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How to Transfer Photos from Samsung to Mac: Best Solutions

Ivan Korol Ivan Korol Jun 21, 2023

Apple products work seamlessly with each other, and you can easily transfer files between them. But if you want to share files from Samsung to Mac, things get more complicated. To interact with an Android device and move any files, you will need a third-party app.

If you have a Samsung smartphone and a Mac, you probably know about the Samsung Smart Switch for Mac utility. This is not your only option, though, as there are many alternative apps and services to help you transfer images: some use a wireless connection, while others require a USB cable. So, let's look at how to transfer photos from Samsung to Mac.

Option 1: MacDroid

MacDroid
4.7 Rank based on 556 + users Reviews(439)
Requirements: macOS 10.13
Version: v1.8.160, Released 25 Aug, 2023 Release notes
Category: Utilities

If you’re looking for an answer to the question "How do I transfer photos from Samsung to Mac?" MacDroid is what you need. It is an Android file transfer app that lets you connect Android and Mac and transfer photos, videos, music, and folders. This means that with MacDroid, you can easily move one or more photographs or an entire album from a Samsung phone to a Mac computer.

You only need a USB cable to connect Samsung to Mac. No other accessory is required. After connecting the device, you will get access to its contents directly in the Finder app. It has a lot of features, the most important of which is that you will be able to manage and edit files stored on your Samsung without downloading them to your Mac.

MacDroid is one of the best ways to transfer files from Samsung to Mac.

icon pros Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Supports all Android and MTP devices
  • Does not require special access or equipment

icon cons Cons:

  • The free version only allows one-way photo transfer from an Android phone or tablet to Mac
  • Requires macOS 10.13 or newer, so older Macs will not be supported

How to Transfer Pictures from Samsung to Mac with USB Using MacDroid

1
Download and launch MacDroid on your Mac.
2
Plug your Samsung phone into your Mac with a USB cable.
3
In the MacDroid interface, select "MTP Mode" and hit "Next." For ABD mode, you’ll have to enable debugging mode on your Android first.
4
On your Samsung phone, tap File Transfer.

 Choose 'File transfer' and you will be able to transfer photo from your Android to Mac.
5
Go to MacDroid and choose your phone in the "Device list.” Click Mount.

 Choose your phone in the Device list and continue.
6
That’s it! Now you can access your photos and other files in Finder by clicking on your device in the sidebar.
Quick tutorial how transfer photos from Android to Mac with MacDroid.

MacDroid Compatible Samsung Devices

One of the key features of MacDroid is that it is compatible with all Android and MTP devices, which means that your device will certainly be supported as well.

Smartphones:

  • Samsung Galaxy
  • Samsung Galaxy S24/S23/S22/S21/S24 Ultra/S23 Ultra/A15/A25/A35/A55/M Series, etc.
  • Samsung Galaxy Fold 5/Fold 4
  • Samsung Galaxy Flip 5
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 etc.
  • Samsung Galaxy Express/Core/J Series, etc.

Tabs:

  • Galaxy Tabs of all series.

Option 2: Android Assistant

Android Assistant by Coolmuster is a data manager for Android devices that’s available for both Mac and Windows computers. With this app, you can transfer, edit and manage contacts, music, photos, videos, and more right on your Mac.

Additionally, it offers a one-click backup & restore option, along with an option to connect either via USB or Wi-Fi. If you have been trying to find out how to upload photos from Samsung to Mac wirelessly, this is another great option worth trying.

Another way to transfer photos from Android to Mac using USB or Wi-Fi.

icon pros Pros:

  • 1-click backup and restore option
  • Selectively transfer pictures from Samsung to Mac
  • Manage all files and media on your Samsung phone
  • Works on both Windows and Mac

icon cons Cons:

  • The free version is trial-only
  • Requires Mac OS X 10.9 or newer, so older devices will not be supported

How to Use Android Assistant to Transfer Samsung Photos to Mac

1
Install and open Android Assistant on your Mac.
2
Connect your Samsung phone using a USB cable or via Wi-Fi.
3
In the "My Device" tab, select your phone.
4
Head to the "Photos" category and select the photos you want to transfer.
5
Click on Export to start downloading photos.

Option 3: Android File Transfer

As the name suggests, Android File Transfer is designed for transferring files between Android and macOS. It's simple to use, completely free, and supports macOS 10.7 and higher.

The software enables you to browse and transfer photographs from Samsung to Mac (among other things). Note that it’s extremely limited in terms of what it can do compared to other apps, which is why we recommend you consider one of the other apps we’ve mentioned.

AFT is free and easy-to-use software transferring files between Android and macOS systems.

icon pros Pros:

  • Easy and simple to import Samsung photos to Mac
  • Only requires a USB cable that comes with almost every Android device
  • Supports macOS 10.7 and higher, meaning most Macs will be able to run it
  • Completely free

icon cons Cons:

  • Only offers basic features to transfer pictures from Android to Mac
  • Does not mention unsupported Android devices

How to transfer photos from Samsung phone to Mac computer using Android File Transfer:

2
Install the program by opening the .dmg file and dragging it to the Applications folder.
3
Connect your Samsung phone to your Mac via a USB cable.
4
Launch the application and open the folder where your photos are located.
5
Select all the images you want to transfer and click on Copy.
6
Once it’s finished transferring, all the images will be saved to your chosen destination.

Option 4: SyncMate

SyncMate is a file synchronization software for Mac that allows you to transfer photos, music, and other data. Using SyncMate, you can quickly and easily sync any iOS or Android device with your Mac, keeping your data in sync across all your devices and online accounts. SyncMate works with almost any Android device and supports three connection types: USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

SyncMate is nice solution for file synchronization.

icon pros Pros:

  • Makes transferring photos from Samsung to Mac very easy
  • Supports Android, iOS, and MTP devices
  • Syncs with cloud services

icon cons Cons:

  • The free version only syncs calendar and contacts
  • Pricing is quite high compared to other software

How to Transfer Photos from Samsung to Mac with SyncMate via USB Cable:

1
Download and install SyncMate on your Mac.
2
Connect Samsung to Mac with a USB cable and let it install the companion app on your phone.
3
Make sure the app is launched and Wi-Fi synchronization is enabled.
4
Alternatively, you can enter your Mac's IP address. It is displayed in the app.
5
On your Mac, adjust the connection settings for your Samsung to decide what folders and files to sync..
6
Click Sync, and the app will begin to synchronize your chosen folders.

How to Download Photos from Samsung Phone to Mac with SyncMate via Bluetooth


As mentioned above, SyncMate also allows you to sync files via Bluetooth. It is important to note, however, that Bluetooth will not let you browse the gallery on your phone. You can only use it to transfer photos from Samsung to Mac.

1
Download and install SyncMate on your Samsung and Mac.
2
Open the app on your Android and select Bluetooth Sync to allow syncing.
3
Pair your Samsung with your Mac under Bluetooth by going into System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs) and choosing your phone.
4
After pairing, return to SyncMate on your Mac and select the files you would like to sync.

Option 5: Smart Switch

Wondering how to transfer photographs from Galaxy S7 to Mac or from a Galaxy tablet? Smart Switch is an app you can use to copy photos from Samsung to Mac.

This is an official Samsung utility that allows you to back up your phone data to a computer - a really useful feature when you need to transfer data from your old phone to a new one.

Smart Switch is easy to use when it comes to transferring photos to your Mac or PC. We’ve provided instructions on how to use it below.

Transfer photos from Samsung phone to Mac using USB cable.

icon pros Pros:

  • Image transfer from Samsung to Mac is extremely easy
  • Fast and efficient with a user-friendly interface
  • Completely free
  • Does not require an internet connection

icon cons Cons:

  • Only works with Samsung. No other Android devices are supported
  • Does not allow data backup while it is being transferred, which could lead to loss of data in case of a glitch.

How to Import Photos from Samsung to Mac Using Smart Switch

1
Install and open Smart Switch on your Mac.
2
Connect your phone to your Mac using a USB cable.
3
In the Smart Switch window, click on Backup.
4
You’ll see different categories, including call logs, contacts, messages, etc. Deselect the items you don’t want to back up because the app syncs everything by default.
5
Once done, select Backup.
6
The app will begin to copy files. This may take several minutes.

Option 6: Google Photos

Alternatively, you can opt for photo sharing and storage services. They do not require any cables or additional apps and can be used on any Wi-Fi compatible device. To share photos, you just need a stable Internet connection.

So, let’s consider one of these services - Google Photos. Developed by Google, it allows you to store, manage and share photo and video content. Besides, you can edit photos and videos, create photo collages, and more. Using Google Photos is an easy and efficient way to sync photos between your devices.

Google Photos is good solution for transferring  photos from Samsung to Mac wirelessly.

icon pros Pros:

  • Included by default on most Android devices.
  • Automatically backs up your photos.
  • Features background sync to avoid interruptions.
  • Cross-platform.

icon cons Cons:

  • The free version has a storage limit of 15 GB.
  • Editing tools are limited.

How to Transfer Pictures from Samsung to Mac via Google Photos

1
Download and install Google Photos on your Android.
2
Open the app and sign in to your Google account.
3
Tap your profile photo or initials to open the menu.
4
Select Settings and enable "Backup and sync.” Enabling this feature ensures that every photo or video you take is immediately uploaded to Google Photos and synced across all devices.
5
Sign into Google Photos on your Mac.
6
Sign in to your account using the same credentials and begin downloading pictures.

Option 7: Image Capture Application

Image Capture is a built-in application for macOS that allows you to transfer images from Samsung to Mac. This can be a useful feature for those that only want to transfer photos between devices and do not need to transfer files.

The software automatically gets access to your photos and lets you view them so you can save the ones you want, making it intuitive and easy to use.

icon pros Pros:

  • Free and built-in to your Mac.
  • Easy to upload and send all of your photographs to your Mac.
  • Does not require any setup or installation.

icon cons Cons:

  • Does not have any extra features like editing or organizing.
  • Only allows importing photos from Samsung phones to Mac. The option to get other files is not supported.

Transferring Photos from Your Samsung Device via Mac Image Capture

1
Open Image Capture after connecting your Samsung phone to your Mac with a USB cable.
2
Select your Android device in the “Devices” tab.

 Image Capture App
3
Select the images you would like to add.
4
Use the “Import-to” button to select the location of your import.
5
Press Download to finish the process.

Option 8: SD Card

If your Samsung device supports it and you are already using an SD card to store your data, you can use this method. You will need certain dongles or adapters to connect the SD card to your Mac.

Once connected, the card will show up in Finder on your Mac and allow you to put your files on your computer or vice versa.

icon pros Pros:

  • Convenient way of transporting photos from Samsung to Mac.
  • Does not require the use of any third-party software.
  • Can be used for any device that stores data on an SD Card.

icon cons Cons:

  • Requires a dongle or adapter in order to mount on your Mac.
  • Data transfer speeds can be very slow.

How to Move Samsung Photos from SD Card to Mac

1
Insert the SD Card into the necessary dongle/adapter and connect it to your Mac.
2
Launch Finder and select the card from the sidebar.
3
Select the files that you would like to copy or load to your computer.
4
Drag and drop these files to the desired location on your Mac.
5
Eject the SD Card and remove it safely from the computer.

Conclusion

There are various apps and services to transfer photos from Android to Mac. In this article, we covered some of the most widely used solutions, including Android File Transfer, MacDroid, and Google Photos.

If you’re looking for simple yet powerful software, MacDroid will suit you best as it ensures the fast and smooth transfer of any type of data, including photographs, videos, and music.

Alternatively, you can simply move files from your SD card by connecting it to your Mac via a dongle or adapter.

Frequently Asked Questions:

The easiest way is to use third-party apps. There is a wide range of solutions available: MacDroid, Android File Transfer, and more, including SyncMate, Smart Switch, and copying files from an SD card.
There are multiple solutions to help you transfer files from Samsung to Mac. You can choose any Samsung file transfer Mac app from the list in the article above. For better results, you should decide what features are important to you and then choose the software accordingly.
There are multiple solutions to help you transfer files from Samsung to Mac. You can choose any Samsung file transfer Mac app from the list in the article above. Just decide what exactly is important to you and choose according to your needs.
If you use a file transfer app to connect Samsung to Mac, your phone will be recognized as soon as it is connected via USB cable. You will need to make sure that the USB cable is fully plugged in and connected to both your computer and your Samsung phone. If you are still facing issues, try using a different USB cable (not all USB cables allow data transfer) or connect the cable to a different USB port on your Mac, if possible.
MacDroid

Break transfer barrier between Android and Mac

Requires macOS 10.13 or newer; compatible with all Android and MTP devices
View Android files on Mac with MacDroid.
Requires macOS 10.13 or newer; compatible with any Android and MTP devices
4.7 overall rank,
based on 556+ users, Reviews(439)
Version 1.8.160,
released on 25 Aug, 2023