Download and install Android File Transfer on your computer. Open Android File Transfer. The next time that you connect your phone, it opens automatically. Unlock your phone. With a USB cable, connect your phone to your computer. On your phone, tap the 'Charging this device via USB' notification. Under 'Use USB for,' select File Transfer.
- Android File Transfer is often the talk of the town when it comes to transferring data from your Android device to your PC (especially for Mac computers). Though, the Android File Transfer was originally for establishing connection between Android devices and Mac computer for transferring data.
- Android File Transfer is an easy-to-use Android PC suite developed to help Android phone and tablet users to manage, sync and backup Android data. With this powerful Android file manager, you are able to: Backup Android SMS, contacts, apps, music, photos, videos, etc. Restore Android device from previous backup with only 1 click.
A lot of Android users rely on Mac as their primary computer. Keeping this in mind, it’s important to have best android file transfer app or software that can help you transfer files between your Android smartphone and Mac. Given that Apple doesn’t offer a software by default to do this, users have long had to rely on third-party solutions for safe and secure file transfer between a Mac and an Android device.
Google has had the Android File Transfer app for Mac that helps you easily transfer files (or even drag and drop) onto your Android phone or tablet. However, this is not suitable for every purpose. Despite its feature set, Android Device Manager does have some limitations.
This is where other offerings come into the mix. Given that there are quite a lot of these apps now, we decided to compile a list of the five best Android file transfer software for Mac in 2020. So without waiting any further, let’s get right to it.
A word on Mac
It’s worth noting that, even though Android has improved substantially over the years — and so has macOS — you still cannot just download files by plugging in your USB or USB-C cable. You have to download what is essentially the “compatibility” app Google has made for macOS, Android File Transfer. Once you download that — for free — you should be able to transfer files as freely as you’d like.
That said, Android File Transfer is also still the best file transfer software that you can pick up for Mac. There are plenty of others that add more features, but truly, all you need is Android File Transfer from Google, which we’ll talk about here:
Best Android File Transfer Software for Mac
1) Android File Transfer
This service has been around for quite a while now. Google has refined the app over the years to maintain compatibility with newer macOS versions. It’s a pretty basic solution to something that concerns so many users. Android File Transfer allows you to seamlessly access your Android smartphone or tablet through a macOS computer. It allows you to transfer or view photos, videos, contacts and more in no time.
It works over a USB connection, so it’s imperative to have a wired connection with your Mac for this feature to work. As we said, it’s not the best solution out there, but it works out pretty well for a lot of users. Sure, it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of other apps, though it gets the job done pretty decently. Android File Transfer is available from Google’s site (link above), and is free.
Android File Transfer Alternative
Download it now: here
2) SyncMate
This is an elaborate software for your macOS computer that can connect to several other devices in addition to your Android smartphone or tablet. Further, it allows you to connect your Android device as a separate hard drive, allowing seamless file transfer between your Mac and Android device. You can also mount your Android smartphone as a separate disk on your Mac, giving you the freedom to quickly transfer files between folders. What makes SyncMate really stand out is the fact that it can also sync music, contacts, and even folders without any effort from the user.
Pretty much like an iPhone, SyncMate can automatically sync predetermined folders in no time. It can also sync apps between your Mac and Android devices, which is an appealing feature to have on a Mac software. It’s an extremely functional app and has to be high up on your list if you’re seeking to stick to a handy solution. The company offers a free edition that anybody can try out and then move on to the paid of “Expert” version if they like the product.
Download it now: here
3) Handshaker
This is an app that doesn’t require a separate download link as it can be downloaded directly from the Mac App Store. It’s perhaps the best alternative to third-party Android file transfer apps as it has been approved by Apple for this very purpose. Keeping this in mind, it has to be on top of every Mac/Android user’s list. As far as the features are concerned, it’s fairly easy to pair with an Android smartphone or tablet. The app supports drag and drop of files between the Mac and the Android device.
Although the app initially required a wired connection for file transfer, it now supports wireless file transfer as well with impressive speeds. The best part here is that the app also lets you access your phone’s microSD card storage and transfer files conveniently. What makes this app my favorite is the fact that it’s completely free to download on the Mac App Store. Be sure to check it out.
Download it now: here
Android File Transfer Linux
4) AnyTrans for Android
This particular software is pretty similar to SyncMate, in that it offers a comprehensive device syncing solution between a Mac and Android smartphone/tablet. It supports all the versions of Android, so you’re well covered even if you own a slightly older Android device. This particular offering is fully capable of syncing photos, music, videos, and even apps through .apk files. The app uses a secure protocol to setup a connection between the Mac and the Android device to protect the safety of your files.
If there’s one downside, it’s the fact that AnyTrans can take a while sometimes to recognize your device. This can be annoying especially if you’re in a hurry. But to make up for this, remember that AnyTrans can also help you download music videos online at no cost. iPhone users have been using AnyTrans as a viable iTunes alternative to sync music and photos, so it’s only fair that the folks at AnyTrans have a version for Android users as well.
Android File Transfer Windows
Download it now: here
5) Cloud Services
This is a bit of an odd choice but hear us out. Services like Dropbox and Google Drive have allowed seamless syncing between desktops and Android devices for quite some time. Keeping this in mind, it’s not a bad idea to install a Google Drive or Dropbox plugin on your macOS computer and copying the files there to access it immediately on your Android smartphone and vice versa. This can, however, take some time and is highly dependent on the kind of internet connectivity you have, so it might not be for everyone.
But if the internet speed is not a concern, this simple option can come in handy to every user. It’s also important to remember that Cloud services offer a certain amount of free storage to some users. Keeping this in mind, this is perhaps one of the cheapest and most effective modes of file transfer between a Mac and an Android device, although the speed remains a concern for some users.
Download it now: here
Verdict on the best android file transfer app
As you can see, there are a lot of excellent applications that you can use to seamlessly transfer files from Android to Mac. The nice thing about applications like these is that they allow you to quickly and easily move files from Android to Mac, and from Mac to Android.
Do you have a favorite way that you transfer files from Android to Mac, and the other way around? Let us know in the comments section below!