Using an Android phone with a Mac is all good until you need to transfer files between the two devices. That’s where things fall apart quickly. Sure, Google has its own Android File Transfer app, but that’s such an annoying thing to use that you’d be better off never using it at all. Fortunately, you’re not out of luck. In fact, there are plenty of methods you can use. So, here are 5 ways to transfer files between Android and Mac in 2022
As I said before, there are a lot of ways you can use to share files between these two operating systems. Some of these are very straightforward and wireless, whereas some others are slightly less intuitive to use.
- Snapdrop
- FTP
- OpenMTP
- AirDroid
- Commander One
1. Snapdrop
With an iPhone and a Mac, you can simply use AirDrop to share files. However, if you want to use AirDrop on Android, this is the best AirDrop alternative you can get so far. Snapdrop basically does the same thing as AirDrop, but it’s open for any operating system to use. Here’s how to use it.
- On your Android device and on your Mac, go to the Snapdrop website.
- You should see your phone pop-up on your Mac’s screen, and your Mac on your Android phone’s screen. If you don’t see this, make sure both devices are connected to the same WiFi network and try to reload the website.
Personally, Snapdrop is my go-to choice for sharing files between Android devices and my Mac. It works quite fast, it’s completely free, and you don’t need to install any apps on your devices. Plus, it’s the closest thing to AirDrop I’ve seen so far.
Sometimes, at least for me, Snapdrop refuses to work properly. If that’s happening with you, or if you don’t want to use Snapdrop for any reason, you can use FTP to share files between Android and macOS.
On your Android phone, you will need a file explorer like Solid File Explorer (download) which has the capability to create FTP servers.
- Now, click on Quickconnect.
- You can choose the save the password or not.
- You will now see your phone’s files in the Remote Site area of Filezilla. Simply select the files you want to share, and then drag them into your Mac, or vice versa.
What if you don’t want to use Snapdrop, and you don’t want to go through the trouble of using FTP? If you’re looking for a straightforward plug-and-play solution for sharing files between Android and Mac, you should take a look at OpenMTP.
You can also use AirDroid to share files between your devices. Plus, the app gives you more features as well, including the ability to control your Android phone from your Mac, get notifications and more.
That’s it. Your phone is now connected with your Mac. You can share files, control your phone, and more with AirDroid. Also, if both your smartphone and Mac are on the same WiFi network, your data won’t be sent over the internet, which is definitely a plus.
Lastly, you can check out Commander One if you’re looking for an option that will let you use your Android phone almost natively with your Mac.
You can then copy and paste files across your devices with ease.
Well those were the 5 best ways to transfer files between MacBook and Android phones. We have included all sorts of methods, be it wireless transfer, wired transfer, and even AirDrop like solutions for your Android phone. Hopefully, you have found a method that works best for you.
