Android File Transfer Dmg File

It may come as a shock to many but, yes, there are actually Mac users out there who sport Android phones. In fact, since you’re reading the article, you might be one of them! And it could be a smart move.

File Transfer. The easiest, fastest way to send and receive(.) files and folders from other smartphones, tablets, and computers. File Transfer works cross-platform on Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android. With the free version for Android you can send files up to 5 MB at once from your phone, but you cannot receive files.

Some good reasons for why people might use a Mac laptop or desktop with an Android smartphone instead of an iPhone include:

  • Needing to use Android for access to work-related apps or files
  • Saving money by buying less expensive Android handsets
  • Preferring certain features that Android offers (e.g. direct USB access, always-on display, or multiple users)
  • Dec 20, 2017  Android File Transfer is an official app developed by Google with which you can easily transfer files from your Android device to any computer running Mac OS X. To transfer any file, you just have to install the app on your computer and connect the Android device using a.
  • Jan 03, 2019  Download Android File Transfer for PC. Transfer files like photos, videos and music from your Android device to your personal computer. Login Social Sharing. Tech news in your inbox.

Of course, iPhone owners are spoilt for choice in that they can use AirDrop, Image Capture, iCloud, or the Photos app to transfer files between smartphone and Mac. Sadly, it isn’t quite so easy to transfer files from Android to Mac. Here, you need to get a bit more creative.

The “official” solution to this problem is using Android File Transfer, which will be covered in more detail below, but there are also various other workarounds and apps that can be used to connect Android to Mac, both wired and not. This article features some of the ins and outs of these methods of Android file transfer for Mac.

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How To Use Android File Transfer

The most well-known way of transferring files between Android and your Mac, not to mention one of the easiest, is to download Google’s official Android File Transfer app (AFT).

Although it’s designed for use (at least partially) with an operating system other than iOS (e.g. Google’s Android OS), downloading and installing the app is pretty straightforward and feels like any other app on Mac:

  1. Download and install the software from the Android website
  2. Double-click the AndroidFileTransfer.dmg file from your Downloads
  3. Drag the icon to your Applications folder and double-click it
  4. Open the software and, if required, authorize it to run

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to plug your smartphone into your Mac using a USB cable. Open AFT, if it doesn’t open automatically, and you can transfer files using the familiar Finder interface.

From there, using the app is pretty intuitive. The issue of how to transfer pictures from Android to Mac is the only thing that’s a little counterintuitive, as any images taken using your Android’s camera appear not in the Pictures folder but in DCIM ➙ Camera.

Now that we’ve covered how to transfer files from Android to Mac using AFT, we can address a big problem with the above: if you have a newer MacBook (i.e. one that uses USB-C), you won’t necessarily be able to connect your smartphone using your usual USB cable.

That means you’ll need to purchase either a new cable or adaptors to successfully test out how to move files on Mac from Android. That’s far from ideal, particularly if time and money are of the essence.

Fortunately, there are a few wireless solutions for how to connect Android to Mac without using Android File Transfer at all.

Sync with Dropbox and Google Drive

Dropbox certainly isn’t a solution that was designed specifically with transferring files between your Mac and Android in mind, but it’s one that quite a few people rely on every day, as it requires no extra tools to be downloaded.

If you already have a Dropbox account, you’ll probably already know how this process works. If not, here’s how to do it:

  1. Sign up for an account on the Dropbox website
  2. Download the app on your Android (and your Mac, unless you’re happy to use the browser version)
  3. Place files in the Dropbox folder on your Mac to make them visible on your Android Dropbox app
  4. For how to connect Android to Mac, you’ll need to select Upload in your Dropbox app, and choose a file type and the relevant item

You’ll notice that, while this process is fairly simple, it’s not particularly well-suited if you’re trying to figure out how to move files on Mac in large batches from your Android.

Android File Transfer For Pc

That’s even more true if you want to transfer files from Android to Mac of many different types at once (e.g. a Word doc, several images, and a video that all need to move over to your Mac for a use in a single project).

If you’re not a fan of Dropbox, or have simply never signed up for it, Google Drive is another alternative for Android to Mac file transfer. Steps on using it for the likes of how to transfer pictures from Android to Mac are pretty similar to those listed for Dropbox, except there’s no longer a dedicated Google Drive app for Mac. That means you would need to check out their Backup and Sync app for macOS instead.

Some people find Dropbox or Google Drive a bit clunky and end up joining everyone who googles “Android File Transfer not working on Mac” (the app is sadly known to be a bit temperamental). Luckily, there’s another option available. In fact, there are quite a few dedicated wireless apps for Mac to Android file transfer in existence.

Connect via wireless transfer apps

Similar to the way AirDrop allows connections between iPhones and Macs on the same network, there are apps that allow for wireless Android file transfer to Mac using WiFi or USB.

One such app is AnyTrans for Android. Using it is simple:

  1. Download the AnyTrans app on your Mac and Android device
  2. Open up the apps and scan the QR code using your Android handset
  3. Your device will be added to the Device Manager for file transfer

That’s pretty much all there is to it!

You can use AnyTrans for Android to back up important files, move all of your data to a new Android handset (or iPhone) with a single click, and download content from more than 900 sites using a built-in media downloader before transferring it to your Android.

With options to manage files by category or connect via USB if you’re unable to get all of the relevant pieces of hardware on the same WiFi network, AnyTrans for Android offers a thorough and organized approach to Android file transfer to Mac as well as some useful file management options. Haltech.

The oddity of Windows and Mac rivalry

One of the biggest reasons why so many iPhone users have a Mac and so many Android users have a PC is that, in so many ways, Microsoft and Apple are still refusing to place nicely with each other in the way that many other hardware providers now do.

The relative difficulty of connecting Android to a Mac is one such example of this, although you may be surprised (or perhaps frustrated) to learn that connecting an iPhone to Windows is a significantly easier process thanks to iCloud, iTunes, and the Windows Photos app.

It’s very easy to become a victim of the war between Apple and Microsoft but there’s no reason to do so if you don’t want to choose one allegiance or are obliged to use an Android phone for some other reason.

Consumers are getting more used to mixing and matching products from different companies — Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime coexist on a single smart TV — and it’s likely that combinations such as Android and Mac will become more common as time passes.

In the meantime, Android File Transfer for Mac is a great option if you’re able to use USB. Dropbox or Google Drive offer a decent workaround if not, but a dedicated Android file transfer app like AnyTrans is hard to beat when it comes to making moving files from Android to Mac intuitive and organizable.

Android file transfer for pc

Best of all, AnyTrans for Android is available to you on a free trial through Setapp, a platform of more than 150 best-in-class Mac apps that let you significantly expand the capabilities of your Mac and fill any functionality missing by default. Finally, having an Android device stops feeling like a burden.

Briefly about MacDroid features:

  • • Possibility to mount both internal and external Android storages;
  • • Get access to your Android files in Finder;
  • • MacDroid app and a USB cable is all you need;
  • • All Android and MTP devices are supported.

When transferring various files between your Android device and computer is the main feature MacDroid offers, it doesn't stop there. It also allows file transfer between Mac and other devices that can be connected to a computer in an MTP mode. Such devices include cameras, portable media players, etc. Given a user-friendly and straightforward interface of MacDroid, you'll find file transfer a pleasant experience.

Android File Transfer Download

MacDroid is offered in two versions - free and PRO. Free MacDroid allows an easy and efficient transfer of files from your Android to your computer. To get the advanced possibilities, you might want to consider MacDroid PRO. This advanced version offers two-way file transfer - from Android to Mac and from Mac to Android. It also gives you a possibility to edit Android files in your favorite apps on Mac without actually saving them on computer - just open them through Finder, edit, and save the changes. Done! You can also create new, delete, duplicate, and rename Android folders directly on Mac.

MacDroid has two modes one can connect devices in - ADB and MTP. ADB is recommended as a fast and smooth way to transfer files between devices. MTP mode is an easy way to connect a variety of devices, including such MTP devices as MP3 players or cameras.

How to transfer files between Mac and Android with MacDroid

  1. Download MacDroid and install it on your Mac.
  2. Choose one of the available modes - ADB or MTP.
  3. Follow the instructions in the app to connect your device.
  4. Start transferring files!

2. SyncMate


SyncMate is a feature packed solution that supports multiple devices and is fully compatible with Catalina.

It allows mounting Android devices as external disks, allowing you to freely browse your Android phone or tablet through the finder. Simply drag and drop files to and from your Android. Simple, easy and fast!

SyncMate as the name suggests, also syncs data between MacOS and Android, keeping both devices updated automatically, without you having to move a finger.

SyncMate supports contacts and calendar syncing, as well as photos, music, playlists and folders. The main advantage of SyncMate is that it syncs data directly between apps on your Mac and Android.

SyncMate is not just a file transfer tool, but rather an all-round solution based application automatically synchronising with your MacOS apps as well as offering the flexibility of manual file transfer. This is why it ranks best on our list of the best Android file transfer Apps for MacOS.

  1. It's simple and easy to use: download SyncMate and install it on your Mac.
  2. Connect your Android to Mac click “Add New” in the left panel and choose Android device.
  3. After the Android device is connected, go to the “Summary” tab and choose the “Mount disk” option.
  4. That’s all. Go into the Finder and you’ll see your Android as an external disk. Choose folder you want to transfer data to or from and you’re all set!

As mentioned above, files transfer between Mac and Android is available within the “Mount disk” option. This feature is offered in Expert version so you will need to upgrade from the Free version. You can do so here (our advice is to test SyncMate Free Edition prior upgrading to Expert).


How to use SyncMate as Android file transfer Mac app?

  1. Download SyncMate and install it on your Mac.
  2. Files transfer between Mac and Android is available within “Mount disk” option.
  3. This feature is offered in Expert edition so you will need to upgrade your Free version. You can upgrade here (our advice is to test SyncMate Free Edition prior upgrading to Expert).
  4. To connect your Android to Mac click “Add New” in the left panel and choose Android device.

  5. Connect your Android to your Mac using USB cable (in this case SyncMate Android module will be automatically installed on your device).
  6. After Android device is connected, go to “Summary” tab and choose “Mount disk” option.

  7. That’s all. Go to Finder and you’ll see Android in the list of macOS disks. Choose folder you need to transfer data to or from and move it as needed.

3. Android File Transfer for Mac by Google


Android File Transfer Mac by Google is the only native utility that could be rather helpful in file transfer, but unfortunately it has not been updated for several years and the interface is not easy to understand. Also it doesn't let you transfer more than one file at a time, so it may just take forever to get the job done.


Pros and Cons of Android File Transfer Mac


Besides that syncing Mac with an Android device is quite difficult and slow, there are other major disadvantages when talking about Android File Transfer:

  • • When you’re trying to establish the connection or even during the file transfer, there are numerous errors that keep piling up. These prevent the proper course of the file transfer between your Android device and the Mac computer.
  • • If you’re transferring large files, you can get time-outs when you’re almost done and you need to start from scratch.
  • • There’s a limited list of Android decides that can be used for direct Android File Transfer.
  • • You won’t be able to manage the apps on the Android device.
  • • The user interface of the app is not exactly what you can call intuitive for inexperienced users.

How to fix Android File Transfer Mac if it is not working?

The first step in making sure you can perform an Android File Transfer is installing the Android File Transfer for Mac app on your computer. Once you’re done with this, simply connect your phone to the Mac through the standard USB cable. By default, the two devices should immediately recognize one another and sync.

However, in some unfortunate cases, you may get the “ Could not connect to device. Try reconnecting or restarting your device” message that we all want to avoid.

If you do get to see this message, it is a clear indication that the app is faulty and you need to fix it.

What can you do when your Android File Transfer isn’t working?

In order to fix Android File Transfer Mac you will need to follow these simple three steps:

Android File Transfer Dmg File Download

  1. Android USB Debugging or USB Replacement

  2. Most of the times, the reason for the app failing is an improperly functioning USB cable. To go around this, you will need to remove the USB cable and replace it with a new one. Once you get the new USB cable, repeat the file transfer process. If on your first go, it still won’t connect, try the following procedures:

    • • Connect your Mac and the Android device through the USB cable you just got.
    • • On your Android device, swipe down to access the quick setting menu and then tap on the “Settings” tab.
    • • Tap again on USB Debugging and from the list of options, choose Media device (MTP).
    • • Try to resume the file transfer.

  3. Update your Mac

  4. Updating your Mac is another workaround for the situation in which you can’t fix the Android File Transfer Mac by replacing the USB cable. To update your macOS, follow these steps:

    • • First check to see which macOS version you currently have installed on your computer. Note that if it’s below 10.7, you will need to update.
    • • Start the Update process.
    • • Connect the Android device and make sure that Android File Transfer is added to your Mac.
    • • Restart the computer to finish the update.

  5. Android phone update

  6. If the macOS update still didn’t do the trick, your last chance to troubleshoot Android File Transfer Mac is updating the software on your Android device. To do so, follow these simple steps:

    • • Swipe down on the screen to access the Android “Settings” menu.
    • • Select “System Update” and check if your system is up to date. If not, update it on the spot.
    • • Restart the device and retry the connection with the Mac by using the file transfer app.

    4. Commander One


    If you want dual-panel Android File Transfer and integration with the most popular cloud storage services, the ability to browse iOS files and work with archives and hidden system files amongst other things, then Commander One is for you.

    Commander One allows you to plug and play your Android Device to MacOS via USB and access everything via the Finder. Now you can work with your device just like any other local drive.

    Commander One allows you to connect to the most popular cloud storage services, browse files on iOS devices, work with archives and hidden system files, use Terminal Emulator and manage current system processes. In addition to being a dual-panel Android file transfer for MacOS, its a real no-brainer!


    5. Dukto R6


    This little app allows data transfer over LAN and is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Android and Symbian systems. It is rather compact and only offers one feature, that is file transfer.

    Not bad, in fact does the same that Android File Transfer for Mac from Google, but supports more platforms.


    6. Droid NAS


    With Droid NAS you can transmit files back and forth between your Mac and an Android device. This app works via Wi-Fi and the built-in Bonjour protocol inside macOS. To transfer files with this app you'll need to get both your computer and mobile device connected to the same wireless network.

    UPD: currently Droid NAS is not available for download, not sure if this is a permanent problem, but we’ll still leave it on our list of best Android file transfer Mac apps for now.


    7. dr.fone - Transfer


    Small and efficient Android File Transfer for Mac alternative that enables you to transfer all types of data between Android smartphones and tablets and Mac computers, dr.fone allows you to quickly transfer SMS messages, contacts, and music. It also allows you to easily manage the media on the Android device so you can export, delete, and add files and folders in batches.


    8. MobiKin Assistant for Android


    The next Android File Transfer alternative we’re checking is the MobiKin Assistant for Android (Mac Version). Well, to be honest, this is more than just an alternative as not only that it supports transferring music, videos, photos, messages, contacts or books, but it also offers the function of backing up and restoring the data in your phone. No more worries about Android and macOS incompatibilities, MobiKin is here for the rescue!


    9. Cloud services

    Using cloud storages is also an option even if not the most convenient one. It adds an extra step to the process but is helpful when you don't have other options. You may already have a Dropbox or SugarSync account and can make use of those.

    Dropbox is one of the oldest and most popular not a platform specific cloud storage. It became so popular because it offers free cloud storage space. Moreover, the fact that Dropbox allows sharing stored data with others even if they don't have a Dropbox account adds scores to its flexibility. And even though this service is not an Android file transfer one per se, you can use Dropbox for your Android files - just install it on Mac and Android and upload or download data from or to your Dropbox account (personal data like contacts and calendar events are not supported, just file transfer).

    SugarSync is similar to Dropbox, but is less popular. Cloud storage space it provides can be used for data and folders transfer. Your stored data can be shared with others; you can also remove the data from all devices in case of loss or theft. Like Dropbox, SugarSync supports all major platforms and can be used as Android file transfer Mac.


    10. AirDroid


    Using AirDroid you get a complete app to transfer any type of file from an Android device to a Mac. Not just that, it is compatible with Windows, iOS and the AirDroid Web operating system. No matter if it’s photos, documents, music, videos or APKs, AirDroid will get the job done swiftly while also allowing you to transfer entire folders at once.


    11. HandShaker


    Wouldn’t it be nice if macOS and Android wouldn’t be in such a fierce competition and just shake hands? Well, that’s definitely the purpose with which HandShaker was created because this app enables high-speed file transfers between the two operating systems via Wi-Fi. Besides transferring all types of files, you can use this app to manage the contents on both devices and being a freeware app makes things even better!


    Transferring files with SD card


    If you don’t want to install and launch third-party apps, using an SD card is always a convenient way of sharing data between two devices. The transfer speeds are very good and all Android devices have a microSD slot. You’ll just need an adaptor from microSD to SD and you’re good to go. Transferring files from your Mac to Android can be done glitch-free as long as you make sure the file formats are compatible with both devices.


    How to transfer data from Android to Mac using SD card:


    1. Eject the SD card from the Android device.
    2. Mount the SD card in a card reader and insert it in your Mac.
    3. On your Mac computer, open Photos - File - Import and then click on Review for Import.
    4. If you want to import all the photos tap on Import all New Photos or choose ”Import Selected” if you only want to transfer certain ones. After the transfer is done, you have the option to keep the items on the SD card or remove delete them. Choose between ”Keep Items / Delete Items”.

    How did we rate Android file transfer Mac apps?

    Let’s start with the fact that there are just a few apps that can transfer files between Android and Mac OS X. After Apple removed their built-in Sync Service several years ago, all apps that used it to sync data between macOS and Android, stopped working. And since transferring files between Mac and Android is not a common task like video playback or image editing, you won’t find hundreds of apps offering sync and transfer services.

    Key factors we considered while choosing the best Android file transfer for Mac.

    • Functionality. The app worth your attention must be able to transfer all data types - media, folders, personal (like contacts or calendar events). Who wants to install several apps to keep ALL data between Mac and Android updated if all of that can be done within one app?

    • Flexibility. Data sync and transfer are complicated processes so Android file transfer Mac apps should provide you with wide range of data transfer settings.

    • OS support. Android OS as well as macOS are constantly updated and the app you will buy should support the latest versions.

    • App lifecycle. App should be constantly updated so you are sure you are getting the most current features and you can see that the developers are actually there, working on the product and not just letting it sit while everything else is moving forward.

    Thanks for reading through the list of Android file transfer Mac apps - choose what suits you best and keep data updated between your Mac and Android!

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