I have a WD 4tb Cloud personal network model WDBCTL0040HWT-NESN. I bought it back in 2014 and just a couple of weeks ago i found it in the garage. The firmware had not been updated. For some dumb reason I decided to update the firmware thinking it was gonna improve performance. Boy was I wrong. The drive was working great and I was able to transfer files without a hitch. So out of no where I get a prompt to update to firmware version 04.06.00-111 so I said why not? After I updated the firmware it showed me a message saying you will no longer be able to connect remotely only locally. So basically the firmware took away all the functions that I had paid $200 for in an instant. So my 2 questions are, and hopefully someone can help me, is
How do I connect locally to my cloud drive if i cant do it remotely anymore to access my files?
Can I still downgrade the 04.06.00-111 firmware and if so how and from where?
The original firmware did remote access via WD servers.
Those servers are gone. The new firmware just informed you they are gone. . .
I am slightly confused by what you want to do. . . . .are you just trying to access from within your local network? If so. . . .easy. You just hook it up to your router, then you can access the device by typing the device name (or IP address) in a Windows File Explorer window.
You don’t need any special software. (If the device name is “WD_Drive”, type “\\WD_Drive” in the address bar. I can’t remember if its forward or back slashes. If you do the wrong one, it will open an Edge window with the device dashboard). One key: The device uses the SMB1 protocol for data transfer. SMB1 is now disabled by default in Windows. You have to re-enable it manually)
If you want access from outside the local network (i.e. remote network access). . .well. . .the web apps and phone apps were driven by the (now defunct) WD servers. However, you could still access this device by establishing a remote VPN connection to your home network (which is a bit of a computing adventure)
Are you able to get to the Dashboard? If you can, look at Settings and turn off Internet Access. Make the address for your device Static. You should be able to use your device on your home network.
Thanks guys for your responses so far. I can’t get to my hard drive right now but as soon as i can i will use all the tips you’ve offered me. Well yes i can get to dashboard. When i click on my cloud storage device under network, my files dont appear anywhere. It just says folder is empty. The dashboard says my data is still there. I just cant seem to get to it. I cant transfer files from my laptop to the hard drive and vice versa because the folders dont appear. I tried a method where you connect the ethernet cable to the back of my cloud and the other to my laptop internet port. All i see is the my cloud device but when i click on it, theres nothing. Also when i click on a different icon that is also under the name of my cloud, it just opens web browser and sends me straight to dashboard. Ill keep you guys posted and hopefully your tips do help. Thanks again for your responses
Thanks guys for your responses so far. I can’t get to my hard drive right now but as soon as i can i will use all the tips you’ve offered me. Well yes i can get to dashboard. When i click on my cloud storage device under network, my files dont appear anywhere. It just says folder is empty. The dashboard says my data is still there. I just cant seem to get to it. I cant transfer files from my laptop to the hard drive and vice versa because the folders dont appear. I tried a method where you connect the ethernet cable to the back of my cloud and the other to my laptop internet port. All i see is the my cloud device but when i click on it, theres nothing. Also when i click on a different icon that is also under the name of my cloud, it just opens web browser and sends me straight to dashboard. Ill keep you guys posted and hopefully your tips do help. Thanks again for your responses
Thanks guys for your responses so far. I can’t get to my hard drive right now but as soon as i can i will use all the tips you’ve offered me. Well yes i can get to dashboard. When i click on my cloud storage device under network, my files dont appear anywhere. It just says folder is empty. The dashboard says my data is still there. I just cant seem to get to it. I cant transfer files from my laptop to the hard drive and vice versa because the folders dont appear. I tried a method where you connect the ethernet cable to the back of my cloud and the other to my laptop internet port. All i see is the my cloud device but when i click on it, theres nothing. Also when i click on a different icon that is also under the name of my cloud, it just opens web browser and sends me straight to dashboard. Ill keep you guys posted and hopefully your tips do help. Thanks again for your responses
WD moved the first generation single bay My Cloud (v4.x firmware) to End of Service status back in 2022.
Q: Will my device stop working if I can’t upgrade to My Cloud OS 5? Will I lose access to my data?
A: After the services are shut down, you can only access the device on a local network. Access through the My Cloud OS 3 mobile app or web app won’t work. Email notifications won’t be delivered. Devices that had auto-update enabled received a final firmware update that disabled remote access and outbound traffic to cloud services. Now, support has ended and you have to use your local network to access your device.
One of the main reasons why they disabled remote access to the device through WD’s systems was due to a security vulnerability that allowed malicious actors to gain access to a My Cloud remotely and among other things encrypt the My Cloud contents. So WD end of serviced a number of the older My Cloud devices; released firmware that closed remote access, and move certain other My Cloud models to OS5 (v5.x firmware). WD further recommends blocking all broadband access to a OS3 My Cloud. Before you ask, no you cannot update a first generation single bay My Cloud running v4.x firmware to OS5 v5.x firmware.
As WD indicates you can still access the My Cloud on the local network (and using FTP). What you can no longer do is use the WD method of remote access that you previously could to the My Cloud. WD terminated that access from their end, doesn’t matter if you roll back the firmware, that remote access using the MyCloud.com portal and WD apps are still cut off by WD.
If you want remote access then you have some options. Use the insecure FTP option in the My Cloud Dashboard and configure your router’s port forwarding option to forward the broadband FTP port to the My Cloud.
The better method is to roll your own VPN connection to your local network. Certain consumer routers have the ability to setup a VPN server to allow a remote VPN client connection to your local network and it’s My Cloud. You can search the internet for various methods of setting up a VPN server on your network to allow remote access to that local network.
PS: Note that on certain Windows PC’s one may have to enable SMB 1.0 and set Windows Networking Type to Private for that Windows PC to see and access a local network first generation single bay OS3 My Cloud.
Ok so thank you first of all. So all i want to do is to be able to move my files back and forth, i dont really care much for the remote stuff. So what confuses me is the internet access thing. If the my cloud is connected via ethernet to my router therefore isnt it connected to the internet already? What do i connect to what? I mean do i connect the ethernet wire to the my cloud and my surface 3 via ethernet port to connect locally? What settings do i apply on the my clouds dashboard to get it to work locally? Is there any settings i gotta change on my surface 3? I dont even know how to begin to be honest with you. Is there a step by step setup you guys know of, cuz i lost that manual years ago? Thanks your help is much appreciated.
Ok so thank you first of all. So all i want to do is to be able to move my files back and forth, i dont really care much for the remote stuff. So what confuses me is the internet access thing. If the my cloud is connected via ethernet to my router therefore isnt it connected to the internet already? What do i connect to what? I mean do i connect the ethernet wire to the my cloud and my surface 3 via ethernet port to connect locally? What settings do i apply on the my clouds dashboard to get it to work locally? Is there any settings i gotta change on my surface 3? I dont even know how to begin to be honest with you. Is there a step by step setup you guys know of, cuz i lost that manual years ago? Thanks your help is much appreciated.
Ok so thank you first of all. So all i want to do is to be able to move my files back and forth, i dont really care much for the remote stuff. So what confuses me is the internet access thing. If the my cloud is connected via ethernet to my router therefore isnt it connected to the internet already? What do i connect to what? I mean do i connect the ethernet wire to the my cloud and my surface 3 via ethernet port to connect locally? What settings do i apply on the my clouds dashboard to get it to work locally? Is there any settings i gotta change on my surface 3? I dont even know how to begin to be honest with you. Is there a step by step setup you guys know of, cuz i lost that manual years ago? Thanks your help is much appreciated.
Ok so this how im set up and thanks to you all i figured out how to access my files, thank you. So my question now is what is the difference between how i have it setup n how you say to set it up locally without internet access in your screenshot of the same info i put up? Is it better without internet access and what are the benefits?
In very simple terms, the router is the firewall/gateway to the internet. It acts as a gate keeper between your local network and the internet. When you connect your My Cloud to the router you are connecting it to BOTH your local network and the internet (broadband). Normally, the My Cloud when in it’s default configuration, should be accessible to all local network clients. This means your computer and other devices should be able to access the My Cloud Shares.
The 04.06.00-111 (4/15/2022) My Cloud firmware disables certain internet access features of the first generation single bay My Cloud. While the My Cloud Dashboard > Settings page may indicate it is connected to the “Internet”, the WD remote access features that use the internet are disabled (or supposed to be disabled). WD recommends one take the extra step and disable internet access to the My Cloud within their router or network firewall (if possible). The My Cloud will still be accessible on the local internal network to local computers and devices with Internet access disabled at the router (or disabled on the My Cloud).
The first generation single bay My Cloud User Manual and Quick Installation instructions are available for download/reading on the WD Support website, see link top of page or the following links.
There are also WD Support Knowledge Base articles covering various issues with the My Cloud that can also be found using the Knowledge Base link at the top of the page.
Microsoft Windows users may have to enable SMB 1.0. Microsoft typically disables SMB 1.0 on new Windows installations or activations or through patch updates. See the following WD Support article on how to enable SMB 1.0 on Windows.
The correct hookup is mycloud with ethernet wire to your router.
From a security perspective, you “should” learn how to block internet access to your mycloud from the router. This means going into your router’s configuration menu to block that one device. (on my Asus router. . .it’s one mouse click in the right spot)
If you do those two things . . .you should be golden. Or at least silver.
Three further tips:
You need to enable SMB1.0 client to see your files in Windows. (The mycloud will be the SMB1.0 server). In windows search, type “Turn Windows features on/off” to access the right part of the control panel, then put check boxes in the right place to enable SMB1.0. Make sure “SMB 1.0/CIFS automatic removal” is off
To access files in file explorer, you would click on the “Network” on the left Navigation pane, then on the MyCloud icon under “Computer” on the right side. The trick here is that under OS/3. . . .the mycloud doesn’t always show up. This problem was never resolved in OS/3. (It may be a Windows Master Browser issue). You can access the drive by typing \My_cloud_Device_name in the address bar.
WIndows credential manager will only permit one set of credentials for a network resource. If you only have one “user” on your NAS. . . no worries. . . . .if you have two “users”. . .with different username/password. . . . no bueno.
