on my laptop, but the problem persists.
Earlier, while the app (and all similar apps) worked normally, the VPN on the laptop didn't affect its functioning, but I had to turn off VPN on the phone.

It's all so strange because, as far as I know, I didn't implement any updates on that phone.

I've just found the solution!

It seems I ticked an option in my router settings a few days ago which messes with this file transfer function (and then kinda forgot about it). The setting is called "All the wireless client device is completely isolated". This should be switched off, and I have probably ticked it on inadvertently.

Thats great ! Glad you got it going