How To Transfer Files To & From Your NVIDIA SHIELD 2017

The 2017 NVIDIA SHIELD comes with a number of tricks up its sleeve and over time, you will slowly get used to them all. The more you use the NVIDIA SHIELD, the more you will realize what it can do. In the meantime though, if you are interested in finding out how you can transfer files to and from your NVIDIA SHIELD and your computer, then here are some quick tips on exactly how you can do that.

First up, gone is the microSD card slot that is on offer with the previous SHIELD. However, the new SHIELD does come loaded with two USB 3.0 ports and these are your keys to a number of new features. We have already looked at how you can use the USB and adoptable storage to expand your SHIELD’s storage, but that is not their only function. You can of course, simply use the SHIELD’s USB ports to transfer storage over from your computer to your SHIELD. Once you pop the USB drive into one of the ports, you will be presented with the option to “browse” or to “set up as device storage”. By hitting browse you can access any of the contents on your USB on your SHIELD. Which is one of the ways in which you can transfer content to your SHIELD, or of course, from your SHIELD.

Another option you have is to directly connect your computer to your NVIDIA SHIELD and this can be done in one of two ways. The first is relatively simple – just buy a cable and connect the two devices physically together. This will require a USB Type-A to USB Type-A cable (where both ends are the same). This is not a standard run-of-the-mill cable that you will likely have laying around the home. So chances are you will need to buy one.

Once you have got one though and the two devices are connected with the cable, all you need to do is head into “Settings”, click on “Storage & reset”, scroll down to “SHIELD storage access” and then toggle the “Using USB” switch. At which point the SHIELD will have been instructed to recognize the connected USB cable and by default, your connected computer. You now have direct access to your SHIELD’s drive from your computer.

One point to note here, is that if you are using your USB port 1 as your adoptable storage, then it seems you will not be able to connect to your computer using the USB cable. Although there are two USB ports, USB port 1 is the port that seems to be needed to make use of this feature. At least that was the case with our experience. If you are in this situation, you can of course, transfer all your data back to your internal storage, eject the USB drive and then use port 1 for your USB cable, but that might be more work than you really want to go through.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to skip the whole cable situation altogether and take a more modern approach, then you can make use of the SHIELD’s included “Over local network” feature. This is a great feature for those who want quick and easy access to content on the NVIDIA SHIELD from their computer, remotely. To get things going you will need to head through to the same location as before – So “Settings”, then through to “Storage & reset” and scroll down to “SHIELD storage access”. Although this time you will be toggling the “Over local network” switch.

Once toggled, you will be presented with the option to turn the feature on.

Once selected, the SHIELD will present you with some log in credentials.

You can then head to your computer, open your file manager, locate the SHIELD under Network and connect. At which point a small log in screen will appear asking you to log in. All you need to do then is use the credentials the SHIELD provided you with and once logged in, all of your SHIELD’s local storage will be available to you remotely. From here you can copy files to and from your NVIDIA SHIELD.

Of course, there are other options too. You could make use of a File Manager app on your SHIELD like ES File Explorer or you could sideload Google Drive to your SHIELD. Either of these options will provide you with additional ways to access the files on your SHIELD and to “Share” them via email, Bluetooth or otherwise. However, in the grand scheme of things, the ways listed above are the easiest ways and ones which do not really require you to download or install any additional software.