Here’s some bad news: the Android File Transfer (AFT) app, a reliable tool for Mac users, is no longer available.
If you’ve tried transferring files between your Android device and Mac, you know it can be quite frustrating.
But there’s good news! Many alternatives can help you transfer files smoothly between Android and Mac. One such option is MacDroid, which you can download for free.
We’ll explore what MacDroid is and how it works.
But before that, let’s briefly talk about:
The Issue with Android File Transfer
Apple and Google – two of the biggest tech titans of all time have a long history of rivalry which has resulted in compatibility issues. You have to jump through hoops to make Android devices connect easily with MacBook. The Android File Transfer is a simplified file transfer between Mac and Android, but alas! This app has been discontinued.
The Android File Transfer (AFT) was Google’s solution for Mac users to access files on their Android devices. However, it was plagued with problems from the start. For starters, AFT was notoriously unreliable.
Numerous people complained that it failed to recognize their devices or kept freezing during transfer. It also lacked important features like drag-and-drop functionality and folder syncing.
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Introducing MacDroid – What Is It?
The discontinuation of AFT created a gap in the market which was eventually filled by third-party solutions like MacDroid that successfully bridged the Android-Mac divide. So, what is MacDroid?
It’s a nifty tool that allows you to safely connect your Android device or any media device such as your digital camera to your MacBook, both wired and wirelessly.
The app is available to download for free on the Mac App Store.
A few things to keep in mind before downloading this app:
- System requirements: MacOS 10.15 or newer version.
- After the 7-day free trial period is over, you will be billed $19.99 annually.
Okay, enough intro, let’s get down to business. Here’s how to set up and use MacDroid:
Connecting Android to Mac Using Wi-Fi With MacDroid
First things first, you need to download the app from the Mac App Store, launch it, and install it on your MacBook.
Upon successful installation, you will be presented with three modes: Wi-Fi, ADB, and MTP. To connect your device to your Mac wirelessly, do the following:
Step 1: Click on Connect Via Wi-Fi.
Step 2: Enable the Developers option
Head over to your Android phone and complete the following steps:
- Go to the Build Number option which is usually located under the “About Phone” menu, right at the bottom.
- Tap on Build number 7 times in quick succession to activate the Developers Options
- Scroll down to find the USB Debugging option and enable it.
Step 3: Now, it’s time to connect.
First up, if you don’t already know your Android OS version, just go to Settings > About phone/device > Software Information/Android Version on your phone.
1. For Android versions 11 and above, you can pair your Android phone with Mac via:
- QR Code
- Pairing Code
- Manual Pairing
Just keep following the instructions on your computer to complete the pairing process. It’s pretty simple and intuitive.
2. For Android Versions up to 10:
- Find your Wi-Fi IP address on your Android device under Wi-Fi settings.
- Enter the IP address in MacDroid on your Mac.
- Connect wirelessly or use a USB cable for the initial connection.
Please note: Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network and make sure the USB debugging mode is enabled on your Android device.
Connecting Android to Mac Using USB With MacDroid
If you don’t have Wi-Fi access, don’t worry. MacDroid allows you to transfer files between your Android device and Mac using a USB connection. Here’s how to do it:
- Connect your phone or tablet to your Mac with a USB cable.
- On your phone, authorize the Mac by clicking “Allow” and selecting “Always allow from this computer.”
- On your Mac, go to Devices in the main menu and locate your device.
You can transfer data using either ADB (recommended) or MTP. ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a more advanced file-transfer protocol compared to MTP (Media Transfer Protocol), offering faster transfers and access to more file types.
To transfer data in ADB Mode:
- Enable USB Debugging
- Click on “Mount” to mount your device and Unmount to…you guessed it right, unmount your device. As simple as that!
Once the two devices are connected, you will be able to view and edit all your Android files on Mac.
For MTP transfer:
- Connect your MTP device to your MacBook.
- Click on File Transfer on your device’s screen.
- Then, as we did with ADB, click on “Mount” to mount your device or Unmount to disconnect.
- Now, you are ready to view all your files in Finder on your Mac.
Final Words
Wasn’t that simple? With tools like MacDroid, you can easily transfer various types of data between your Android device and Mac.
You can move music, movies, TV shows, and other files quickly from your phone or any MTP device. Additionally, MacDroid allows you to edit Android files on your Mac wirelessly. The possibilities with MacDroid are truly endless.
