Personal media collections · 04 / Around your network
Share Local Media from Mac over LAN and WebDAV
Browse your public media collection from another device on the same network, using a browser or a WebDAV client.
By LumenPod · Updated October 24, 2026 · Direct-download edition
Local network access without cloud storage
To share local media from your Mac with another device on the same network, use LumenPod's read-only WebDAV share. Start the service on the Mac, then open its address in a browser or add it to a compatible WebDAV player or file manager. Images, videos and audio stay on the Mac or its connected storage; you do not need to upload the collection to a cloud media service.
This guide describes the current direct-download edition, which includes LAN access and WebDAV sharing. The Mac App Store edition does not include these services. Keep the host Mac awake, the app running, and the source files accessible while another device uses the share.
Start a read-only WebDAV share
- Connect the Mac and the other device to the same trusted local network. Guest Wi-Fi or client isolation can prevent devices from reaching one another.
- In LumenPod settings, find Local Network Sharing, then Browser & WebDAV. Review the sharing description before starting: this service has no password or device pairing.
- Choose Start, then Copy the address shown by the app. Use the displayed address rather than guessing a port.
- Open that address in the other device's browser. Alternatively, add it as a WebDAV server in a compatible player or file manager. In Finder, use Go → Connect to Server.
- Test with a public sample file you intend to share. When finished, choose Stop on the Mac.
Infuse supports WebDAV connections; consult the Infuse product documentation for its current device and protocol support. The exact server setup screens depend on the client. File playback also depends on that client's supported formats; WebDAV sharing does not transcode an unsupported video or audio file.
What other devices can access
The WebDAV share exposes the public part of the library: unencrypted, unhidden media that is not in the trash and belongs to the public scope. Encrypted and hidden media are excluded, including their names. Unlocking a vault does not add its encrypted content to this share.
While sharing runs, anyone on the network who can reach the address can browse or read the exposed media without a password. Read-only means the service does not let clients modify or delete your originals; it does not prevent a client from saving a readable copy. This service uses HTTP, so it is not an encrypted transport. Use it on a trusted LAN and stop it when you finish.
The separate LumenPod app connection service uses approved device pairing and TLS. Its pairing does not protect the Browser & WebDAV address. This browser/WebDAV workflow does not require a LumenPod phone app or imply that a companion client is available for every device.
Multi-device access is not library sync
Multi-device access lets another device read the media hosted by one Mac. It does not create a synchronized LumenPod library on that device. The standard build does not enable automatic library sync between Macs.
| Capability | What it means here |
|---|---|
| LAN browsing | Another device reads public media from the host Mac over the local network. |
| Read-only WebDAV | A compatible client can browse and retrieve exposed files, without changing the originals through this service. |
| Multiple Macs per license | You may activate on up to 3 Macs you own; this is a license allowance, not a sync feature. |
| Offline drive catalog | You can find catalogued entries after a drive is disconnected; reconnect the drive to read its original files. |
For a collection spread over several disks, first catalog the media on your external drives. A remote client still needs the host Mac to have access to the underlying file.
LAN and WebDAV questions
Can I browse from my phone without uploading my media?
You can open the share in a browser on the same reachable LAN. Browser and player format support determine which files open or play. License activation and checks still use the internet; local sharing does not upload your media to LumenPod servers.
Is this a WebDAV client for importing from a cloud drive?
No. This feature makes LumenPod a read-only WebDAV server for public local media. It does not promise cloud WebDAV mounting, two-way synchronization or importing from every remote WebDAV provider.
Can I share encrypted vaults through this WebDAV address?
No. Multiple encrypted vaults remain separate from the public WebDAV share. See photo privacy and vault recovery guidance before encrypting selected files.
Will it work when I am away from home?
This workflow is for a local network. It is not an internet relay or a remote-access service. Do not expose the passwordless HTTP share by forwarding its port to the internet.