How to test locally hosted websites on mobile?

[Darkmisc]

TL;DR Summary

I've tried testing a locally hosted website on my phone by entering [My_IP_Address]:[PORT]. It won't load and just says "[IP_Address] took too long to respond".

Hi everyone

I'm trying to test a locally hosted website on my phone, but it won't load. I typed "ipconfig" into my cmd to get the IP address and then entered [IP_Address]:[PORT] into the browser. I've tried this a few times and all it says is "[IP_Address] took too long to respond". I've pinged the address on my computer and it responds fine.

I've also tried using a different port and adding a new rule for the port in Windows Defender.

Does anyone know what else I could try or what the issue might be?


Thanks

 

[Vanadium 50]

Is your IP address public? If "locally" means 126.168.x.x you will not be able to get at it from outside, and your phone may well be on the outside network.

 

[jtbell]

Is the phone using cellular data or your own local Wi-Fi network?

 

[Darkmisc]

Is your IP address public? If "locally" means 126.168.x.x you will not be able to get at it from outside, and your phone may well be on the outside network.

I think it's private. It fits this description:

• A 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 range, which is a 192.168.0.0 network masked by 255.255.0.0 or /16

Is there any way for me to test my page on a phone? I'd like to test if I can click on a phone number to make a call.

 

[Darkmisc]

Is the phone using cellular data or your own local Wi-Fi network?

It's using my wifi.

 

[Vanadium 50]

You have an IP address on your local subnet. There is no way to see that from your carrier's network - by design. What your options are depends on your phone, your carrier, your plan, your router and maybe more. While the problem is simple, the solution is not.

 

[DrJohn]

Some browsers offer a feature to do this. But I can't remember exactly how to do it!
Some web developer browser tools include the option, and again my brain is not reminding me which ones do it!
Try googling these clues.

 

[DrJohn]

Firefox and Chrome extension Web developer by chrispedrick.
View responsive layout.
Think that works.

 

[DrJohn]

If the above doesn't work, and you have an existing website, create a folder called test on the existing site and just upload the current files to that folder to inspect the results.