RideStream

MULTIMEDIA // LOCAL

Stream media from PC to Android over Wi-Fi — no cloud.

RideStream is a local multimedia player and Wi-Fi media server for Android and Windows. Stream movies and music between your devices over your own network, create mixed playlists, or connect as a receiver — your files never leave home. 100% local, offline, and private.

► Stream, transfer & play media between Windows and Android on your LAN.

Features

Everything RideStream does, fully offline.

PLAYLISTS

Mixed Lists

Combine audio and video files in a single unified playlist. Drag, reorder, shuffle, repeat, and play seamlessly.

Android & Windows
BACKUP

Google Drive Backup

Back up a playlist and its media files to your Google Drive on Android, then restore it on another device.

Android
STORAGE

File Pickers

Import media from any folder using the built-in file picker. On Android, also supports SD cards and USB OTG via Storage Access Framework.

Android & Windows
STREAM

Wi-Fi Host

Built-in HTTP server broadcasts your library to any device on the same local network. Auto-host mode starts the server automatically in the background.

Android & Windows
RECEIVE

Receiver Mode

Connect as a client to another device streaming its media library. Browse the server's playlists, pick what to play, or let the host control the queue.

Android & Windows
DISCOVER

Network Discovery

Automatically discover RideStream servers and receivers on your local network. No manual IP configuration needed.

Android & Windows
BACKGROUND

Background Playback

Music keeps playing even when the app is minimised or the screen is locked. Foreground service with persistent notification and media controls.

Android & Windows
VIDEO

Video Playback

Hardware-accelerated video playback with MP4, MKV, AVI and WebM support. Native-resolution streaming (adaptive 720p/480p scaling), dynamic audio normalization, and a full set of playback controls.

Android & Windows
DESIGN

Premium UI

Modern dark theme with vibrant gradients, smooth micro-animations, fluid screen transitions, and a mini-player widget.

Android & Windows

How do I stream media from PC to Android over Wi-Fi?

RideStream lets you watch and listen to your files from any room — without cables, drives, or the cloud.

Turn your PC into a Wi-Fi media server

Run RideStream in host mode on your Windows machine and it broadcasts your music and movie library over your home network. Browse and play it from any Android device with a tap — no file transfers needed to start watching.

Play on Android with a receiver

Connect an Android phone or tablet as a receiver to stream from the host, control playback remotely, or copy files to local storage for offline playback when you leave home.

Why choose a private, offline player

Unlike cloud services, everything stays on your own devices. There's no account, no upload, no tracking — buffering and transcoding are handled locally for smooth playback even on slower Wi-Fi.

Licensing

Fair, simple, and built for local sharing.

All platforms

RideStream uses a 15-day free trial with a one-time purchase to unlock permanently via Google Play (Android) or the Microsoft Store (Windows).

Trial Unlocked
Duration 15 days Permanent
Mixed playlists Yes Yes
Background playback Yes Yes
Wi-Fi streaming (as host) Yes * Yes
Receiver mode Yes Yes
Cost $0 One-time purchase

What happens when the trial expires?

❌ Stops working

  • Local playback of audio & video files
  • Playing local playlists
  • Wi-Fi Host mode (serving your library)
  • Receiver mode & playing a local playlist

✅ Still works

  • Wi-Fi Receiver mode — connect to a host that has the app unlocked and stream from it
  • Browse, organise playlists and manage your library

Important: A device with an expired trial can still connect as a Receiver to any Host that has the app unlocked and play media from it. However, it can no longer act as a Host itself — the unlock is required to stream your library to other devices.

Family / shared-use tip: Purchase the unlock once on the device that acts as the main Host. All other devices on your network can connect as Receivers and play freely, even if their own trial has expired.

* Wi-Fi Host mode works during the 15-day trial but is disabled after expiry. Purchase the unlock to restore it.

Requirements

Android 8.0+ (API 26) — available on Google Play.
Windows 10+ — available on the Microsoft Store.
Storage permissions to access local media files.

Privacy

RideStream never phones home — read the Privacy Policy. No telemetry, no analytics, no cloud dependency. Your media never leaves your devices*.

*except when you explicitly stream to another device on your LAN.

Receiver Mode

What you can do when connected to a host.

BROWSE

Server Playlists

Browse the host's playlists directly from the receiver. See their full library without leaving the receiver UI.

CONTROL

Remote Control

Play, pause, skip, seek, shuffle and toggle repeat on the host. The receiver acts as a full remote control for the host's playback.

STREAM

Direct Playback

Select any track from the server's queue and play it directly on the receiver over Wi-Fi. No download needed — plays in real-time.

IMPORT

Copy from Server

Copy or download playlists and media files from the server to the receiver's local storage for offline playback. Transfer your media between Windows and Android devices over Wi-Fi.

SYNC

State Sync

The receiver stays in sync with the host's current track, position, play/pause state, shuffle and repeat mode — updated every second.

LOCAL

Local Playlist Fallback

Disconnect from the host and instantly resume playing your local playlists. Seamless switch between remote and local mode.

Frequently Asked Questions & Comparison

Everything you need to know about local streaming, privacy, and how RideStream compares.

What is RideStream and how does Wi-Fi streaming work?

RideStream turns your Windows PC or Android device into a local HTTP media server. It streams video and music directly over your home Wi-Fi (LAN) to other devices running RideStream. No cloud, no uploads, and no internet bandwidth used.

How is RideStream different from Plex, Jellyfin, or Kodi?

RideStream requires zero server administration, no account creation, no background daemons, and no port forwarding. Launch the app on your PC and Android, and devices automatically discover each other on your local network instantly.

Does RideStream track or store my media files?

No. RideStream is 100% offline with zero telemetry, zero analytics, and zero external tracking. Your media files stay exclusively on your local devices and local network.

What video and audio formats are supported?

RideStream supports hardware-accelerated video playback for MP4, MKV, AVI, and WebM at the file's native resolution, with adaptive scaling to 720p and 480p when Wi-Fi bandwidth is limited. Supported audio formats include MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, OGG, and M4A.

Can I copy files from PC to Android for offline playback?

Yes! In Receiver Mode, you can use the Copy from Server feature to transfer songs, videos, or full playlists from your host PC directly to your phone or tablet's local storage over Wi-Fi.

Do I need to buy a license for every device on my network?

No. You only need to purchase the unlock on the device acting as your primary Host (such as your Windows PC). All other devices on your home network can connect in Receiver Mode for free.

RideStream vs. Other Local Media Solutions

Feature RideStream Plex / Jellyfin VLC / DLNA
Setup Time Instant (< 1 min) 15–30 mins (Server setup) Manual file share
Cloud Account Required No (Zero cloud) Yes (Cloud auth) No
Mixed Audio + Video Playlists Yes No (Separated libraries) Basic
Adaptive Quality Streaming Yes (Native / 720p / 480p) Yes No (Direct file stream)
LAN File Transfer to Receiver Yes (One-tap copy) Paid feature / sync No
Telemetry & Data Collection Zero (100% Private) Server analytics None