5 Free Ways to Transfer Files Between Android and Mac
Transferring files between Android and Mac is complicated and there is no native option built-in that helps you to do so. Features like Nearby Share orAirDrop do not workbetween these two different ecosystems. Nonetheless, there are third-party apps that let users transfer files from Android to Mac and back wirelessly and with wire. In this article, we will recommend you some of the best ways to transfer files between Android and Mac that can be helpful for you in different scenarios.
Table of Contents
1. OpenMTP
you’re able to use Android’s official File Transfer app to transfer files between Android and Mac using a USB cable. But, it glitches out when there are too many files in a directory or even when sending larger or multiple files. Also, it can’t send files that are more than 4GB. This is where the open-source app OpenMTP comes in. It does not have these limitations and is also a more stable media transfer protocol (MTP).
1.Open theOpenMTP websiteand click on theDownload For Apple SiliconorDownload For Intel Siliconaccording to your Mac. If you are not sure which silicon your Mac is running on, openSettings app > General > About. Here beside the Chip option, you should be able to check which silicon your Mac is running on.
2.Then open the downloaded file and drag the OpenMTP icon into the Applications folder to install the app.
3.Now open the installed OpenMTP app, you should find the files on your Mac in the left pane and a list of instructions on the right to connect your Android phone to the right pane.
4.Connect your Android phone with the USB cable to your Mac. In case you have already installed the Android File Transfer app, uninstall it as it can create issues with the OpenMTP app.
5.On your Android phone, tap on the USB notification and select theFile transferoption.
6.Now you should be able to check your Android phone files in the right pane of the OpenMTP app on your Mac. If not, try clicking on theReload iconat the top of the OpenMTP app.
7.You can simply drag and drop files from the right pane to the left pane or vice versa to transfer the files between Android and Mac.
2. NearDrop
Google recently introduced its official Nearby Share app for Windows. So you can transfer files between Android and Windows seamlessly just like with AirDrop. But they have not released a Mac app. However, there is an open-source forked version on Nearby Share called NearDrop available on GitHub for MacBooks.
1.To use NearDrop, open theNearDrop Github releases pageand download the latest version from here.
2.Now open the Finder app and locate the downloaded NearDrop file. Then right-click or control-click on the NearDrop app and select theOpenoption from the menu.
3.That’s it, now you should be able to access the NearDrop icon from the menu bar at the top right corner. Here, you could check the name of your Mac. To change the device name, you can do it from the System Settings app.
4.Now you can share any file from your Android phone using Nearby Share and select your Mac option to transfer files. For more info, check out our guide onhow to use Nearby Share on Android.
NearDrop app works great to transfer files from Android to Mac. But if you prefer to transfer files wirelessly in both ways, then you can rely on the Feem app. Unlike the previous two ways, you can use Feem on all the platforms from Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux.
1.Open theFeed websiteand download Feem for Mac. Also, download theFeed app from the Play Storeon your Android phone.
2.Now right-click or control-click on the Feem app on the Mac and select theOpenoption from the menu.
3.Continue the small setup process by clickingContinueand thenInstall.
4.Now open the Feem Android app, select the language, theme, and grant the required permissions.
5.Now if both your Mac and Android are connected to the same network, you may see your Android device name on your Mac and vice-versa.
6.To send files from Android to Mac or from Mac to Android. Click on that name and it will open a chat box-style interface. Now click on theattachment iconat the bottom left.
7.Select the file type and select the files that you want to send. Finally, click/tap on theSendbutton at the bottom to send it.
4. SnapDrop
All the above three apps require you to install an application on your Mac or Android. If you are looking for ways to transfer a file for one-time use, installing and setting up an app can be a long process. You can simply use the SnapDrop website to achieve the same functionality.
1.Connect to the same Wi-Fi network and open theSnapDrop websiteon both devices.
2.You should find your Mac name on your Android phone and your phone’s name on your Mac. To share files from Android to Mac, tap on your Mac name on your phone. Then select the files that you want to send and tap onSendbutton to share.
3.Similarly, if you want to transfer files from Mac to Android, click on the Android phone’s name on your Mac and then select the files and click onOpento send.
5. Google Drive
While the above methods work great, the devices have to connect to the same Wi-Fi network or with a USB cable. If the devices are far from each other, or if they cannot be connected to the same Wi-Fi, then you try Google Drive or other cloud storage services like OneDrive and DropBox. But, Google Drive offers limited storage space, so keep that in mind when you want to transfer large files.
1.To send files from Android to Mac or vice versa, you need to upload the file from one device and download it on the other. Takes twice the time. On Android, open theGoogle Drive appwhich should be pre-installed on most Android phones. On Mac, you may open theGoogle Drive websiteon your preferred website.
2.To transfer, click on theplus iconat the bottom of the page and then select theUploadoption. Then you can select the files that you want to upload to Google Drive.
3.Now on the other device, open the same directory, click on thekebab menuof the file, and then select theDownloadoption from the menu.
No AirDrop? No Worries
While AirDrop is definitely the most seamless, you do have other options to share files between your Mac and Android phone. Some are wired, some are wireless, some do not need an app, and some work even when the other device is far away. Apart from the suggested, there are many other services such as Bluetooth, SD Card,FTP, and many other third-party apps such as ARC. You can also try them according to your need.
Ravi Teja KNTS
Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
