It may come as a shock to many but, yes, there are actually Mac users out there who sport Android phones. In fact, since you’re reading the article, you might be one of them! And it could be a smart move.
Some good reasons for why people might use a Mac laptop or desktop with an Android smartphone instead of an iPhone include:
Check that your computer has Android File Transfer installed and open. Restart your computer. Troubleshoot your Android device. Update your Android version. Learn how to check and update your Android version. Restart your device. On most phones, press the Power button for about 30 seconds, until your device restarts. Troubleshoot your USB connections. Try a different USB cable. Not all USB cables can transfer files.
- Needing to use Android for access to work-related apps or files
- Saving money by buying less expensive Android handsets
- Preferring certain features that Android offers (e.g. direct USB access, always-on display, or multiple users)
Of course, iPhone owners are spoilt for choice in that they can use AirDrop, Image Capture, iCloud, or the Photos app to transfer files between smartphone and Mac. Sadly, it isn’t quite so easy to transfer files from Android to Mac. Here, you need to get a bit more creative.
The “official” solution to this problem is using Android File Transfer, which will be covered in more detail below, but there are also various other workarounds and apps that can be used to connect Android to Mac, both wired and not. This article features some of the ins and outs of these methods of Android file transfer for Mac.
Dance Moves & Gymnastics, (DMG)has been the premier gymnastics training school in the greater Lafayette area since 1982. Now with two state of the art facilities, we are committed to deliver the very best dance, cheer, and Gymnastics available in North Central Indiana.We invite you to explore our site and learn more about the classes and events going on at DMG — The Place To Be!Mission StatementWe here at DMG want to provide your child with a fitness based learning program in a fun, creative, safe environment. Dmg gymnastics.
How To Use Android File Transfer
The most well-known way of transferring files between Android and your Mac, not to mention one of the easiest, is to download Google’s official Android File Transfer app (AFT).
Although it’s designed for use (at least partially) with an operating system other than iOS (e.g. Google’s Android OS), downloading and installing the app is pretty straightforward and feels like any other app on Mac:
- Download and install the software from the Android website
- Double-click the AndroidFileTransfer.dmg file from your Downloads
- Drag the icon to your Applications folder and double-click it
- Open the software and, if required, authorize it to run
Once you’ve done that, it’s time to plug your smartphone into your Mac using a USB cable. Tmg vs dmg. Open AFT, if it doesn’t open automatically, and you can transfer files using the familiar Finder interface.
From there, using the app is pretty intuitive. The issue of how to transfer pictures from Android to Mac is the only thing that’s a little counterintuitive, as any images taken using your Android’s camera appear not in the Pictures folder but in DCIM ➙ Camera.
Now that we’ve covered how to transfer files from Android to Mac using AFT, we can address a big problem with the above: if you have a newer MacBook (i.e. one that uses USB-C), you won’t necessarily be able to connect your smartphone using your usual USB cable.
That means you’ll need to purchase either a new cable or adaptors to successfully test out how to move files on Mac from Android. That’s far from ideal, particularly if time and money are of the essence.
Fortunately, there are a few wireless solutions for how to connect Android to Mac without using Android File Transfer at all.
Sync with Dropbox and Google Drive
Dropbox certainly isn’t a solution that was designed specifically with transferring files between your Mac and Android in mind, but it’s one that quite a few people rely on every day, as it requires no extra tools to be downloaded.
If you already have a Dropbox account, you’ll probably already know how this process works. If not, here’s how to do it:
- Sign up for an account on the Dropbox website
- Download the app on your Android (and your Mac, unless you’re happy to use the browser version)
- Place files in the Dropbox folder on your Mac to make them visible on your Android Dropbox app
- For how to connect Android to Mac, you’ll need to select Upload in your Dropbox app, and choose a file type and the relevant item
You’ll notice that, while this process is fairly simple, it’s not particularly well-suited if you’re trying to figure out how to move files on Mac in large batches from your Android.
That’s even more true if you want to transfer files from Android to Mac of many different types at once (e.g. a Word doc, several images, and a video that all need to move over to your Mac for a use in a single project).
If you’re not a fan of Dropbox, or have simply never signed up for it, Google Drive is another alternative for Android to Mac file transfer. Steps on using it for the likes of how to transfer pictures from Android to Mac are pretty similar to those listed for Dropbox, except there’s no longer a dedicated Google Drive app for Mac. That means you would need to check out their Backup and Sync app for macOS instead.
Some people find Dropbox or Google Drive a bit clunky and end up joining everyone who googles “Android File Transfer not working on Mac” (the app is sadly known to be a bit temperamental). Luckily, there’s another option available. In fact, there are quite a few dedicated wireless apps for Mac to Android file transfer in existence.
Connect via wireless transfer apps
Similar to the way AirDrop allows connections between iPhones and Macs on the same network, there are apps that allow for wireless Android file transfer to Mac using WiFi or USB.
One such app is AnyTrans for Android. Using it is simple:
- Download the AnyTrans app on your Mac and Android device
- Open up the apps and scan the QR code using your Android handset
- Your device will be added to the Device Manager for file transfer
That’s pretty much all there is to it!
You can use AnyTrans for Android to back up important files, move all of your data to a new Android handset (or iPhone) with a single click, and download content from more than 900 sites using a built-in media downloader before transferring it to your Android.
With options to manage files by category or connect via USB if you’re unable to get all of the relevant pieces of hardware on the same WiFi network, AnyTrans for Android offers a thorough and organized approach to Android file transfer to Mac as well as some useful file management options.
The oddity of Windows and Mac rivalry
One of the biggest reasons why so many iPhone users have a Mac and so many Android users have a PC is that, in so many ways, Microsoft and Apple are still refusing to place nicely with each other in the way that many other hardware providers now do.
The relative difficulty of connecting Android to a Mac is one such example of this, although you may be surprised (or perhaps frustrated) to learn that connecting an iPhone to Windows is a significantly easier process thanks to iCloud, iTunes, and the Windows Photos app.
It’s very easy to become a victim of the war between Apple and Microsoft but there’s no reason to do so if you don’t want to choose one allegiance or are obliged to use an Android phone for some other reason.
Consumers are getting more used to mixing and matching products from different companies — Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime coexist on a single smart TV — and it’s likely that combinations such as Android and Mac will become more common as time passes.
In the meantime, Android File Transfer for Mac is a great option if you’re able to use USB. Dropbox or Google Drive offer a decent workaround if not, but a dedicated Android file transfer app like AnyTrans is hard to beat when it comes to making moving files from Android to Mac intuitive and organizable.
Best of all, AnyTrans for Android is available to you on a free trial through Setapp, a platform of more than 150 best-in-class Mac apps that let you significantly expand the capabilities of your Mac and fill any functionality missing by default. Finally, having an Android device stops feeling like a burden.
Categorized under Android
WhatsaByte may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.
Do you know what Android File Transfer is? How does it work? How to use it to transfer from your Android smartphone or tablet to Windows, Mac OS, or Linux – and vice versa?
If you plug an Android smartphone or tablet into a Windows computer, you will be able to open its storage to view files, transfer files in and out, as well as delete files. It is very easy to connect and transfer files between an Android device and a Windows PC. You don’t need to install any third-party programs to help you to copy files.
Android File Transfer Dmg
However, if you use a Mac OS computer, there is a bit different. Have you ever plugged an Android phone into a Mac computer? Nothing happens, right?
You actually can’t just simply plug an Android smartphone or tablet into a Mac and then access its storage. It requires you to install an addition application to assist you to do that.
Android File Transfer Osx Mojave
How To Copy Files With Android File Transfer In Mac OS
Don’t worry! There is an official tool, called Android File Transfer, a free app for Mac OS that developed by Android team.
This application allows you access your Android phone storage and then view files, transfer files in or out, as well as delete files.
How To Install And Use Android File Transfer In Mac OS
To copy files from your Android smartphone or tablet to a Mac computer or opposite, follow this instruction and then you can access your files in a few steps.
- Visit here and download Android File Transfer application.
- Open the “androidfiletransfer.dmg” file.
- Drag Android File Transfer to Applications folder.
- Connect your Android phone or tablet to your Mac computer via the USB port.
- Open Android File Transfer application.
- View your files, transfer in or out, as well as delete files.
It is the best method to move files between your Android device and Mac OS computer. If you don’t want to use the USB cable or can’t somehow, there is an alternative that allows you to move files between Android and Mac via a Wi-Fi network.
A Few Android File Transfer Alternatives You Should Know
Despite the fact that Android File Transfer can help you move files between Android and Mac easily and quickly. But it only has basic features.
If you are looking for something more than that, then take a look at a few Android File Transfer alternatives, below.
1. Commander One
Commander One is a free file manager for Mac OS that helps you to send your files from Mac to Android phone or tablet, and back. It does not only allow you move your files but also comes with extra features, such as show hidden files, brief mode to manage multiple files and folders at the same time, custom hotkeys, flexible selection tool and much more.
If you want to use Commander One, visit here to view more details and download.
There is also a Pro version of Commander One – $29.99, which comes with many useful features, such as FTP manager, integrate your Dropbox account, manage multiple Google Drive accounts, mount iOS device, or compress and extract.
Want to try out? You are welcome to use Commander One Pro for 15 days for free!
2. Droid NAS
Not interested in use USB cable to move your files? Then you can quickly browse your Android files using Finder wirelessly. There is a program called Droid NAS, which allows you to share folders through a Wi-Fi network, making your Android smartphone or tablet visible as a Bonjour computer in Finder in Mac OS.
This is the simplest way to turn your Android device into a wireless flash drive with a single tap. If you want to try this app, visit here to download and install it into your Android device.
However, if you are using Mac OS Mavericks or later, it will not automatically appear in Finder. Instead, you have to press Command + K in Finder and then enter the IP address & share:
Structure: smb://IP_ADDRESS:Port/Share
For example, if you want to access your MicroSD card, you will need to enter:
smb://192.168.1.115:7777/SD Card
In this case, 192.168.1.115 is the local IP address of your Android device.
It is not a perfect solution and also a lot slower than using Android File Transfer with a wired connection. But if you don’t want to use a USB cable, it is a right approach.
3. AirDroid
AirDroid is also a great application that allows you to transfer files from and to your Android device from your browser. With this application, you can even receive and send text messages from the browser.
To transfer files between your Android device and a Mac OS computer with AirDroid, follow this instruction:
- Visit here to download and install AirDroid for FREE from Google Play store.
- Go to airdroid.com on your Mac and sign up for an account.
- Go back to AirDroid app on your Android device and log in, use the account you signed up.
- From your Mac OS computer, use your browser, visit web.airdroid.com and then log in. Besides, you can download AirDroid for Mac at its homepage, which works like the web version.
- After login and connected, you will be able to receive and send messages, check call logs, as well as transfer files from your Android to your Mac and vice versa.
Not only access SMS messages, phone calls, or files. You can access all other features of your Android phone or tablet like doing it from the device.
4. Dropbox
[right-related slug=”get-free-dropbox-space”]
If you don’t know what Dropbox is, then it is a cloud and syncing service, which allows you to sync files among multiple platforms, such as Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS.
You just need to sign up a Dropbox account, install it on your Android device, as well as your Mac computer. After that, select files that you want to transfer to your Mac computer, from your Android device and then move them to Dropbox.
These files will automatically upload to your Dropbox account and download to your Mac computer. By that, you only need to access Dropbox’s folder on your Mac and get the files.
5. ES File Manager
It is a file manager app for Android, which you can download from Google Play store. With a built-in Wi-Fi File Transfer like Droid NAS, you can quickly move files between your Android device and your Mac computer.
Without any limitations, you can transfer any files in any sizes as you want, including apps, picture, music and video, with super fast speed.
If you have any questions about Android File Transfer and its alternatives, please leave your questions in the comment section, below.
In case you have any better solutions to transfer files between Android and Mac OS, let me know. I will update this article to add your method (if it’s useful).