My Cloud Home: how to change connection typ from relay to local

Changing the connection type of your WD My Cloud Home from Relay to Local can significantly improve your network speed, especially for file transfers and media streaming. A Relay connection routes data through WD’s servers over the internet, which is slower and dependent on external bandwidth. A Local connection, on the other hand, allows devices on the same network to communicate directly with the My Cloud Home device—faster, more secure, and more efficient.

Understanding Relay vs. Local Connections

Relay Connection:

Data is accessed via WD’s cloud servers.

Happens when the device cannot make a direct P2P (peer-to-peer) connection.

Slower transfer speeds, even on the same Wi-Fi network.

Local Connection:

Direct communication between the device and your computer/phone on the same local network.

Much faster file access and streaming.

Required for certain apps like Plex to function optimally.

✅ Steps to Change My Cloud Home from Relay to Local Connection

1. Ensure Devices Are on the Same Network

Your My Cloud Home and the device you're using (PC, Mac, smartphone) must be connected to the same local Wi-Fi/router network.

This is essential for local (LAN) discovery and communication.

2. Check Network Conditions

Avoid using VPNs or guest Wi-Fi networks that isolate devices.

Ensure that your router isn’t blocking internal traffic using AP isolation or firewall rules.

3. Enable Local Access

WD My Cloud Home doesn't support traditional SMB (network file sharing) by default like the older My Cloud series, but you can enable Local Access for your account through WD Discovery:

On Desktop:

Install WD Discovery software from the WD support site.

Sign in using your My Cloud Home credentials.

Go to Settings > Local Access.

Enable Local Access and create a local username and password.

After enabling, you can access the device under your file explorer as a mounted network drive (e.g., on Windows under “This PC” or on Mac under Finder).

4. Use the IP Address for Direct Access (Advanced Users)

You can find the local IP address of the device through your router or the My Cloud Home mobile app.

Type the IP into your browser (e.g., http://192.168.1.100)—this will not show a file interface but can confirm LAN visibility.

For advanced tools (like Plex), knowing the local IP is useful for direct media library setup.

🚫 What You Can’t Do

You cannot enable SMB shares or FTP directly like older WD My Cloud models.

My Cloud Home does not support third-party file managers unless using WD’s approved apps or local access setup.

Disabling relay completely is not an option in the GUI, but ensuring local access is active makes the relay fallback unnecessary.

On Mobile Devices (iOS/Android)

If using the My Cloud Home app, it automatically uses the fastest available path:

Ensure the mobile device is on the same Wi-Fi network.

In most cases, the app will auto-switch to local access when possible.

Troubleshooting Tips

Relay Still Active?

Restart your router and the My Cloud Home.

Recheck the local access settings in WD Discovery.

Avoid Wi-Fi extenders that create separate subnets.

Slow Speed Even on Local?

Use a wired Ethernet connection to your router for both your My Cloud Home and your PC/laptop.

Avoid using 2.4GHz Wi-Fi if possible—prefer 5GHz or Ethernet.

Final Tip

If you're a power user and need full local control (SMB, FTP, custom apps), consider upgrading to My Cloud EX2 Ultra or My Cloud PR series, which support full NAS functionality.