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How to Transfer files from Android to Chromebook

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MacDroid

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Laptops running ChromeOS are quite popular: they are compact, optimized for Google apps and boast long battery life. Moving files to Chromebook is also quite easy when it comes to Android file transfer. You can use USB, third-party apps, etc. Keep reading to know how to transfer files from Android to Chromebook.


Table of contents:

  1. Best 3 ways for transfer files from Android to Chromebook
  2. Transfer Android files on Mac and PC

Best 3 ways to transfer files from Android to Chromebook


Today it's hard to imagine workflows without two gadgets: a smartphone and a laptop. Therefore, it is important for many that transferring files between devices is easy and not time-consuming. If you own a Chromebook and Android phone, there are several ways available for exchanging files. You can use a USB cable or perform a wireless transfer with the help of third-party apps and cloud storages.

Here are the detailed guides for file transfer from Android to Chromebook that you can try.

Transfer files with a USB cable


Chromebook supports USB file transfer, and the process is similar to transferring files to Windows, you don't need a lot of effort to figure it out. So, if you are looking for an answer to “How to transfer file from Android phone to Chromebook”, here is a brief step-by-step guide:

This method is universal and works with almost every Android model.

1 blank
Unlock your phone and plug it into the Chromebook with a USB cable.
2 blank
As soon as you receive the “Charging device via USB” notification, click on it and select “File Transfer” under “Use USB for”.
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The File app will open on your Chromebook. Now you can start using it to drag files you need.
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When you're done, don’t forget to unplug the USB cable.

icon pros Pros:

  • Straightforward process
  • Reliable way to transfer files.

icon cons Cons:

  • USB cable is required.

Google Drive solution for file transfer


Another great way to transfer files between your devices is cloud services. Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storages and web applications for creating documents, spreadsheets, etc. You can access the files from any device at any time, making it much easier to transfer files from one device to another. Simply upload files from your Chromebook or phone to Google Drive and get access to those files anytime from any device.

icon pros Pros:

  • Wireless file transfer
  • Сompatible with any operating system

icon cons Cons:

  • To use it, your devices should be connected to the internet
  • Users are limited to the 15GB free storage
  • It may take a long time to upload big files.

Transfer Android files on Mac and PC


Transfer files with MacDroid on Mac

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MacDroid


Requirements: macOS 10.15.4+. 21.7MB free space. Version 2.5.707. (9 Jul, 2025). 4.7 Rank based on 556+ users, Reviews(439)
Category: Utilities

If you use macOS devices and search for an app that can easily move your photos from Android to Mac, don’t look further. MacDroid provides the easiest way to exchange your photos, videos, and entire folders between these two devices.

Best solution for Android file transfer to Mac.

With its help, you can also transfer your favorite music and enjoy it anytime, anywhere. On top of that, the app lets you edit Android files directly on Mac without transferring them. MacDroid can work with most brands of Android devices as well as MTP-compatible ones. The app allows you to transfer files both via USB and Wi-Fi.

To transfer files using MacDroid, follow these steps:

1
First, download MacDroid on your Mac. Then install the app following the prompts.
2
Select one of the available connection modes - ADB, MTP, or Wi-Fi. And follow the onscreen instructions.
3
And that’s it! Now your device is connected to Mac - go to the Finder and start transferring files.

icon pros Pros:

  • Wired and wireless ways of file transfer
  • Allows editing Android files on Mac without having transferred them to the computer
  • Compatible with all MTP and Android devices
  • Efficient and fast file transfer.

icon cons Cons:

  • Not compatible with Windows
  • The free version only supports file transfer from Android to Mac.

Move files from Android on PC


To exchange files between Android and PC, you can use a USB cable or your Google account:

Move files with a USB cable

1
Plug your phone into your computer with a USB cable.
Please note that your phone is unlocked.
2
On your phone, the "Charging this device via USB" notification will open, tap on it.
3
Choose “File Transfer” under "Use USB for".
4
A file transfer window will open on your computer. Use it to drag files.

Move files using Google account

1
To upload files, just go to the Google Drive mobile app on your phone and transfer there everything you want to move. Then you just have to download the uploaded files on your computer.
2
If you want your favorite songs to be on all your devices, you can use YouTube Music.
3
Google Photos allows storing and sharing photos. It is compatible with Android and iOS devices and also provides automatic backup and sync.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to transfer files from Android to Chromebook. Like Mac and Windows, Chromebooks support USB file transfer, which is considered a more reliable way.

Those who prefer to exchange files wirelessly can use Google Drive and simply upload files to disk on the phone, and then, if necessary, upload them to the computer and vice versa. Another great option is third-party apps that support Android Chromebook file transfer, some of them even eliminate the need for USB cables. And what kind of file transfer do you prefer?

FAQs

To transfer files to a new Chromebook, you can use any of these hacks that you find most convenient, namely cloud backup, external storage, third-party apps, a USB cable, or Bluetooth.

To transfer photos from phone to Chromebook, you can copy them to your Google Drive and then access your photos from another device, by just logging into Google Drive. Chromebooks have a USB port, so it is possible to connect devices using a USB cable and transfer photos this way. If you use a Mac, you will need a dedicated Android file transfer app like MacDroid. It is the best way to transfer photos from Android to Mac.
No, you can’t transfer apps directly from an Android phone to a Chromebook. However, if your Chromebook supports Android apps (most modern ones do), you can install the same apps from the Google Play Store on your Chromebook. App data and settings won't automatically transfer unless the app supports cloud sync.