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Best alternative to Android FIle Transfer

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Top 10 Android File Transfer alternatives for Mac users

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If you’re using an iPhone and a Mac, that’s a match made in heaven. You will never have to worry about issues when transferring files from one device to the other. However, if you want to share data from an Android device, things get complicated. Android and Google heavily promote the Android File Transfer as a quick fix to all transfers between Android devices and computers on any operating system.

However, if you’ve used this app, you’re probably familiar with the numerous errors you can encounter during the process. The issues that come up with Android File Transfer can range from the phone not being in the proper USB mode, the app isn’t updated or third-party applications that can interfere with the functionality.

No matter what the issues are, you’ll need to find a reliable Android File Transfer alternative. And if you’re reading this, you’ve already made a step towards finding the best alternative to Android File Transfer. Check out the best apps to complete a file transfer between an Android device and your computer.

Table of Contents

  1. Best Android File Transfer Alternative
  2. Other Alternatives to Android File Transfer for Mac
  3. How to fix Android File Transfer
  4. Alternative ways to transfer files between Android and Mac


Best Android File Transfer Alternative

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Requirements: OS X 10.10+. 16.88MB free space. Version 1.3.110. (25 Nov, 2020). 4.6 Rank based on 56+ users, Reviews(56)
Category: System Utilities
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Are you looking for the best Android File Transfer Mac alternative? Look no further! MacDroid is the app you need to install to make sure you get the best experience! This all-in-one tool delivers exceptional service on al macOS versions, including Big Sur.

MacDroid looks like a native Apple utility for file transfer between Mac and Android gadgets.

It is lightweight, so you will never have to worry about system resources when using it.

And despite not needing lots of resources, it delivers an efficient and smooth file transfer between your Mac and Android devices. If you choose this alternative to Android File Transfer Mac app, you will be able to rapidly move videos, music, and images from one device to the other. Also, you won’t ever need any extra software or drivers. Your USB cable is enough to transfer any files with ease.


How to Connect Android and Mac Using MacDroid

Using MacDroid to quickly transfer files between an Android device and your Mac computer is straightforward and intuitive. However, since we want all our readers to have an easy time, we’ve put together a complete guide on how to complete the transfers. With MacDroid you will be able to transfer files using the MTP and ADB mode, we’ll check both.

Transfer Files in MTP Mode
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Download MacDroid and install it on your computer.
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Connect your Android phone using the USB cable that came with it.

Choose MTP mode in the Add devices section to set up Android file transfer.
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Open MacDroid on your Mac and make sure you have it set to MTP (you will get a pop-up on your phone asking you to select the connection mode. Select “File Transfer” when prompted”.
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After the MTP connection is completed, you will see your Android device in “Device list” on the left side of the app.

You can mount as many Android gadgets as you need
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Click the Android device and then click on the “Mount” button.
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Now you are able to browse through all your files quickly and move everything you need.

Using ADB Mode to Transfer Files Between Android and Mac

Using the Android Debugging Bridge is another way to connect your Android device and your Mac. It’s developed for Android devices to help developers handle with crashes; however, it can double as a transfer tool as well. Here’s how to transfer your file using the ADB mode:

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Install MacDroid on your Mac after downloading it.
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Go to Settings on your Android device, tap on “USB debugging mode” and enable it.
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Connect your phone using your USB cable.

Enable the USB Debugging mode guide's steps are also available in the app.
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Go to MacDroid and click on ADB under “Add devices”.
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Once the app recognizes your phone you will see a message on the display asking you to “Always allow this computer” - click it.

This action is required for Android file transfer in ADB mode.
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You’ll now see the phone in the Device list - click it and click “Mount” to add it as an external drive.
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The phone is now ready for transfers using the ADB mode.

After checking out all its features, it’s easy to establish MacDroid as the best alternative solution to transfer files. The versatility it offers coupled with the multiple modes to connect Android devices make it a great app to perform all transfers, no matter if it’s music, documents, videos, or other files.

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Best Android file transfer apps

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MacDroid
MacDroid
ApowerManager
dr.fone - Phone Manager
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Vibosoft Android Mobile Manager
iSkysoft Phone transfer
MobiKin Assistant for Android
Coolmuster Android Assistant for Mac
Syncios
Android File Transfer
OpenMTP
MTP mode
MTP mode
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADB mode
ADB mode
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Folder transfer
Folder transfer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
File transfer
File transfer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Media transfer
Media transfer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finder integration
Finder integration
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-the-phone file edit
On-the-phone file edit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single Mac app
Single Mac app
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Device compatibility - Full
Device compatibility - Full
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Vast  
Vast  
Vast  
Vast  
Vast  
Vast  
Vast  
Connectivity issues  
Vast  
$1.67/mo
$1.67/mo
$39.95/year
$29.95/year
$29.95/year
$39.95
$39.95
$29.95
$29.95
$29.95
free
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Other Alternatives to Android File Transfer for Mac


SyncMate

SyncMate is a solution packed with features that allows you to transfer files between Android devices and your Mac easily. It is compatible with Big Sur as well, and you will be able to mount Android devices as external disks to move files using Finder.


SyncMate is a great alternative to Android File Transfer to sync files between Android and macOS devices.

icon pros Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Supports all file types
  • Can double as a sync tools.

icon cons Cons:

  • The more intricate features require the Expert version.

Supported OS: macOS

Price: $39.95

Conclusion: A great tool to transfer files from Android to Mac that can also double as a syncing app.

Commander One

Commander One offers a dual-panel interface to enable easy transfer between Android and Mac. This Android File Transfer alternative also offers access to hidden system files and archives. The Terminal Emulator is another nice touch for all users that want to finish their transfers easily.

Commander One is an alternative both to Mac Finder and Android File Transfer app.

icon pros Pros:

  • Dual panel interface
  • Offers access to system files
  • Terminal Emulator functionality.

icon cons Cons:

  • Requires quite a lot of resources.

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

Price: $29.99

Conclusion: Excellent functionality and a smooth interface to transfer files between Android and Mac or Windows.

OpenMTP

If you’re looking for an open-source alternative to Android File Transfer, this one is for you. OpenMTP gives you access to all the functionality to transfer files without costs. This Android file transfer Mac alternative supports bulk transfers and there are no limits when it comes to what you can transfer.

OpenMTP - Alternative to Android File Transfer - has its own pros and cons.

icon pros Pros:

  • High data transfer rates
  • Transfer multiple files at once
  • Works with internal and SD card memory as well.

icon cons Cons:

  • Being an open-source app it can have some bugs.

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

Price: Free

Conclusion: An excellent open-source solution for easily transfer files from your mobile devices to your computer.

HandShaker

With a very well-chosen name, HandShaker makes long-time rivals Android and macOS shake hands. This means you will be able to enjoy high-speed transfer between Android and macOS via Wi-Fi. If you’re looking for an alternative to android file transfer Mac, you should check it.

HandShaker - Alternative to Android File Transfer - has its own pros and cons.

icon pros Pros:

  • Free of charge
  • Doubles as a sync app
  • Doesn’t require a USB cable.

icon cons Cons:

  • Not available for Windows.

Supported OS: macOS, Android

Price: Free

Conclusion: A great app that won’t cost you a thing. However, it didn’t receive any updates since 2017 so approach with care.

AirDroid

Using AirDroid you will always be able to easily move files from Android to Mac or the other way around. This app can work on iOS and Windows so you will be able to move files between multiple devices easily.

AirDroid - Alternative to Android File Transfer - has its own pros and cons.

icon pros Pros:

  • Free version
  • Available on Mac and Windows
  • Good data transfer rate.

icon cons Cons:

  • Folder transfer only available in paid version.

Supported OS: Windows, macOS

Price: $32.99 / year

Conclusion: Excellent solution for those that want to easily transfer files between Android and Mac or Windows computers. Offers free and paid versions depending on the needs of users.

Dr.Fone

Quickly connect your Android devices and move data from one to another using Dr.Fone. It also handles SMS messages and contacts besides music, photos, or videos. Supports batch transfers and handling the files on the phone from your computer.

Dr.Fone - Alternative to Android File Transfer - has its own pros and cons.

icon pros Pros:

  • Great price for paid version
  • Supports bulk transfers
  • Built-in photo converter.

icon cons Cons:

  • No customer support.

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

Price: $70 / month

Conclusion: Despite delivering a great service when it comes to file transfer, this app is quite pricey for your regular user.

AnyDroid (originally AnyTrans)

Capable of dealing with any version of Android, AnyDroid gives you an easy way to move files from your phone to your computer rapidly. The user-friendly interface makes everything smooth and the transfer speed is also very good.

AnyDroid - Alternative to Android File Transfer - has its own pros and cons.

icon pros Pros:

  • Free to use
  • Supports older Android versions as well
  • Impressive transfer speed for a free software.

icon cons Cons:

  • Some connectivity issues on macOS Catalina.

Supported OS: Android, macOS

Price: Free

Conclusion: Lightweight and functional app to transfer files from Android to macOS. Unfortunately, it has no support for Windows as well.

MobiKin Assistant for Android

The next alternative to Android File Transfer can handle a wide range of operations. From transferring music, videos, photos, or documents and all the way to syncing the content between the two devices. You can count on MobiKin Assistant for Android to have everything ready.

MobiKin Assistant - Alternative to Android File Transfer - has its own pros and cons.

icon pros Pros:

  • Free trial
  • Can be used to create backups and restore when needed
  • Transfers call logs, contacts, and SMS messages as well.

icon cons Cons:

  • The free trial doesn’t offer lots of functions.

Supported OS: Windows, macOS

Price: $39.95 lifetime license

Conclusion: If you’re not bothered by the price for getting the lifetime license,this app delivers exceptional performance. The free trial is quite limited, though.

AirMore

No matter if you want to transfer files or you just need to backup some data from Android to Mac, AirMore is there for you. You won’t have to install any app with this one - everything is done online.

AirMore - Alternative to Android File Transfer - has its own pros and cons.

icon pros Pros:

  • No download needed
  • Supports a wide range of Android devices
  • Can sync notifications and control the phone from your Mac.

icon cons Cons:

  • Slower transfer speed.

Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Android

Price: Free

Conclusion: Even though it’s last on the list, this app is a great file transfer solution. The user interface could use an update, though.

How to fix Android File Transfer

We provide some advice on how to fix the app by Google to connect Android and Mac.


If you don’t want to use any of the alternatives presented above and you’re determined to go with Android File Transfer, you need to know how to pass the “can’t connect Android to Mac”. Here are some of the most common issues you can encounter when using Android File Transfer and how to get over them.

  1. Check the USB cable - most of the times it’s the USB cable that is faulty. You can try using a different cable if you get any errors or use the USB Debugging mode on Android ( go to Settings - tap on USB Debugging” - tap on Media device (MTP) )
  2. Make sure your Mac and Android are updated - if you don’t run the latest operating system on both devices, Android File Transfer may fail. Make sure both devices are updated beforehand.
  3. Reinstall Android File Transfer - sometimes, even though you checked everything, Android File Transfer just doesn’t want to work. If you get the No Android device found Mac error, it’s time to reinstall Android File Transfer and start over.

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Alternative ways to transfer files between Android and Mac

If you’re looking for even more alternatives to Android File Transfer, we have a couple more for you. It includes an online solution, through cloud services and an offline one, through the SD card.


Cloud Services - Online Solution

The alternative to apps for Android file transfer.


If you are using the same Google Account on both your Android device and the Mac, you can make use of it to transfer files. You first need to upload the files from the source device and then download them on the final device. Or, you can just keep them online for easy access whenever you have an internet connection.


SD Card - Offline Solution

If you don’t want to use any online Android File Transfer Mac alternative, going old-school is also an option. An SD card is the way out if you want to go offline for a file transfer. Just backup everything on the SD card, then put it in an adaptor and insert it in your Mac to copy everything. It goes without saying that the process works backwards as well!

After you’ve read about every possible way to transfer files from Android to Mac and vice versa, it’s time to draw a conclusion. Judging by the multiple functions offered and the multiple ways of connecting Android devices to your Mac, MacDroid takes the crown. The free trial is perfect to convince yourself of its features and you will unleash the full power to take care of bulk transfers and syncing all your data when you upgrade to Pro.


Frequently Asked Questions

There are many reasons why AFT won’t work. The USB cable could be faulty, your phone or computer may not be upgraded to the latest versions, or your phone could be set to a different mode. Check all of these to see if your problem is fixed or just go with an Android file transfer Mac alternative.
Uninstalling Android File Transfer is a piece of cake. You can either use its uninstaller that you can easily find with Finder, or remove the program directly from Finder. You can also remove it through the Launchpad and then clicking on the small “X” on the top-left corner of the app.
Using one of the solutions presented above provides you with the easiest way to transfer files from Android to Mac via USB. MacDroid is the fastest and most versatile app for this operation and it comes with a free trial to test its power making it the perfect alternative to Android File Transfer Mac users can hope for.
When you connect your phone to the computer, a pop-up will appear on the display. It’s the moment you choose the connection mode and tell the phone what the USB connection will be used for. Select “File Transfer” when prompted and you will then be able to transfer files easily.
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Break transfer barrier between Android and Mac

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Requires macOS 10.10 or newer; compatible with all Android and MTP devices
MacDroid is your best way to transfer files from Android to Mac.
Requires macOS 10.14 or newer; compatible with any Android and MTP devices
4.6 overall rank,
based on 56+ users, Reviews (56)
Version 1.3.110,
released on 25 Nov, 2020