We show how to connect an Android phone to a Mac using the free software Android File Transfer, then move photos and other files from one to the other By David Price, Editor 11 Sep 18. Getting photos from your Android phone to your Mac can be a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. There are many reasons you may want to transfer photos to your Mac. Create a backup of your pictures on your Mac. Edit you pictures in an advanced editor. Share your pictures on social media.
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
- Android File Transfer is another way for you to transfer Samsung photos to Mac, which allows you to transfer files between your Mac and your Android device with ease. Now let's see how to download photos from Samsung Galaxy to Mac using Android File Transfer. Here is how it works: Step 1. Download Android File Transfer.
- Transfer photos from Android to Mac using dr.fone - Phone Manager (Android) Moving photos from your Android device to computer or vice versa doesn’t have to be tedious or difficult. Dr.fone – Transfer (Android) makes the move seamless and simplest ever.
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.
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.
Download Android Photos To Mac
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.
Android Download Photos To Macbook
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
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.
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.
Android Download Photos To Macbook Air
Download it now: here
How To Download Photos From Android Phone To Macbook
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!
We’re all taking more pictures on our smartphones than ever before. Eventually, time will come when we have to transfer the snapshots on our Android device to make way for new ones. But what if the only backup storage at your disposal is a Mac computer? As you may well be aware, pairing Android to Mac computers isn’t as easy as inserting a USB cable between them. You’d often need the aid of a transfer software to move everything from music to pictures. Yes, that includes movies, podcasts, contacts, and other media files.
With that in mind, we’ll teach you a couple of easy and safe ways to transfer photos from Android to Mac with ease:
Connect Your Device via Android File Transfer
Download Android To Pc Free
A wire-based file transfer program, Android File Transfer is best when you wish to move files the conventional way. As a start, install the application in your MacBook or Mac desktop (running OS X 10.5 or later versions). Afterward, connect your computer or notebook to your Android phone using the appropriate USB cable. Once the connection has been established, the phone will typically appear as a drive on your computer.
To start transferring the pictures from your smartphone, here are the easy steps:
- Connect your phone to your Mac’s USB port using the former’s charging cable.
- Open the Mac Finder on your computer.
- Search for the Android File Transfer on the list of available drives.
- Click on the Android drive icon.
From there, a file will open showing a complete list of applications. When you want to open/view any of the files shown, simply drag them to your desktop. As for your pictures, just import them to iPhoto to view them.
Control Your Phone on a Mac with AirDroid
An alternative, wireless way to transfer files from Android to Mac is by using the AirDroid app. After you set it up, you can basically navigate on your phone, download any files, and even send/receive SMS from a web browser on your Mac. The best part is that you won’t have to download any software on your desktop.
To enable AirDroid, you’ll need to use a Wi-Fi network. To begin, install the app on your Android phone. You then go to AirDroid.com on your Mac, sign in on the website, and you’ll then be given access to all the data on your phone. If you upgrade to a premium account, it gets even better: you can make phone calls directly from your Mac.
It’s really simple to set up AirDroid app and begin retrieving photographs from your Android phone. Follow these steps:
- On your smartphone, install the AirDroid app.
- After the installation, go to your MacBook and visit AirDroid.com.
- Create an account on the website.
- To sign in, use your email and password or Facebook/Google/Twitter account.
- You’re done!
You can now move files from your smartphone to your computer and vice versa after this initial setup.
Sync Photos from Android to Mac with Google Photos
It’s fairly easy downloading pictures from your Android device to any computer (including your Mac) using Google Photos. If you wish to set it up so any photos you saved on the app will automatically be accessible on your Mac, do the following:
- Install Google Photos Uploader on your Mac.
- Install the Google Drive sync app. This app will sync Google Drive on your computer.
- Access Google Drive from a browser. Afterward, select the Google Photos option.
- Navigate to Google Photos’ settings pane on Google Drive. Make sure that the ‘Create Google Photos folder’ option is enabled.
- To start syncing, go to your Mac’s Google Drive settings. From there, make sure the Google Photos folder in your Google Drive is selected.
It’s important to remember, though, that this setup will count against your Google Drive storage. That’s not a bad thing but it may be better to store your photos on Google Photos entirely (without syncing). This way, you can continue using the app’s unlimited storage.
As it turns out, all you ever needed to make your Android phone’s photos accessible to your Mac desktop is a Wi-Fi connection, a phone charger, and a bit of know-how.