If it’s necessary to connect Android to Mac to exchange files between your devices, the ways to establish this connection can get complicated, and you often need a third-party app. Try our solutions if you don’t know what to do, or run into any issues.
Because Mac and Android run on two completely different operating systems, using your Android device with your Mac or MacBook can be tricky. If you connect Android to Mac using a USB cable, your Mac won’t recognize the device automatically. If this has left you wondering how to connect Android to Mac, or how to connect Mac to Android hotspot, there are a few things you need to do, and we’ll explain more below.
In case you’re wondering how to connect Android phone to Mac, there are various ways to do it:
Connect Android device to Mac like a USB drive with MacDroid. Utilize Finder to view, copy, move, and remove. It takes a few seconds and several clicks to start. The application supports both MTP and ADB protocols. Your phone (or tablet) probably has MTP enabled by default, so it’s better to stick with it.
MacDroid can mount as many devices as you can connect to your Mac. It’s incredibly cheap at $1.67 per month, compatible with almost any brand or model, and will transfer all types of files, regardless of format or size.
If you want to speed MacDroid up, there’s always the option to enable ADB. Various Android phones and tablets will have their own ways to enable Debug Mode. Once it’s done, MacDroid can use an ADB connection to perform several file operations at once. You’ll also be able to browse while files are being handled (impossible with MTP).
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AnyDroid is a complete and efficient Android file manager that works with macOS 10.9 or later. Using this tool, you can connect Android and Mac wirelessly to transfer, handle and back up all your media, apps, and personal data, including contacts and messages. In addition, AnyDroid is available as a web application for instant transfers. To export photos or videos to computer, you just need to scan the QR code, select what you want to move, and that’s it.
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File transfer, backups, wired and wireless connections - SyncMate is a universal tool. It’ll help you exchange data with Android and iOS devices, cloud drives, and even other Macs. Priced at $39.95, this file sync Mac app should be considered by any user who is serious about preserving their data.
SyncMate needs to establish and save a connection with your device before it can do anything. USB connections are only possible through ADB. Android devices can’t be mounted as a disk; nonetheless, their data can be synced and accessed locally. And it’s just as easy to add a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.
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Android File Transfer is an official Android application for MTP-based file exchange. When using it, the tablet isn’t mounted in Finder; rather, you have to use AFT’s own interface, which is not as convenient.
On the upside, the app is absolutely free, and it’s being actively supported and updated. Unlike many other applications, this one is unlikely to cause a situation where Android won’t connect to Mac. You can always be sure that it works, and it’s probably the go-to option for newer Android/Mac users.
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A browser-based solution with a companion app for your phone. You’ll need to create a personal AirDroid account before you can connect Android to Mac, and most of its impressive features are also restricted by a hefty annual $29.99 subscription.
Outside of Wi-Fi-based file access, you can also control your device remotely and mirror its screen to your Mac, which can be used for gaming. A wireless keyboard connection is also possible - useful if the phone doesn’t have OTG support, or if you don’t want to use a cable. Overall, AirDroid should be considered if you’re willing to use all these features, and not just file operations.
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Dr.Fone is a suite of utilities that can connect Android phone to macOS. It also includes tools for system repair, data recovery, lock screen bypass, and even password management. The whole package is quite expensive, and even the file management feature by itself is $39.95.
The tool is tested to work on a massive range (8000+) of devices from different brands. This ensures that modified versions of Android (such as MIUI) work just as well as a generic system. Dr.Fone also boasts app transfer capabilities and increased speed for file operations.
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Smart Switch is a tool for Samsung users, providing a safe way to transfer their files and data over to a new Samsung Galaxy phone. It can be used to copy data and files from a non-Samsung, but this only works one way. After the backup process is done, the files can be found in Documents/Samsung.
It might not be the most accessible way to connect Android to Mac, but it’s free. One of the best choices if you have an S7 or any of the recent models, Smart Switch will save photos, videos, audio, account and app data, and even your settings.
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Cloud services provide a way to connect Android device to Mac that isn’t tied to hardware or software. As long as you have a working browser, you can access your drive and download the files you’ve uploaded from the phone. Whereas, most Android phones have a Google Drive app by default.
This is the slowest method by far. Even if it wasn’t limited by your internet connection (which is unlikely to outpace USB), you have to perform two operations for every file - upload and download. And keep the storage limits in mind - 15 GB is all you get for free.
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Another common solution for cloud storage. Dropbox is also not designed to handle file exchange, and the limits are even stricter (2 GB). At best, you can use it as a supplementary service, or an alternative to Drive. On the positive side, if you’re trying to choose a premium cloud solution, subscription packages are different with Dropbox.
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While it’s a great idea to use devices belonging to the same OS ecosystem, in practice, it’s not always possible. If you own a Mac desktop computer or MacBook and an Android phone, connecting the two may be trickier than you expected, leaving you wondering how to connect Android phone to Mac. Your Mac won’t be able to recognize your phone simply by connecting your devices via USB cable.
There are a few things you need to do in order to ensure your Android device is compatible with your MacBook.
These are the choices you can use. The simplest methods are often better, as is the case with MacDroid and similar apps. Others may carry too much unnecessary functionality, a high price tag, or low compatibility. Nevertheless, there’s no need to shun advanced solutions when the situation calls. It’s best, of course, to try every free option you can before hurrying with any purchase.
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