Naturally, Macs will work seamlessly with iPhones, but what if you have an Android? Finding a great Android File Transfer App for Mac OS is a vital.
There are some great options out there to sync and transfer files between Mac OS X and Android, you just have to find the right one. In this article we have reviewed what we think are the best apps for connecting your Android to your Mac.
MacDroid is a compact Android file transfer application that works great on OS X Yosemite and later versions of Mac OS including Catalina. While being small, this tool has all the power you need for a smooth and glitch-free file transfer between your computer and device.
MacDroid allows its users to easily connect their Androids and Macs to transfer music, videos, images and other types of files between them. All that is needed is a USB cable - MacDroid doesn't need any extensions, drivers, or plugins.
Briefly about MacDroid features:
When transferring various files between your Android device and computer is the main feature MacDroid offers, it doesn't stop there. It also allows file transfer between Mac and other devices that can be connected to a computer in an MTP mode. Such devices include cameras, portable media players, etc. Given a user-friendly and straightforward interface of MacDroid, you'll find file transfer a pleasant experience.
MacDroid is offered in two versions - free and PRO. Free MacDroid allows an easy and efficient transfer of files from your Android to your computer. To get the advanced possibilities, you might want to consider MacDroid PRO. This advanced version offers two-way file transfer - from Android to Mac and from Mac to Android. It also gives you a possibility to edit Android files in your favorite apps on Mac without actually saving them on computer - just open them through Finder, edit, and save the changes. Done! You can also create new, delete, duplicate, and rename Android folders directly on Mac.
MacDroid has two modes one can connect devices in - ADB and MTP. ADB is recommended as a fast and smooth way to transfer files between devices. MTP mode is an easy way to connect a variety of devices, including such MTP devices as MP3 players or cameras.
When you’re choosing software for transferring files between Mac and Android, you want to ensure the software you select has the features you need. Choose software that supports not only file transfer but media and folder transfer too - you want to be able to transfer everything from photos and music tracks to folders of documents. Other features to look out for include full device compatibility, Finder integration, and options for transfer mode - such as ADB and MTP mode, which affect the way transfers are completed - as well as software that lets you access both external and internal storage on your Android device.
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MacDroid
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MacDroid
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ApowerManager
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dr.fone - Phone Manager
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TunesGo
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Vibosoft Android Mobile Manager
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iSkysoft Phone transfer
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MobiKin Assistant for Android
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Coolmuster Android Assistant for Mac
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Syncios
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Android File Transfer
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OpenMTP
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MTP mode
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MTP mode
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ADB mode
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ADB mode
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Folder transfer
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Folder transfer
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File transfer
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File transfer
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Media transfer
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Media transfer
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Finder integration
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Finder integration
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On-the-phone file edit
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On-the-phone file edit
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Single Mac app
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Single Mac app
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Device compatibility - Full
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Device compatibility - Full
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Connectivity issues
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Vast
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$1.67/mo
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$1.67/mo
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$39.95/year
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$29.95/year
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$29.95/year
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$39.95
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$39.95
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$29.95
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$29.95
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$29.95
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free
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free
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SyncMate is a feature packed solution that supports multiple devices and is fully compatible with Catalina.
It allows mounting Android devices as external disks, allowing you to freely browse your Android phone or tablet through the finder. Simply drag and drop files to and from your Android. Simple, easy and fast!
SyncMate as the name suggests, also syncs data between MacOS and Android, keeping both devices updated automatically, without you having to move a finger.
SyncMate supports contacts and calendar syncing, as well as photos, music, playlists and folders. The main advantage of SyncMate is that it syncs data directly between apps on your Mac and Android.
SyncMate is not just a file transfer tool, but rather an all-round solution based application automatically synchronising with your MacOS apps as well as offering the flexibility of manual file transfer. This is why it ranks best on our list of the best Android file transfer Apps for MacOS.
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SyncMate
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SyncMate
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dr.fone
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GoodSync
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iPhoneTransfer
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ChronoSync
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TunesGo
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SugarSync
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Android Data Recovery
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EaseUS MobiMover
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AirDroid
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MobiKin Assistant
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MobileTrans
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SyncGene
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Syncovery
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Get Backup Pro
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Mac to Mac
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Mac to Mac
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Mac to Android
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Mac to Android
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Mac to iOS devices
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Mac to iOS devices
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Sync with cloud storages
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Sync with cloud storages
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Sync with Microsoft services
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Sync with Microsoft services
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iOS - Android
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iOS - Android
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Backup devices
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Backup devices
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iTunes to device
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iTunes to device
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AutoSync
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AutoSync
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macOS 10.15+
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macOS 10.15+
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$39.95
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$39.95
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$139.95
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$49.95
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$49.95
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$49.99
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$69.95
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7.49$ per month
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$69.95
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$59.95
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2.99$ per month
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$49.95
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$39.95
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$69.95
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$34.90
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$19.99
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As mentioned above, files transfer between Mac and Android is available within the “Mount disk” option. This feature is offered in Expert version so you will need to upgrade from the Free version. You can do so here (our advice is to test SyncMate Free Edition prior upgrading to Expert).
Android File Transfer Mac by Google is the only native utility that could be rather helpful in file transfer, but unfortunately it has not been updated for several years and the interface is not easy to understand. Also it doesn't let you transfer more than one file at a time, so it may just take forever to get the job done.
Besides that syncing Mac with an Android device is quite difficult and slow, there are other major disadvantages when talking about Android File Transfer:
The first step in making sure you can perform an Android File Transfer is installing the Android File Transfer for Mac app on your computer. Once you’re done with this, simply connect your phone to the Mac through the standard USB cable. By default, the two devices should immediately recognize one another and sync.
However, in some unfortunate cases, you may get the “ Could not connect to device. Try reconnecting or restarting your device” message that we all want to avoid.
If you do get to see this message, it is a clear indication that the app is faulty and you need to fix it.
What can you do when your Android File Transfer isn’t working?
In order to fix Android File Transfer Mac you will need to follow these simple three steps:
Most of the times, the reason for the app failing is an improperly functioning USB cable. To go around this, you will need to remove the USB cable and replace it with a new one. Once you get the new USB cable, repeat the file transfer process. If on your first go, it still won’t connect, try the following procedures:
Updating your Mac is another workaround for the situation in which you can’t fix the Android File Transfer Mac by replacing the USB cable. To update your macOS, follow these steps:
If the macOS update still didn’t do the trick, your last chance to troubleshoot Android File Transfer Mac is updating the software on your Android device. To do so, follow these simple steps:
If you want dual-panel Android File Transfer and integration with the most popular cloud storage services, the ability to browse iOS files and work with archives and hidden system files amongst other things, then Commander One is for you.
Commander One allows you to plug and play your Android Device to MacOS via USB and access everything via the Finder. Now you can work with your device just like any other local drive.
Commander One allows you to connect to the most popular cloud storage services, browse files on iOS devices, work with archives and hidden system files, use Terminal Emulator and manage current system processes. In addition to being a dual-panel Android file transfer for MacOS, its a real no-brainer!
This little app allows data transfer over LAN and is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Android and Symbian systems. It is rather compact and only offers one feature, that is file transfer.
Not bad, in fact does the same that Android File Transfer for Mac from Google, but supports more platforms.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Android, Symbian
Conclusion: This app is free to download and lets you easily transfer files between Mac and your Android device using drag and drop. Unfortunately, the developer has stopped maintaining the project, so there are no updates or support available, and if you encounter a bug, you may not be able to keep using the app.
Update: This app is no longer available on the Google Play store - not sure if this is a permanent problem, but we’ll leave it on our list for now just in case it returns.
With Droid NAS you can transmit files back and forth between your Mac and an Android device. This app works via Wi-Fi and the built-in Bonjour protocol inside macOS. To transfer files with this app you'll need to get both your computer and mobile device connected to the same wireless network.
UPD: currently Droid NAS is not available for download, not sure if this is a permanent problem, but we’ll still leave it on our list of best Android file transfer Mac apps for now.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Mac, Android
Conclusion: Droid NAS is a fast, free way to transfer files between your Android device and Mac. It turns your phone or tablet into a wireless flash drive, displaying it as a Bonjour computer in Finder on your Mac. This makes file transfer quick and easy using drag and drop. Unfortunately, the app isn’t currently available in the Google Play store, but watch this space and we’ll update you if it reappears.
Small and efficient Android File Transfer for Mac alternative that enables you to transfer all types of data between Android smartphones and tablets and Mac computers, dr.fone allows you to quickly transfer SMS messages, contacts, and music. It also allows you to easily manage the media on the Android device so you can export, delete, and add files and folders in batches.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Mac, Windows
Conclusion: If you’re looking for free file transfer software, give dr.fone Phone Manager a go. Compatible with Windows and Mac, you can transfer everything from files, folders, and videos to contacts and SMS messages. Get complete access to all files and folders on your Android device, enjoy HEIC photo conversion, and even transfer from iTunes to Android and vice versa. Dr. fone is reasonably priced and support is great, but the data recovery feature can sometimes be a bit glitchy.
The next Android File Transfer alternative we’re checking is the MobiKin Assistant for Android (Mac Version). Well, to be honest, this is more than just an alternative as not only that it supports transferring music, videos, photos, messages, contacts or books, but it also offers the function of backing up and restoring the data in your phone. No more worries about Android and macOS incompatibilities, MobiKin is here for the rescue!
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Mac, Windows
Conclusion: MobiKin is the complete transfer tool you need if you also want to backup and restore your device using one app. It offers a free trial, and you can transfer almost any type of data, from call logs and SMS to books, videos, and music. The 1 click backup and restore feature is handy, and you can even backup your contacts to Mac, then edit them on your computer. The bad news is that there’s no free version, so you’ll need to pay for the Premium version if you want to keep using the software.
Wouldn’t it be nice if macOS and Android wouldn’t be in such a fierce competition and just shake hands? Well, that’s definitely the purpose with which HandShaker was created because this app enables high-speed file transfers between the two operating systems via Wi-Fi. Besides transferring all types of files, you can use this app to manage the contents on both devices and being a freeware app makes things even better!
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Mac, Android
Conclusion: HandShaker is an excellent, free option for transferring files between Mac and Android. Its high-speed transfer allows you to transfer files quickly and easily, however it hasn’t been updated since 2017, and there have been reports of bugs that have still not been fixed in the app.
Using AirDroid you get a complete app to transfer any type of file from an Android device to a Mac. Not just that, it is compatible with Windows, iOS and the AirDroid Web operating system. No matter if it’s photos, documents, music, videos or APKs, AirDroid will get the job done swiftly while also allowing you to transfer entire folders at once.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, Mac
Conclusion: Thanks to its compatibility with multiple operating systems, ability to transfer almost any type of data, and option to upgrade to a premium account to enjoy additional features, AirDroid is one of our favorite solutions for transferring files from Mac to Android. You’ll need to upgrade to the Premium version to transfer folders, though.
Using cloud storages is also an option even if not the most convenient one. It adds an extra step to the process but is helpful when you don't have other options. You may already have a Dropbox or SugarSync account and can make use of those.
Dropbox is one of the oldest and most popular not a platform specific cloud storage. It became so popular because it offers free cloud storage space. Moreover, the fact that Dropbox allows sharing stored data with others even if they don't have a Dropbox account adds scores to its flexibility. And even though this service is not an Android file transfer one per se, you can use Dropbox for your Android files - just install it on Mac and Android and upload or download data from or to your Dropbox account (personal data like contacts and calendar events are not supported, just file transfer).
SugarSync is similar to Dropbox, but is less popular. Cloud storage space it provides can be used for data and folders transfer. Your stored data can be shared with others; you can also remove the data from all devices in case of loss or theft. Like Dropbox, SugarSync supports all major platforms and can be used as Android file transfer Mac.
Pros of Cloud Services:
Cons of Cloud Services:
Conclusion: We hope our list of the best apps helps you to choose the one that’s right for you. It’s a personal decision which software best suits your needs - but take the time to think about the features you require and the cost of the app too. Free software is often ideal if you’re only transferring small amounts of data, but remember it may be less reliable and there often isn’t any support provided.
If you don’t want to install and launch third-party apps, using an SD card is always a convenient way of sharing data between two devices. The transfer speeds are very good and all Android devices have a microSD slot. You’ll just need an adaptor from microSD to SD and you’re good to go. Transferring files from your Mac to Android can be done glitch-free as long as you make sure the file formats are compatible with both devices.
Let’s start with the fact that there are just a few apps that can transfer files between Android and Mac OS X. After Apple removed their built-in Sync Service several years ago, all apps that used it to sync data between macOS and Android, stopped working. And since transferring files between Mac and Android is not a common task like video playback or image editing, you won’t find hundreds of apps offering sync and transfer services.
Key factors we considered while choosing the best Android file transfer for Mac.
With so many different programs available to transfer files from Android to Mac, how do you choose the one that’s best for you? First, think about the type of data you’d like to transfer: for example, perhaps you only want to transfer a few files, or maybe you need to transfer contacts, SMS messages, and entire folders. It’s important to choose software that supports the type of data you need to transfer. Then, think about your budget. If you’re transferring small files less frequently, free software can get the job done, whereas if you’re regularly transferring sensitive data or entire folders, you may want to pay for reliable, secure software that offers support if anything goes wrong. Take a look through our list, take time to read reviews for each program from users, and you’re sure to find the best software for your needs.
It's not a secret that Macs connect most elegantly with iPhones. But what if you prefer Android smartphone and want to upload your files to Mac laptop? There are several ideas about how android file transfer can be set.
