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Although the Android File Transfer app allows you to connect Android to Mac, it doesn't work properly. In this article, we've compiled and reviewed some of the best Android File Transfer alternatives, including MacDroid and other apps.
Developed by Google, Android File Transfer is an app for macOS that lets you browse and move files from Android devices. But if you've ever used Android File Transfer you're probably familiar with the numerous errors you may encounter during the process. The issues 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 problems are, you need to find an alternative.
MacDroid stands out on our list of the best alternatives available on the market. This all-in-one file transfer app allows you to connect Android to Mac and ensures efficient and smooth transfer between these devices. It's lightweight, easy to use, and works on all versions of macOS.
Using MacDroid, you can view, edit and move videos, music and pictures from one device to another. It lets you mount your Android device as a disk on Mac so you can access its content right in Finder. There is no need for additional software or drivers, the USB cable is enough for convenient transfer of any files.
Supported OS: macOS, Android
Price: $19.99/year
Latest update: Aug 25, 2023
Conclusion: MacDroid is a quick and easy way to connect your devices and is undoubtedly a reliable Android file transfer app Mac users can find. Being professional software, it is regularly updated and offers excellent customer support.
MacDroid is a fairly simple and intuitive Android file transfer app for Mac, and it's easy to figure out how to use it. However, since we want all our readers to have an easy time, we’ve put together a complete guide on how to perform file transfer. With MacDroid you will be able to transfer files using MTP and ADB mode, we will check both.
Connect your Android phone using the USB cable that came with it.
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:
Connect your phone using your USB cable.
Once the app recognizes your phone you will see a message on the display asking you to “Always allow this computer” - click it.
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MacDroid
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MacDroid
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ApowerManager
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dr.fone - Phone Manager
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TunesGo
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Vibosoft Android Mobile Manager
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iSkysoft Phone transfer
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MobiKin Assistant for Android
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Coolmuster Android Assistant for Mac
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Syncios
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Android File Transfer
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OpenMTP
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MTP mode
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MTP mode
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ADB mode
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ADB mode
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Folder transfer
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Folder transfer
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File transfer
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File transfer
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Media transfer
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Media transfer
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Finder integration
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Finder integration
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On-the-phone file edit
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On-the-phone file edit
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Single Mac app
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Single Mac app
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Device compatibility - Full
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Device compatibility - Full
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Vast
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Connectivity issues
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Vast
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$1.67/mo
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$1.67/mo
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$39.95/year
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$29.95/year
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$29.95/year
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$39.95
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$39.95
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$29.95
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$29.95
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$29.95
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free
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free
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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.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Android, macOS, Windows
Price: Free, $29.99 (1 Year Plan)
Latest update: Jun 25, 2023
Conclusion: Lightweight and functional app to transfer files from Android to macOS. Manage your media files, apps and personal contacts seamlessly and hassle-free.
SyncMate is a powerful solution that allows you to sync data (calendars, contacts, messages, bookmarks and more) between Mac and Android/iOS devices. The tool supports both wired and wireless connections. You can easily connect your devices with a USB cable, via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. What's more, SyncMate offers background synchronization for fast and convenient data transfer.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS
Price: $39.95
Latest update: Dec 5, 2023
Conclusion: A great tool to transfer files from Android to Mac that can also double as a syncing app.
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.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Price: $29.99
Latest update: Sep 25, 2023
Conclusion: Excellent functionality and a smooth interface to transfer files between Android and Mac or Windows.
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.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Price: Free
Latest update: Jan 27, 2023
Conclusion: An excellent open-source solution for easily transfer files from your mobile devices to your computer.
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.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
Price: $29.99 / year
Latest update: Apr 28, 2023
Conclusion: Excellent solution for those who are looking for the best file transfer app for Android to PC and Mac. Offers free and paid versions depending on the needs of users.
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.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Price: $70 / month
Latest update: Aug 17, 2023
Conclusion: Despite delivering a great service when it comes to file transfer, the full toolkit of Dr.Fone, which includes Data Recovery, Phone Manager, is quite pricey for your regular user.
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. Using this file transfer app for Android you can also manage your phone, add, delete and browse files right on your computer.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
Price: $39.95 lifetime license
Latest update: May 30, 2022
Conclusion: You can count on MobiKin Assistant for Android to have everything ready. 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.
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.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Android
Price: Free
Latest update: Jul 29, 2021
Conclusion: AirMore is a great Android file transfer PC app that supports wireless connection. The user interface could use an update, though.
Samsung Messages Backup is an Android file transfer app for Windows and Mac that allows you to back up your files. You can use it to backup all files from your Samsung phone to your computer with one click, as well as transfer files selectively. Samsung Messages Backup is compatible with macOS 10.7 and later and Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP and supports various Android phones including Samsung and more.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
Price: Free
Conclusion: The app delivers smooth transfer. However, to use the full version and unlock additional features, you need to purchase the license.
The next best file transfer app Android users can consider is Wondershare TunesGo, an all-in-one solution to import or export data between a phone and computer. It works on Mac and Windows, and is compatible with iOS and Android devices. The app lets you transfer and backup any kind of file, including contacts, photos, and more. Wondershare TunesGo supports phone-to-phone data transfer as well.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
Price: $49.95 / year
Latest update: Jul 23, 2017
Conclusion: TunesGo is a good solution for managing and transferring the contents of your devices. However, it is not free and the price is quite expensive.
Vibosoft Android Mobile Manager is a tool for managing Android devices on the computer. You can easily delete, add and edit files, transfer contacts, applications, media files, SMS messages and more to the computer, as well as send SMS directly from your computer.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
Price: $39.95
Latest update: Oct 25, 2017
Conclusion: Vibosoft Android Mobile Manager is an affordable Android file transfer app for Mac. It is a good option, however, only one person can use an individual license.
Syncios Mobile Manager for Mac allows its users to transfer more than 12 types of data from Android devices to Mac. It comes with a one-click backup feature and also supports phone-to-phone transfer. Besides supporting all Android devices, it is compatible with iOS.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
Price: $29.95
Latest update: Dec 4, 2023
Conclusion: Even though it’s last on the list, Syncios is a good Android File Transfer alternative Mac users can rely on. It comes with a clean, intuitive interface and supports macOS 10.9.0 and later.
As we mentioned earlier, Android File Transfer from Google is a free app for Mac to help you transfer files between Mac and Android device and vice versa. To move a file, all you need to do is install the app on your computer and connect your Android device via USB cable, selecting the MTP option.
Android File Transfer works on most Android devices and supports macOS 10.7 and higher. But still there is no version for Windows and iOS devices. Transferring files is quite simple - you only need to select the required files and drag them from your device to your Mac or the other way round.
Although the app is easy to use, sometimes you may encounter the problem of Android File Transfer not working on Mac. For example, after connecting your phone and MacBook, you may suddenly get a warning message that you cannot connect to the device. It can be difficult to understand why the Android File Transfer app is not working and you may need to get support.
However, the support is only available through Google’s knowledge base and it’s limited enough. The app also comes with a rather basic feature set compared to apps described above.
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.
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.
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!
Now that you know all the best Android File Transfer alternatives, it's time to decide which app to use. All programs on the list do an excellent job of transferring data from Android to Mac and vice versa. But given the feature set, convenience, intuitive design, and the multiple ways of connecting Android devices to your Mac, MacDroid takes the crown. If you are looking for an efficient way to connect Android to Mac, it’s definitely worth a try.
