VLC for Android (and Amazon Fire) no longer reaches files on networked PC

[Casanostra]

15 months ago I installed VLC on my Amazon Fire, using it quietly to access the movies on the PC. After a few months, suddenly, I was repeatedly asked for my username and password, even though I had removed it from my Windows 10. After a few weeks the problem had solved itself (new version of VLC?). Again, I haven't been able to log into my PC for a few weeks. Even from my Android tablet I can't log in; however on my tablet other apps, such as CX file explorer and Xplore, see the data on the PC well and have never asked for a password. How can I do? Thank you.

[mikegonzalez2k]

I'm working on a similar issue. I have Amazon FireTV and I'm trying to use VLC to see video files on my PC over the network.
My PC is Windows 10, and I've properly setup and tested the shared folder. ES File Explorer can see the files just fine.
For some reason VLC is incapable of seeing my PC.

I have done the usual trouble shooting including clearing cache, and data, then completely uninstalling the app.
This used to work perfectly. It might be the latest version of VLC.

[Casanostra]

Death mikegonzalez2k,
I tried to install an older version of VLC on my tablet and on my Fire. I used 3.4.0 on my tablet (Android 7) then, when VLC requires username and password, I wrote only the password on the tablet and the app works fine! Unfortunately this is not the case for Amazon fire: I tried also even older versions, but, for example, if I want to see a movie from PC to TV, I have to insert the password many times: to access to my PC, to open the primary directory, then to open the secondary directory, and finally to open the file...
Disconsolate greetings

[Aza]

I just tried on and Amazon Fire 8 (10th generation) and I was not able to reproduce.

Could you please share some logs? Reproduce the issue and then go to: Settings > Advanced > Debug logs. Then share the logs with the sharing service you prefer (Google Drive, Dropbox, pastebin...).

[Casanostra]

Thanks. I started the procedure, and I noticed that I can start a video even without entering the password: I leave the two fields blank, then I go to ok and the movie starts! I also started the debug log and saved it on the Fire. Now I have two questions: 1) how do I extract it to send it? 2) how do i share with Google Drive or Dropbox? I'm used to doing this using an email address ... Thank you again.

[Aza]

You can find the procedure here: https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.ph ... ck#p509973

[Casanostra]

Thanks you, I downloaded the file log on my tablet.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mu2relql52ud9 ... 5.txt?dl=0
I hope the link is accessible.
Best regards

[Fram52]

Dear Aza, was what I posted helpful? Thank you and good evening.

[Aza]

Not really. Did you try to uncheck "Force SMB v1" in the advanced settings?

[dabbwom]

Hi:

I have the same problem. VLC worked just fine as a media client on an Android TV for several years. Then I got a new Windows 10 computer and VLC on the android TV was no longer able to connect to the files on my media server. (The previous computer was also Windows 10 which is just maddening).

The problem manifests in several ways depending on which boxes I check related to SMB servers. If I looked at the networked computer area of VLC android I could see a UPNP server, but no files. Then if I would try to add a server, sometimes it could see the folders but not the files. Sometimes it would request a username and password, which I supplied, but would not login to the server. Now it just will not add a server at all. I have tried various SMB settings, adding OPENSSH server functionality and several other fixes as suggested on the internet. There are unpredictable results with each addition.

It would be greatly appreciated if the dedicated volunteers of the Video LAN app would seriously consider this issue. I believe it affects a lot of people who want to use VLC as a media server on their Android TVs. The real problem appears to be Windows updates and the settings on the server side. There is some mysterious combination on the Windows 10 side that must be set before there can be a dovetail with the VLC Android app.

[hallergard]

Went through similar problems about a year ago. I was trying to stay passwordless in Windows 10, but with SMB2 becoming enforced this was a loosing battle. So in Windows I now use Local Account with my username and password, untick SMB 1.0/CIFS Server, and have ticked Turn On Password Protected Sharing. In VLC android Settings Advanced untick Prefer SMB 1, and in Browse add the Win Server to favourites, when asked enter the Windows username and password (will be remembered). This link might be of some help https://tinyurl.com/y7a7lsng

[dabbwom]

Thanks so much for that very helpful response! I'll try it and see what happens.

[dabbwom]

I tried these various setting and still no connection. I have verified that another PC on the same network can see the files in file explorer (both Windows 10). The same PC running VLC cannot see the files on the network. A TV running an Android VLC cannot see the files. I have tried checking and unchecking SMB 1.0 and many other fixes as mentioned on the internet. The weird thing is that for a few days I could see the files through the "local network" tab on VLC android but then that disappeared without any changes by me on either the VLC Fire TV or the SMB server. I have read comments by the VLC team that it is complex to maintain compliance with various OS protocols. However, at least for this user it is too much of a time sink to play with these settings and hope for a connection. I look forward to a clear explanation from the great VLC team about how to create a stable connection with a Windows 10 media server. Thanks much for your suggestion.

[hallergard]

You could always try to empty the VLC android cache. But I believe you have a Windows problem. Your SMB shares do they have permissions for everyone? Only untick the SMB1 Server. If you have set Windows up with your username and password,
X-plore will request them to set up the SMBserver link.
Or are you trying to use UPnP - enabled in Windows?

[hallergard]

And hope you are using static IPaddress for the Windows device

[dabbwom]

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I finally got it to work. The problem was the user name and password to login to the SMB server. It wasn't the same as the Windows login - not even close. I used the local login even though I login with Windows and it finally worked. A very quirky interface indeed. A little guidance from VLC would save a lot of trial and error!