# Using rsync on Android to syncronise my Music library

Never

2026-01-12

# Setup Termux

Install Termux using F-Droid.

Update software repos.

    pkg update

Grant file access permissions using.

    termux-setup-storage

# Establishing an ssh connection

If network (such as eduroam) is blocking ssh trafic between machines, open a Wi-Fi Hotspot on your Linux machine and connect the Android device to it before using `rsync` or `ssh`.

## Configuring Android

Install the openssh server on Termux.

    pkg install openssh

Start the ssh server daemon.

    sshd

Get the ip address of the Android machine (in the Hotspot).

    ifconfig

    Warning: cannot open /proc/net/dev (Permission denied). Limited output.
    lo: flags=73<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING>  mtu 65536
            inet 127.0.0.1  netmask 255.0.0.0
            unspec 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00  txqueuelen 1000  (UNSPEC)

    rmnet0: flags=4305<UP,POINTOPOINT,RUNNING,NOARP,MULTICAST>  mtu 1280
            inet 10.200.157.166  netmask 255.255.255.0  destination 10.200.157.166
            unspec 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00  txqueuelen 1000  (UNSPEC)

    wlan0: flags=4163<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST>  mtu 1500
            inet 10.42.0.200  netmask 255.255.255.0  broadcast 10.42.0.210
            unspec 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00  txqueuelen 1000  (UNSPEC)

In this case 10.42.0.200.

The ssh server should now be running and listening on port 8022. You can check by running

    nmap -Pn <ip_address>

For me `<ip_address>` whould be 10.42.0.200.

Get the username.

    whoami

    u0_a700

Set a password for this user.

    passwd

## Connecting to Android via ssh

Make sure you have an ssh key pair on the Linux system. If not generate one using `ssh-keygen`.

Now connect to Android by `ssh`.

    ssh <username>@<ip_address> -p 8022

# Syncronising files with rsync

Install `rsync` on Termux and Linux. Make sure to keep your own openssl config.

    pkg install rsync

Now on your Linux machine, syncronise your Music library with rsync.

    rsync -av -e "ssh -p 8022" ~/Music <username>@<ip_address>:/data/data/com.termux/files/home/storage/music