Accessing a Windows Network Drive

[old_codger]

I've read here and Google, but can't find (understand?) the answer. I have a W8 PC and a Samsung S8. I want to access my network Drive (Netgear router) on my phone. I've found a fwe articles saying I must DL a file app to access my Network Drive. The ones recommended require I buy the app. If this is true for every case, I'll drop this request.
If not, is there an easy to understand way to access a Network Drive. FWIW, I think I have Sharing set up on my PC

 

[svim]

Could you list those articles you found? Not knowing what you've been reading this may be repetitive but just offhand it sounds like you could install this free app from Netgear, 'ReadyCLOUD':
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netgear.readycloud&hl=en
and it should allow you to do what you're asking on your S8 phone. A typical Netgear router uses their ReadySHARE service to make external USB drives into quasi network-sharable drives. This will be the most seamless way, a lot of file manager apps include functionality to connect to network drives (as long as your mobile device is connected to the same local network) too, but there's often some at least minimal manual set up involved.

Also, there's a little discrepancy in your query that needs to be clarified -- you initially refer to a 'my network Drive (Netgear router)' where Netgear's ReadyCLOUD app applies but later you refer to having sharing enabled on your Win10 PC. Depending on which one you do have this external USB drive plugged into will determine just how you want to get access to its contents remotely from your phone.
If the drive is instead plugged into your PC and you want to make it sharable than ReadyCLOUD is not a solution. If that is the situation, use a file manager app from the Play Store to access content on that shared drive. Solid Explorer is a pay-for app but it's highly rated and gets good user reviews.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.solidexplorer2
There are numerous free file manager apps too. I prefer Ghost Commander, an Open Source app that relies on its own plugins to access network drives:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ghostsq.commander
but you might want to look into 'File Expert' as it has a lot of integral networking service support with a relatively uncluttered user interface:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xcxin.filexpert
There are plenty of other viable options, just do a search of 'file manager' in the Play Store. To boil it down, if you have this drive plugged into your router try the ReadyCLOUD app, if it's plugged into your PC, try the File Expert app.

 

[Dannydet]

I also use solid explorer from the play store to access files on my windows 8 pc.
You are able to see, copy, paste, listen, watch, most any type of file that is on your computer.
Just make sure you have your computer set up with a home group sharing and your wifi is on, on your phone.