Enable Android device to access IIS Express whilst on same network

Question

I am looking for a way to easily test the mobile version of my site in development.

I have set up IIS Express, such that I can access locally using:

http://localhost:1025/AppName/

or by using my PC name (dazbradbury-pc)

http://dazbradbury-pc/AppName/

This then works from any machine on my network.

However, when I try to use this address from an android device, it simply doesn't work. Has anyone got this working? If so, what further steps were required?

Yusem

That's probably because Android doesn't do WINS name resolution. Try the IP address. – Edger

Thanks @SLaks, that was the clue I needed! I've posted an answer for now, but you deserve the credit. Thanks again! – Yusem

Answer 1

Thanks to @SLaks for the information:

That's probably because Android doesn't do WINS name resolution. Try the IP address.

Hence, I updated my IIS Express to point to an IP address by inserting into the bindings in applicationhost.config an IP address:

<binding protocol="http" bindingInformation="*:80:192.168.1.97" />

where 192.168.1.97 is the local IP address of my machine.

I can now access my machines IIS Express instance from my android device.

Yusem

Thanks. I had the same problem and almost had the solution... except I was trying to bind with my public IP address so it didn't work. – Festival

If you get Access Denied, Run Visual Studio as Admin. – Runner

@nVentimiglia, thank you so much for suggesting running as admin. Totally solved my problem! – Sherwood