A simple SMB file server (needs root)
About this app
SimbaDroid is an SMB server for Android, allowing you to access the contents of your storage (both internal storage or an external SD card) from your computer via wi-fi.
Due to Android limitations, this app requires root (as on all Unixoid operating systems, it is not possible to open a port < 1024 otherwise, and the default SMB port is 445 and Windows doesn't work with anything else). Without root, you either need some sort of SMB client which allows configuring the port used (SimbaDroid uses port 4450 behind the scenes), or some kind of port mapping software to allow Windows to transparently connect to port 4450.
Due to JFileServer limitations, only SMBv1 is supported, which isn't ideal for modern Windows, either, but c'est la vie…
Since the app is mostly for my private use, at the moment there are no configuration options – shares for the internal storage as well as an external SD card (if one is detected) are set up automatically and are accessible without authentication, so be careful about using this app in public networks. I might add some options for configuring your own custom shares and user authentication eventually, but no guarantees as to if and when.
READ/WRITE/MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE is required for filesystem access.
Licensed under MPL-2.0, by buttercookie42.
What's New in v0.8
Imported from the F-Droid repository index.
- - Work around Android bug to preserve last modified dates when renaming files on a removable SD card
Version history
Oct 25, 2025 · 2.1 MB · Android API 24–34 · code 102
Imported from the F-Droid repository index.
- - Work around Android bug to preserve last modified dates when renaming files on a removable SD card
SHA-256 bf94eae049752010c38ad3ee1fbc8c210add47079365f5ae5f7fc89369e55c38
Oct 25, 2025 · 2.4 MB · Android API 23–34 · code 101
Imported from the F-Droid repository index.
SHA-256 03bc271e03b186d1299f4b3d31daf1f9aff1ebcb35bc3d3b5e9701c6ed8b389a
Oct 20, 2025 · 2.1 MB · Android API 24–34 · code 92
Imported from the F-Droid repository index.
- - Fix some rare crashes relating to open file handles
- - Provide separate APK for old Android versions
SHA-256 670d7410334d0332a7b5e82fa3fb270acd09e36f7e1c683c0ff616dde5f52607
Will it run on your device?
73%
- Runs on a broad range of modern Android versions.
- ABI coverage is focused on newer 64-bit devices.
Installation Guide
Open Settings on your Android device
Go to Security → Unknown sources (or Install unknown apps)
Enable "Allow from this source" for your browser or file manager
Open the downloaded APK file from your Downloads folder
Tap "Install" and wait for installation to complete
Launch the app from your home screen
Make sure to re-enable Unknown Sources restrictions after installation for security.
How to install this safely
How to verify the file you downloaded
Before you install anything, confirm the file is the one described here. On a computer, run shasum -a 256 your-download.apk (macOS or Linux) or certutil -hashfile your-download.apk SHA256 (Windows), then compare the output character-for-character with the SHA-256 on this page. If a single character differs, the file is not the build we recorded — delete it.
What the signing certificate proves
Every Android app is signed with a private key that only its developer holds. The fingerprint on this page is a hash of the matching public certificate, and it proves continuity rather than identity: it tells you a build came from whoever signed the earlier ones. Android enforces this at install time — if a package claiming to be de.buttercookie.simbadroid is signed with a different key, the system will refuse to install it over your existing copy. A fingerprint that changes between releases is worth pausing on, because a repackaged app that has been modified by someone else cannot keep the original signature.
How to roll back to an earlier version
If the current release misbehaves, 0.8 is the last build before it. Android will not install an older version code over a newer one, so you must uninstall SimbaDroid first — which clears its local data unless you have a backup. Reinstall the older APK only if its signing fingerprint matches the build you already trust, and check the API range: an older release may target an Android version your device has moved past.
Why we list sources instead of hosting everything
The official store channel is almost always the right choice: it updates automatically and carries the publisher's own distribution guarantees. A direct APK is useful when a device has no store access, when a rollout has not reached your region, or when you need a specific version — and only when the publisher has authorized that copy. APKBrowse does not list pirated, cracked, or unauthorized rebuilds of SimbaDroid, and a listing is removed when the evidence for it stops holding up.
Get SimbaDroid
Every source we list for de.buttercookie.simbadroid is legality-reviewed. Pirated or cracked builds are never offered.
Other sources
F-Droid listing
officialF-Droid builds this app from source and signs it. This is its official listing, with older builds and full release notes.
Source code
verified publisherThe upstream repository this build is compiled from.
We check legality and signature continuity, but device behaviour still varies. Install at your own discretion.
App Information
Security Verification
We record provenance; we do not run malware scans. Verify the hash yourself before installing.
SHA-256 Hash
bf94eae049752010c38ad3ee1fbc8c210add47079365f5ae5f7fc89369e55c38
Signing certificate
7baab2feb8ac7fe10fe5414e4d28aa901a525981b1201e2d583df5bb6d9b1b13
Permissions Required
What each permission lets SimbaDroid do. A highlighted one is worth a second look — not necessarily wrong, just worth asking whether this app needs it.
Previous Versions
The signing certificate fingerprint for this release is on record, so a build that does not match it did not come from this publisher.
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