Help Connecting WiFi external HDD to iPhone

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I have a Kingston Wi-Drive – a battery operated external WiFi drive. 64GB and formatted in FAT32. The drive is in excellent condition and still has intact files I left on it many years ago. I bought and used it as an external drive to a Nook and early iPhone. The drive was accessed via WiFi connection to an app installed on the Nook and iPhone. Naturally the app was created by Kingston. My research indicates that Kingston no longer manufacturers the drive so support for the app has stopped and I can’t find any app to install on current iPhones to allow the Wi-Drive to communicate with the iPhone. The Wi-Drive will connect via USB cable to a Windows PC and has total access to all files on the drive as well as charge its battery.

My iPhone 13 Pro detects the Wi-Drive WiFi signal in WiFi connections in the WiFi settings. It even identifies the signal as Wi-Drive. I have connected the iPhone using the WiFi settings to the Wi-Drive which makes the connection and then states there is no Internet connection. I tried using the Files app, but it doesn’t see the drive.

Since I can set the Wi-Drive as the WiFi source, is there a way to access the drive thru Safari?

or

Does anyone know of an app I can install on an iPhone that will allow access to a WiFi external drive?

Thanks for any help.

HTH, Dana:))

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If you know the drive’s network address, then type that into the Safari’s address bar to see if there might be anything there to work with; There is a very slim chance that there might be an embedded web server program running in the drive.

A wired connection using an appropriate cable with adapters to your iPhone might also be an option.

There might be other ways to discover what software in running on the Wi-Drive.

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Anonymous wrote:

If you know the drive’s network address, then type that into the Safari’s address bar to see if there might be anything there to work with; There is a very slim chance that there might be an embedded web server program running in the drive. A wired connection using an appropriate cable with adapters to your iPhone might also be an option. There might be other ways to discover what software in running on the Wi-Drive.

Have already tried the IP address in Safari and no access to Wi-Drive.  I tried my current adapter kit for a lighting to Mini B and the iPhone doesn’t recognize the drive.   The drive connects to any of my Windows PCs by the USB to Mini B cable it came with.  It appears to use the WiFi function of the drive there must be an app on the device to make that type of WiFi connection.

I really don’t need it as my iPhone has more space than I will use, but I hate to see good hardware not being used.

HTH, Dana:))

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Have you tried the Files app ?

According to this there are companion apps for iPhone…

Last updated: May 14, 2021

Content stored on the drives doesn’t appear in Apple’s built-in iOS iPod/Music/Videos/Photos apps, but rather in companion applications developed by the companies and offered in the App Store for free.

https://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/kingston-wi-drive-portable-wireless-storage-for-ipad-iphone-ipod-touch

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Are you able to see any web pages served in a browser after a wireless connection to a Windows computer with your Wi-Drive?

Web pages are served on default port (:) of 80; Accepted standard alternates are 81, 8080, 8081. So you can try ‘192.168.200.254:81’. There may not be space for a fancy interface.

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The Wi-Drive may not support secure connections (https) from browsers. Also look at these WebDAV Clients, there are two listed for Apple systems and perhaps you may find a WebDAV client in the iOS appstore.

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Alex5723 wrote:

Have you tried the Files app ? According to this there are companion apps for iPhone…

Yes, I’ve tried the Files app and even tried to get the Files app to connect to the drive using its IP address.  The article is about the drive I have (mine is 64GB).  Since Kingston no longer makes the drive and no longer makes the companion app, I was hoping there was a current universal iOS app to connect to any WiFi drive or signal.

I haven’t tried it yet, but I was going to test one of the WiFi drive connection app for WiFi drives made by a different manufacturer.

HTH, Dana:))

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Drcard:)) wrote:

but I was going to test one of the WiFi drive connection app for WiFi drives made by a different manufacturer.

Try this : https://iphone.apkpure.com/app/widrive/com.kingston.wi-drive

*Create a backup of your iPhone before installing

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Alex5723 wrote:

Try this : https://iphone.apkpure.com/app/widrive/com.kingston.wi-drive

That links back to the App Store with a message that the app is no longer available.

Thanks for trying.

HTH, Dana:))

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Alex5723

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