Sometimes, it’s necessary to connect Android to Mac to exchange files between your devices. 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.
Android devices often need additional software to mount their filesystem on macOS and start an Android file transfer. USB is the most common way, MTP in particular. The best apps are the ones that integrate with Finder, so you can navigate the disk with ease and convenience. Despite that, all options are worth considering, and one might prefer a different solution. That’s why we’ve decided to include all sorts of methods and apps in the list below.
There are several things you can do to establish a connection. They vary in difficulty, accessibility, price, reliability, and other parameters.
Wired USB connection is the most common method. On macOS, it requires an app, but it’s otherwise the easiest method. As a downside, if you don’t use magnetic cables, it can wear out your phone’s USB port.
Bluetooth is found on most Mac models, and, once the devices are tethered, it’s easy to send files back and forth. No software is needed. On the downside, you can’t browse your phone’s contents in Finder - files can only be sent from Android’s own file manager.
Wi-Fi is another remote way to connect. It’s not available by default, but a great deal of apps allow you to actually mount the Android device in Finder and perform various operations there - moving, cutting, copying, and deletion. Not to mention, the apps that work with local files and folders (such as mass renaming software) will also work on mounted Androids.
Finally, you can exchange files via cloud services. It’s similar to Bluetooth - no additional software needed, at the expense of convenience (although some apps can improve your experience).
For this article, we’ll mostly stick to wired USB. It’s the most accessible option for the majority of users.
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).
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
This is the 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.
Pros
Cons
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 WiFi-based file access, you can also control your device remotely and mirror its screen to your Mac, which can be used for gaming. 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.
Pros
Cons
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 Phone Switch 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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
