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Best app to sync Android phone with Mac

Connect Android to Mac: methods and solutions (2021 edition)

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Do you regularly need to connect your Mac to Android phones and devices? If you have to access Android from Mac and vice versa regularly, you should have an easy way to do it. It is vital to ensure you always have the most up-to-date information across all your devices - not to mention you’ll be able to access your photos, contacts, calendar appointments and movies no matter where you are and which device you’re using. Whether you want to sync your most recent photos or contacts or do a full backup of all data on your phone or tablet, there are tools out there to help you connect Android phone to Mac computers. This guide explains different ways to sync and transfer files between Android and Mac with useful info, and tricks to help you connect Android to Mac quickly and easily.


How to connect Android to Mac via USB

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Requirements: macOS 10.13+. 60.62MB free space. Version 8.7.527. (5 Dec, 2023). 4.5 Rank based on 795+ users, Reviews(476)
Category: Utilities

Most people know how to connect Android to Mac in the simplest way possible: with a USB cord plugged into the device and the computer. Using the USB cord will connect them technically, but that alone doesn’t mean they will sync files like it would if it was an iPhone to Mac or Android to PC.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to connect Android to Mac via USB using the two most popular solutions:

using SyncMate

After connecting your Android to your Mac with a USB, you’ll need an app to bridge the operating systems and make them compatible for file sharing. That’s where SyncMate comes into play. SyncMate makes it easy and fast to connect your Android to Mac and sync your files across devices. Follow these steps:

  1. First, connect your Android via USB to your Mac to install the SyncMate module automatically on your phone.
  2. Open SyncMate and choose add new device and pick Android as the device type in the window.
  3. Then select USB as the connection type.
  4. Then you need to enable USB debugging mode on your Android and ensure that the SyncMate module is launched.
  5. Next, you need to mount Android device as Mac storage to access the files stored on the phone.
  6. Once it is connected via USB, you can choose autosync to sync all data available on the device or selective sync to open only the plugins you want to sync at that moment.

using Android File Transfer

Another option to connect Android phone to Mac is by using Android File Transfer. This app was created by Google to make Android operating system compatible with Apple’s operating system on Mac. With Android File Transfer, your only option to connect Android to Mac is by using a USB cord. Follow these steps:

  1. Download and install Android File Transfer on your phone and Mac.
  2. Connect the Android to your Mac with the USB cable and open Mac Finder app to locate Android File Transfer under the list of devices.
  3. Choose the Android in the list of drives available to view a full list of apps and files.
  4. Drag and drop the files you want to sync to your Mac desktop or wherever you want to save them on your computer.
  5. You could also use your Android as an external hard drive (like a flash drive) to access files on your Android and transfer them to the Mac or even other devices you want to sync.

How to connect Android phone to Mac via Wi - Fi

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Requirements: macOS 10.13+. 60.62MB free space. Version 8.7.527. (5 Dec, 2023). 4.5 Rank based on 795+ users, Reviews(476)
Category: Utilities

For some, connecting Android to Mac wirelessly through Wi-Fi connection is preferable to using USB. This can be more convenient because you can simply access Android from Mac without any extra steps like finding and plugging in your USB cord, which is especially helpful if you want to do a quick sync.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to connect Android phone to Mac via Wi-Fi using the two most popular solutions:

using SyncMate

SyncMate offers users the option to use Wi-Fi to connect Android to Mac and start syncing files, apps, messages, data, and more with just a few clicks. There is no convenient native application for Mac users to easily keep files updated on, but SyncMate solves this problem with these steps:

  1. Download and install SyncMate on your Android either by connecting it with USB to start an automatic installation or by scanning this QR code. You may have to enable the install in security settings.
  2. Once it installs, open SyncMate on your Android and allow syncing via Wi-Fi.
  3. Then in Access Control settings, you can either allow “Anyone can sync” to prevent warnings when connecting Android to Mac over Wi-Fi.
  4. Alternatively, you can add your Mac’s IP address (which is displayed in the module) to the “Ips that can sync” list, so that your phone recognizes your Mac on this IP address in the future.
  5. Then return to SyncMate app on your Mac and choose the connection settings for your Android device to decide what files sync!

using AirDroid

AirDroid is another app that allows Mac users to access Android files and data from their computer using Wi-Fi. AirDroid lets you search, upload files, and send messages on your Android from your Mac computer wirelessly. Using AirDroid to connect Mac and Android is easy. Just follow these steps to start syncing:

  1. Download and install AirDroid to your Android phone through the Google Play store or whatever app store you prefer.
  2. On your Mac, go to the AirDroid website at AirDroid.com and create a user account using your email address, Facebook, Google, or Twitter account.
  3. If you don’t want to create an account, you can also install the desktop version on your Mac and start syncing wirelessly in the app.
  4. With AirDroid on your Android and Mac and both device and computer connected to Wi-Fi, you should be able to select your Android from the AirDroid app on your Mac and start transferring files!

How to access Android from Mac using Bluetooth

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Requirements: macOS 10.13+. 60.62MB free space. Version 8.7.527. (5 Dec, 2023). 4.5 Rank based on 795+ users, Reviews(476)
Category: Utilities

Using Bluetooth connection is another way to wirelessly connect your Android and Mac to sync files. Bluetooth is a technology developed in the 90s that uses radiowaves to connect devices and computers over a short range. Many people use Bluetooth for wireless headsets and speakers. Bluetooth can also connect your Android and Mac to transfer photos, music, messages, and more.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to access Android from Mac using Bluetooth with the two most popular solutions:

using SyncMate

Bluetooth alone won’t let you access Android files from your Mac, but SyncMate lets you use Bluetooth to wirelessly connect Android to Mac. SyncMate will help you to transfer photos, music, videos, contacts, and more from your Android to your Mac to stay organized. Follow these steps to use Bluetooth:

  1. Download and install SyncMate on your Android either by connecting it with USB to start an automatic installation or by scanning this QR code. You may have to enable the install in security settings.
  2. Once it installs, open SyncMate on your Android and select Bluetooth Sync to allow syncing via Bluetooth.
  3. Then pair your Android device with your Mac under Bluetooth in System Preferences and select your Android in the list.
  4. Once the devices are paired, return to the SyncMate app on your Mac and select your preferred connection settings to start transferring files, syncing calendars and contacts or whatever you need!

using Bluetooth File Exchange

A similar option for connecting Android and Mac is Bluetooth File Exchange, which is the macOS native utility. While it doesn’t offer as many features and settings for syncing files between Android and Mac, it offers a way to transfer some files between your device and computer without downloading an app.

  1. To use Bluetooth File Exchange, you will need to turn Bluetooth on your Android in the settings and Mac through the System Preferences and pair them.
  2. To transfer files from your Mac to Android, click the Bluetooth icon in your Mac’s menu bar and select your Android device, choosing “Send file to device.” Then select the file you want to send to your phone.
  3. If you want to upload a file from Android to Mac, you have to go to System Preferences and select Sharing and check “Bluetooth Sharing.” Then you can choose the destination of the files you want to transfer from Android to Mac.
Here is a video tutorial on how to connect Android to Mac.

Android to Mac - Keep All Data in Sync

How to Sync Samsung Phone

So when might you need to perform Android phone sync and backup your Samsung phone to your Mac? You might want to create a full backup of your Galaxy S20 in case it’s lost or stolen. Or perhaps you just want to backup your most precious photos from the holidays. You might even have music or movies on your phone that you want to watch or listen to on your Mac, or important calendar appointments that you’ll need both on your Mac and your smartphone.

Sync Samsung Phone and Tablet in 2 Ways

We’ve covered syncing your Samsung phone with your Mac, but what about if you need to sync your phone with your tablet? Perhaps you need to sync a movie from your phone to your tablet to watch on holiday or sync important work documents to your tablet for a conference. In this guide, we’ll reveal some best practices to sync your Samsung phone and tablet.

• Sync a Samsung Phone to a Tablet using SideSync

SideSync is a free app for syncing data across Samsung phones and tablets.

SideSync is a rather popular solution for Samsung users to connect their gadgets to macOS computers.


Here’s how to use SideSync:

  1. Download SideSync from the Play Store on both devices.
  2. Open the app on both devices. (Ensure they’re both connected to the same Wi-Fi network, or connect them via USB).
  3. You should see your tablet appear on your phone screen - tap it to connect. The first time this happens, you may get a prompt on your tablet - tap “OK”.
  4. Once connected, you’ll see a small menu. A single tap will take you to your files. You can drag and drop files from your phone to your tablet and vice versa.

SideSync can also be used to sync your Samsung phone or tablet with your PC.

• How to sync Samsung Phone with Tablet using SyncMate

One of the best ways to sync your Samsung phone with your tablet is to use a powerful tool like SyncMate.

SyncMate is an effective tool to connect Android to Mac, including Samsung devices, and sync data between them.


Here’s how you can sync your phone and tablet using SyncMate:

  1. Download SyncMate and install it on your Mac. Open the app.
  2. In SyncMate's main window click “Add New” on the left. Choose the Android device options in and connect your phone and tablet to your Mac.
  3. Select the device to sync with your Mac first (your Samsung phone, since we are moving data from it to your tablet) and choose the sync parameters. Don’t forget to set the sync direction from phone to Mac.
  4. Click “Sync”. Your Samsung phone will now sync with your Mac.
  5. Now choose the sync parameters for your tablet with the sync direction from Mac to tablet.
  6. Click “Sync” to sync the data you originally had on your phone to your tablet.

Note: SyncMate is a Mac app, so your Samsung phone and tablet will be synced through your Mac, i.e. data will be first transferred from your phone to Mac and then from Mac to your tablet (or vice versa).

HTC Sync - All that you Need to Know

If you own an HTC phone rather than a Samsung, you might be wondering how to sync your phone with Mac. You may need to sync Android to Mac to backup photos after a family event, transfer your favorite tracks to your Mac so you can listen at work, or even backup all your phone’s data in case it is ever lost or stolen. There are a number of ways to sync your HTC phone with Mac, but let’s start by looking at how you can sync photos.

Try 2 Tips to Sync Music from iTunes to HTC One

What if you need to sync your music to your HTC One from iTunes? Perhaps you’re heading off on an early-morning run and need your favorite tracks to get your adrenaline going. In this guide, we’ll show you how to sync your music from iTunes to HTC One, quickly and easily.

Here are two tips to sync music from iTunes to HTC One:


• How to sync iTunes to HTC One using HTC Sync Manager

The free HTC Sync Manager software helps you sync iTunes to HTC One. To sync, follow the below steps:

  1. Download and install HTC Sync Manager on your Mac, then launch it.
  2. Connect your phone to your Mac via USB cable and Sync Manager should automatically recognize it.
  3. Click the “Music” Tab. Under “This Computer” you should see your imported playlists. iTunes music can be found under “iTunes Artwork Screen Saver”.
  4. If your iTunes playlists aren’t showing, click “Display” in the left menu then click “Automatically import from iTunes to HTC Sync Manager”.
  5. Choose “Sync” in the left-hand menu, then check “Sync selected playlist”. Choose “iTunes Artwork Screen Saver” and click “Sync” to start the transfer.

This could take a few minutes, depending on how much music you have on your phone!

• How to sync iTunes on Mac with HTC using SyncMate

SyncMate is a one-stop solution for syncing iTunes on Mac with your HTC phone, and it’s quick and easy to do.

Here are the steps to follow to sync iTunes on Mac with HTC, so you can take your favorite music with you wherever you go:

  1. To sync iTunes on Mac with HTC, you’ll need the Expert Edition of SyncMate, so download and install the Free Edition then upgrade.
  2. Launch SyncMate and, in the left pane, click “Add New” and choose “Android Device”.
  3. Connect your HTC phone to your Mac via USB cable.
  4. Now, in the top panel click “+” and select “iTunes” from the plugin list. Then set your sync parameters.
  5. Audio conversion settings can be tuned if needed.
  6. Select the synchronization pair from the list, and click “Sync” to sync any selected playlists to your Mac.

Note: SyncMate will sync your existing Mac playlists with any playlists on your phone - or you can create a new playlist on Android using SyncMate.

How to Sync Google Pixel with Mac

If you’re the proud owner of a Google Pixel phone, you might need to sync your Pixel 4 XL’s photos with Mac in case your phone is lost or stolen or backup all your Pixel 3 XL apps in case you need to restore your phone to factory settings. Or maybe you rely on your phone to keep your contacts safe. Syncing your Google Pixel with Mac regularly backs up your important contacts and ensures you’ll never risk losing them again!

2 Ways to Sync Google Pixel Photos with Mac

Syncing your Google Pixel photos with Mac might be something you do regularly to backup your most precious photos - or you may need to do it after a special event like a birthday party or wedding. It’s easy when you know how, and in this guide, we’ll reveal some best practices to sync Google Pixel photos with Mac.

• How to transfer Google Pixel Photos with Android File Transfer

You can use Android File Transfer and a USB cable to transfer photos from your Google Pixel phone to your Mac. Here’s how:

  1. Download and install Android File Transfer on your Mac and launch it.
  2. Unlock your phone and connect it to your Mac via USB cable.
  3. Tap “Charging this device via USB” on your phone.
  4. Under “Use USB for” choose “File Transfer”
  5. The Android File Transfer window should open on your Mac: you can click and drag files between the two devices.

Note:Mac Android File Transfer should open automatically next time you connect your phone to your Mac.

• Sync Photos between Mac and Google Pixel [PRO way]

There is a more professional way to sync photos between Google Pixel and your Mac. SyncMate has been designed to make syncing a breeze, whatever device you’re using, and it minimizes the risk of losing your precious photos. Follow the below steps to sync photos between your Mac and Google Pixel phone using SyncMate:

  1. Download and install SyncMate, then upgrade to the Expert edition.
  2. Launch the tool and from the left pane select “Add New Link” then select “Android devices”.
  3. Use a USB cable (or Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth) to connect your Google Pixel phone to your Mac.
  4. Click “+” in the top panel and select “Photos” from the plugins list. Then it’s time to set your sync parameters (choose whether you want to sync specific images, albums, or folders or all of them, plus tweak your conversion settings if necessary).
  5. Don’t forget to set your sync direction from your phone to your Mac.

Click “Sync” and your photos will start to sync from your Google Pixel Phone to Mac - it couldn’t be easier (and usually takes just a few minutes)!

LG Phone Sync - How to Do This

If you’ve ever lost your phone or had it stolen on a night out, you’ll know how important it is to back it up to your Mac regularly. Your contacts, calendar appointments, photos, music, and other files will be safe if you sync your LG phone with Mac and protect your data. You might also want to do this if you’re working from home and need your calendar appointments on your Mac, or if you want to sync music playlists from your LG phone to your Mac to listen to at home (or vice versa).

LG Music Sync to Mac in the Fastest Way

If you want to sync all your favorite tunes from your Mac to your LG phone ready for your morning run, there are some quick and easy ways to do so. In this guide, we’ll reveal some best practices to sync music between Mac and LG - so you’re never without your favorite tracks.

• How to sync LG music to Mac with Android File Transfer

It’s simple to sync LG music to your Mac (and vice versa) with Android File Transfer. Just follow these steps:

  1. Download and install Android File Transfer on your Mac.
  2. Connect your phone with a USB cable.
  3. Tap “Media Sync”.
  4. Open Android File Transfer on your Mac.
  5. Find the songs, albums, or playlists you want to transfer then simply drag and drop them into the “Music” folder in Android File Transfer.

When you’ve finished, don’t forget to unplug your phone!

• Sync music from LG to Mac (or vice versa) with SyncMate

When you want to sync music from your LG phone to Mac (or vice versa), SyncMate is a one-stop sync music solution that’s reliable and easy to use. Here are the steps to follow to sync music between your phone and your Mac:

  1. Download the Free Edition of SyncMate and install it on your Mac. (You’ll need to upgrade to the Expert Edition to sync music).
  2. Launch SyncMate.
  3. In the left-hand pane click “Add New” and select “Android Device” then connect your LG phone to your Mac with a USB cable.
  4. Set your parameters to choose which music you want to sync, as well as setting your sync direction.
  5. Click “Sync”.

Sit back and your music will be synced across both your devices, so you’ll always have your tunes with you, wherever you are.

How Does Moto Sync Work

Music, photos, contacts, calendar appointments - we all keep so much data on our phones, but how many of us regularly sync our Moto phones with our Mac to backup our data? Whether you want to backup precious photos from a wedding or party, sync your calendar appointments so you’re always on top of your schedule or backup all data on your phone in case it’s lost or stolen, there are some quick and easy ways to sync your Moto phone with your Mac.

Best Ways to Sync Calendar - Moto devices

When you need all your calendar appointments and meetings on both your Mac and your phone - so you can access them wherever you are, you need to know how to sync your calendar with your Moto devices. In this guide, we’ll reveal some best practices to sync your calendar between Mac and Moto devices, so you’ll never be late for an appointment again.

• How to sync iCal and Motorola with LMSA Tool

The Lenovo Smart Assistant (LMSA) tool is free to download and helps you sync your calendar between devices. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Download and install the LMSA client, then launch it.
  2. Connect your phone to your Mac using a USB cable.
  3. On the device tab click “Backup & restore”.
  4. Select what type of files you want to back up (calendar) under the Backup tab.
  5. Click “Change” if you want to change where your backed up files are stored.
  6. Click “Backup” and your calendar appointments will be synced from your phone to your computer.

Note: This is a free tool, and support may be limited if you are experiencing troubleshooting with the sync process.

• Sync Motorola calendar with a progressive app for Mac

To keep your calendars in sync between your Motorola device and your Mac, why not download a powerful tool like SyncMate? The free edition lets you sync calendars and contacts. Here are the steps to follow to sync your phone calendar with Mac:

  1. Download and install SyncMate on your Mac. When the installation is complete, launch the app.
  2. In the main window, click “Add New” (in the left-hand pane) and select “Android device”.
  3. Choose whether you want to sync via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or USB. We recommend USB if you have a lot of data to sync.
  4. Connect your Motorola phone to your Mac.
  5. In the top panel, select “+” and choose “Calendar” from the list.
  6. Set sync parameters and choose the direction of your sync (in this case, from phone to Mac).
  7. Hit “Sync”.

SyncMate takes care of syncing all your most important appointments and meetings while you sit back and wait.

3 Tips to Fix Sync Problems on Android

When it comes to how to sync Android phones, things can and do go wrong. But there’s no need to worry if you’re experiencing problems syncing your Android device with Mac. Here are three tips to help fix any issues:

  1. Use a sync manager
  2. If you’ve tried syncing your phone in a variety of ways and aren’t having much luck, try downloading a file sync software like SyncMate to do the hard work for you.

  3. Clear your cache
  4. It might be that your phone’s cache needs clearing! Tap on “Settings” then “Apps”. Select Google and tap on “Storage”, then “Clear cache”. Now tap “Force Stop”. When you reboot your device and launch your Google account, your phone should now be syncing just fine.

  5. Check if your Google account has passcode protection
  6. If you have passcode protection on your Google account, this could interfere with the contacts syncing process. Check to see if a passcode is enabled, and if it is, go into your Google account settings to remove it.

FAQ

Getting your Mac to recognize your Android requires some extra maneuvering but can be simple with the right app. If you want to know how to connect Android to Mac with USB, you can in fact use the device as a hard drive to drag and drop files manually. You can also download an app like SyncMate to get more control over the file transfer and sync settings when you connect Android phone to Mac.
You can transfer photos from Android to Mac by connecting them by USB cable and using the Transfer Photos (PTP) option in your Android system settings and Mac’s Photos App. For seamless photo transfer from Mac to Android as well, you can download SyncMate and ensure that you never lose an image or video with autosync options that keep your files up to date.
AirDrop is a native application for Apple users to transfer files between iPhones, Macs and any Apple device or computer, but AirDrop doesn’t work on Android. Instead, you need a different app that will let the Android operating system communicate with macOS. A popular choice is Android File Transfer, which requires a USB cable connection. SyncMate lets users connect Android to Mac by USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
Mirroring your Android to your Mac is a feature that lets you look at your Android phone on your Mac. This can be useful when working on the smaller dimensions of a handheld device isn’t ideal or when you want to work seamlessly on Android and Mac. AirDroid is one app that allows users to mirror their Android to Mac to answer messages, get notifications, and more.
You can enable MTP on Android to access Android from Mac as if it was a hard drive. Media Transfer Protocol, or MTP, is a setting you need to enable on your Android in system settings. Once you do this, you can transfer photos and other files from Android to Mac through the Finder app by choosing your device in the menu as if it was an SD card or flash drive.

Syncing Android devices to your Mac can be as simple as syncing an iOS device if you use the right tools. A sync manager like SyncMate takes the hard work out of syncing your Android device with your computer and minimizes the risk of data loss. Make sure whichever sync manager you choose, you spend time reading reviews and researching it before downloading.

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