You can use basically any HTTP server to achieve that, like Apache or Nginx. If the directory (specified by the path in the URL) doesn't contain a file that matches the default file in the config (index.html and such), the server will list the directory contents instead.
this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2025
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The "not my problem lol you figure it out" mode
I guess in order for this to work you need to have set up that directory with the routing configuration? I’ve only ever gotten 404
You have to explicitly enable directory indexing; but then it will automatically generate simple http pages listing directory contents.
https://nginx.org/en/docs/http/ngx_http_autoindex_module.html
I use Caddy for all kind of things and it has a very simple file browser built in that can be activated super easily: https://caddyserver.com/docs/quick-starts/static-files
Looks like shown here: https://peterpf.dev/posts/caddy-simple-fileserver/
I did not know Caddy could do that. TIL
Thanks
Those are directory listings. They are the default in apache2 (maybe others as well... I only know apache2), unless disabled or disallowed in the configs (enabled and allowed by default). If the directory you're accessing such as http://192.168.123.123/somedir/ does not contain a default file, such as an index.html, the directory list will be served instead.
python3 -m http.server
Like others said, if you just want to let people download files from your server, use a directory listing.
For my self-hosting though, I use FileBrowser and it's very simple but still works well.
And make sure to not be listed on r/openDirectories without intending it ;)
Note; that project is no longer being maintained.
https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser/discussions/4906
There is a fork working it's way out of beta though.
I built my own https://drkt.eu/files/
https://drkt.eu/files/fileindexer.zip
An...interesting...collection of stuff.
:)
Read-only, or the ability to edit filenames & upload files?
Read only: as per other answers here, basically any HTTP server. The easiest one I know would be darkhttpd, because it requires no config files and can be run without root.
Read write: I like WFM https://github.com/tenox7/wfm
Cockpit has a file browser.
Nephele with SERVE_LISTINGS turned on and a read only mount.
It shows listings in the browser, just like Apache, but can also be accessed with a file browser, because it’s a WebDAV server.
Have you thought of using an ftp server? That dir tree view used to be the default.
Don't recommend using FTP. It's a shitty old protocol that needs to die. Just use nginx or apache with directory listing enabled.
I use yazi via ssh(it beats most file browsers even the gui once with photo preview and such) and before that i was browsing through the casa OS file manager. Casa was my second entry to self hosting
Most Webbrowser Support ftp. So if you setup an ftp server you can access it by typing ftp://[server] as the URL, if you want to do it remote I am legally required to recommend you using ftps
Most Webbrowser Support ftp.
None of the popular web browsers support FTP. Maybe some niche browsers still do, but certainly not "most".
Not anymore.
Chrome removed ftp access.
I believe Firefox followed as well.