DogNAS

DogNAS Blog

Practical guides to use your Android as private storage, with no cloud.

Illustration of a house with a storage box next to the DogNAS Client Lite screenFeatured

A home NAS without buying a NAS: use the Android you already own

To keep your family's photos, videos and documents at home you don't always need to buy a NAS. See when an old Android is enough and when it isn't.

3 min read

Start here

  1. How to turn an old Android into a file server
  2. How to transfer files between your PC and phone over Wi-Fi, no cable
  3. How to free up space on your Android phone without losing your photos

All guides

Illustration of a cloud with a coin next to the DogNAS server screenStorage, photos & privacy

How to save money on cloud storage subscriptions

Before paying for more cloud space, learn how to review what you use, clean out the rest and keep the bulk at home, with no monthly fee.

3 min readIllustration of a phone with an arrow moving files out next to the DogNAS Client Lite screenStorage, photos & privacy

How to free up space on your Android phone without losing your photos

Clean out what is left over on Android and move photos and videos to a safe place off the phone, with no cloud subscription.

2 min readIllustration of a NAS box facing a phone next to the DogNAS server screenCompare & decide

Traditional NAS or Android server: which to choose for your home

An honest comparison between a store-bought NAS and an old Android with DogNAS: what each does, what it costs and who it is for.

3 min readIllustration of a phone with Wi-Fi next to the DogNAS server screenReuse an old Android

How to turn an old Android into a file server

That phone or tablet sitting in a drawer can keep your home's photos, videos and documents over Wi-Fi, with no cloud and no monthly fee.

3 min readIllustration of a hard drive next to the DogNAS server screenReuse an old Android

How to reuse an old laptop's hard drive as home storage

That hard drive or SSD left over from a laptop can become extra space for your Android server. See what you need and what to watch for.

2 min readIllustration of a phone with sparks of ideas next to the DogNAS Client Lite screenReuse an old Android

What to do with an old Android phone: 10 ideas that are actually useful

Camera, webcam, media hub, file server and more: 10 uses for the Android sitting in a drawer, and how to pick the best one for you.

3 min readIllustration of a tablet with Wi-Fi next to the DogNAS server screenReuse an old Android

Old tablet sitting idle? Turn it into home storage

The Android tablet nobody uses anymore has a big screen, a generous battery and room to spare: great as your family's file server.

2 min readIllustration of a computer and a phone exchanging files next to the DogNAS Client Lite screenStorage, photos & privacy

How to transfer files between your PC and phone over Wi-Fi, no cable

Cable, cloud, apps or a server of your own at home: the ways to move files from PC to phone and back, and when each one is worth it.

3 min readIllustration of a phone with recycling arrows next to the DogNAS Client Lite screenCompare & decide

Sell, donate or reuse your old phone: how to decide

Before selling or throwing away your old phone, compare the options and see how to erase your data safely.

3 min readIllustration of a terminal window next to the DogNAS Client Lite screenSFTP & advanced

How to access DogNAS with FileZilla, WinSCP, Cyberduck and rclone

Step-by-step to connect your DogNAS server to four popular SFTP programs and choose the best one for how you work.

2 min readIllustration of a padlock next to the DogNAS server screenSFTP & advanced

What is SFTP, and how to access a file server on Android

SFTP is a secure way to send and fetch files over a network. Learn what it is, what it is for and how to reach your DogNAS server from a PC and a phone.

3 min read