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Try MacDroid to transfer photos from Android to Mac

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Transfer photos from Android to Mac without any issues

Best way to transfer photos from Android to Mac | MacDroid
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MacDroid

4.7 Rank based on 556+ users, Reviews(439)

Our smartphones allow capturing the most important moments in life, but photos take up a lot of space in the internal memory. If transferring files from iPhone to MacBook is easy enough, performing Android file transfer to macOS devices can be quite troublesome. But actually, it is not as challenging as it seems. Below, we provide ways to transfer photos between these two devices.

How to transfer photos from Android to MacBook and desktop Macs:

  1. How to transfer photos from Android to MacBook with Image Capture
  2. MacDroid: the best way to transfer photos from Android to Mac
  3. Alternative options: how to transfer photos from Android to Mac wirelessly

How to transfer photos from Android to MacBook with Image Capture

Mac has a native utility called Image Capture that makes transferring photos easier. It allows importing images from cameras, smartphones, or tablets connected to Mac or the network.

Follow the guide below to know how to transfer photos from Android to Mac with Image Capture.

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Use a USB cable to plug in your devices.
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Make sure File transfer mode is enabled on your Android device. Unlock your Android device and tap on the notification that says "USB charging this device". USB Preferences will display, select the "Transfer photos (PTP)". PTP is a protocol for transferring images from digital cameras to computers and other peripherals.
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Next, go to the Applications folder on Mac, find Image Capture, and launch it.

Now you are almost ready to transfer photos from Android to Mac.

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Select your Android phone under the "Devices" list on the left bar of the app.
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Сhoose the destination where you wish to save the photos and then select photos. Click "Import" and photos will be transferred to the desired location. You can click "Import all" if you want to move all your photos at once.
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Done! Now, you can view photos on Mac.

MacDroid: the best way to transfer photos from Android to Mac

How to transfer photos from Android to Mac using USB | MacDroid

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

MacDroid is a user-friendly app that simplifies transferring photos from your Android and MTP-compatible devices to your Mac. It offers both USB and Wi-Fi connection options, so you can choose what’s more convenient, plug your device in or connect wirelessly.

And that's not all that MacDroid offers.

Unlike many other solutions, MacDroid doesn’t require any additional apps on your phone. Once connected, your Android device appears in Finder, allowing you to browse and transfer photos just like from a regular drive. You can copy selected images or entire folders in just a few clicks. Besides that, the app works not only with photos but also with videos, music, and other file types.

Plus, to edit photos from your Android on Mac, you don't need to import the files. The app greatly simplifies this process, allowing you to make changes to photos without transferring them to the computer.

To start transferring files with MacDroid, you will need:

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Install MacDroid on your Mac.
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Connect your Android device to your Mac using a USB cable. Make sure the cable is not damaged and connected properly, otherwise data transfer will not be possible.
Your phone may prompt you for choosing the type of connection - in this case select 'File transfer'.
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In the MacDroid app, select "MTP mode". Your Android device will display in the device list. Select and mount it.
You'll see 'mounted' near phone's icon in MacDroid interface.
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Now, you can access Android photos in Finder and start transferring.

Tip: You can read our detailed guide to learn how to transfer photos via ADB and Wi-Fi while using MacDroid.

Alternative options: how to transfer photos from Android to Mac wirelessly

If you don't have a USB cable within reach, there are apps that can connect your Android to Mac over Wi-Fi, like MacDroid, or other services. For example, the Google Photos service, which you can set up so that all your photos will sync automatically between devices. You can upload all the photos stored on your phone to the Google Photos library and then access them from any device - smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

Conclusion

While Mac and Android run different operating systems, there are still solutions for transferring files. Some require connecting devices with a USB cable, others allow you to transfer photos from Android to Mac wirelessly.

The Wi-Fi file transfer is convenient as you don’t need to use any cables, but the transfer process can be a little slow. If you need to transfer a folder with high-quality photos, it's better to connect your Android device to the Mac with a cable and move your files with MacDroid. It is the fast and reliable way that makes Android Mac transfer as simple as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are quite a few solutions out there for anyone looking to transfer files from Android to Mac. You can connect devices via a USB cable and transfer files in this way. If USB file transfer isn’t right for you, you can do it through Wi-Fi or use cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox.
If you’re looking for a fast and reliable way to transfer photos from Samsung to Mac, you can use MacDroid. To get started, you need to connect your devices with a USB cable or via Wi-Fi and proceed with the on-screen instructions. Once connected, it will take you a few seconds to transfer the photos.
For this purpose, you will need to use tools that allow you to connect your devices via Wi-Fi. For instance, MacDroid is a good wireless solution to help you move photos and transfer videos from Android to Mac. To know how to transfer files wirelessly, read this guide.
AFT hasn’t been updated in years and is not optimized for modern macOS versions, especially macOS 10.15 Catalina and later. Besides that, since May 2024, the app is no longer available for download.