How To Host A Web Server On Android

Download the Termux package

wget https://localtonet.com/download/localtonet-termux.zip

Extract

unzip localtonet-termux.zip

Install with pkg

pkg install ./localtonet.deb

Authenticate with your token

localtonet --authtoken YOUR_TOKEN_HERE

After authenticating, manage and start your tunnels from the Localtonet web dashboard.

Update packages and grant storage access

pkg update && pkg upgrade -y
termux-setup-storage

Tap Allow when prompted. This gives Termux access to your phone's storage.

Install Node.js

pkg install nodejs-lts

Verify: node -v && npm -v

Create a project folder and install Express

mkdir ~/myserver && cd ~/myserver
npm init -y
npm install express

Create the server file

nano server.js

Paste this Express app:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.use(express.json());

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.json({ message: 'Android server is running!', time: new Date() });
});

app.get('/api/status', (req, res) => {
  res.json({ status: 'ok', platform: 'android' });
});

app.post('/api/data', (req, res) => {
  console.log('Received:', req.body);
  res.json({ received: true, data: req.body });
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server running at http://localhost:3000');
});

Save: Ctrl+X → Y → Enter

Start the server

node server.js

Test locally: open http://127.0.0.1:3000 in Chrome on your phone.

Go to the HTTP Tunnel Page

Open localtonet.com/tunnel/http in your browser.

Configure and create

Select your process type (Random Subdomain for quick testing), select your AuthToken, choose a server, enter IP 127.0.0.1 and port 3000. Click Create.

Start the tunnel

Press Start from the tunnel list. Localtonet will display your public HTTPS URL. Your Express API is now live on the internet.

Install Python and navigate to your folder

pkg install python
cd ~/storage/downloads

Start the built-in HTTP server

python -m http.server 8080

Everything in that folder is now served at http://127.0.0.1:8080. Create a tunnel for port 8080 in the dashboard to make it public.

Install Flask

pkg install python
pip install flask

Create your Flask app

mkdir ~/flaskapp && cd ~/flaskapp
nano app.py

Paste this starter app:

from flask import Flask, jsonify, request

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/')
def home():
    return '<h1>Hello from Android!</h1>'

@app.route('/api/status')
def status():
    return jsonify({'status': 'running', 'platform': 'android'})

@app.route('/api/data', methods=['POST'])
def receive_data():
    data = request.get_json()
    print('Received:', data)
    return jsonify({'received': True, 'data': data})

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=5000, debug=False)

Save: Ctrl+X → Y → Enter

Run the app

python app.py

Flask starts on port 5000. Test locally at http://127.0.0.1:5000.

Create tunnel for port 5000 in the dashboard

Go to localtonet.com/tunnel/http → enter IP 127.0.0.1, port 5000 → Create → Start.

Install tmux

pkg install tmux

Start a named tmux session

tmux new -s myserver

A green status bar appears at the bottom. You're now inside a persistent session.

Start your server inside the session

# Node.js:
node ~/myserver/server.js

# Flask:
python ~/flaskapp/app.py

# Python file server:
python -m http.server 8080

Detach (server keeps running)

Ctrl+B, then D

You're back at the Termux prompt. Your server is still running. You can close Termux now.

Enable WakeLock to prevent CPU sleep

termux-wake-lock

Or pull down the notification shade and tap Acquire WakeLock in the Termux notification.

Reattach to your session anytime

tmux ls
tmux attach -t myserver

Create a tunnel in the dashboard

Go to Tunnels → New Tunnel. Select TCP or HTTP. Click Create.

Get your SSH command

Open the tunnel card → Settings → SSH Command. You'll see a pre-built one-liner:

ssh -p 223 YourTunnelToken@example.localto.net -R3327:127.0.0.1:8080

Paste into any terminal and press Enter

Traffic is forwarded immediately: example.localto.net:3327 → 127.0.0.1:8080