What You Need to Know
- Install the Android File Transfer app on your Mac, plug in your Android device using a cable, and then use the app to view your files.
- Upload files to an Android cloud service, then use a Mac web browser or cloud service app to access them.
- Install the Pushbullet Chrome or Firefox extension and the Pushbullet Android app. Send files to the Mac with this.
Common methods for moving files from your Android handset to your Mac are described in this article. If you wish to use data, photos, or documents that you’ve saved on your Android device on your Mac, you can apply the same procedures. This information is applicable to macOS Sonoma 14.4 or later and Android 12.
Use the File Transfer App for Android.
Using Android File Transfer to move files from Android to Mac is one of the most widely used methods. You may then access the files and folders on your Android device after downloading and installing the program on your macOS computer.
- On your Mac, go to the Android File Transfer page. Select “Download Now” and, if requested, provide permission. By clicking those links, you can review the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
- After downloading the file, double-click the AndroidFileTransfer.dmg file by opening Downloads in your web browser or the Mac Downloads folder.
- Transfer Android Files with a drag to Applications.
- Using a USB or USB-C cable, connect your Android handset to your Mac. If either device asks for permission, provide it.
- From the Applications folder on your Mac, launch Android File Transfer. The files and folders are then visible to you on your Android device.
- Drag a file or folder from the Android File Transfer window to the location of your choice on your Mac in order to save it.
Upload to Dropbox, Google Drive, or Other Online Storage Services
One more easy method to move data from Android to Mac is to use a cloud storage service like OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another one like it. This enables you to use a web browser or an installed Mac software to access the file on your Mac after uploading it from your Android handset.
Here’s how to use Google Drive to move files from an Android device to a Mac.
- On your Android device, launch the Google Drive app and press the + icon located in the lower right corner.
- Select Upload, then find and select the file. To locate particular file kinds, you can also use the filters at the top.
- The file you want to upload will appear in Google Drive as soon as you tap it.
- Use the same Google account that you use on Android to access Google Drive on the web on your Mac.
- You can use My Drive to find the file if you’d rather, or you can select Recent from the menu on the left to view the most recent files that have been uploaded quickly.
After that, you can download or open the file normally.
Use Bluetooth to Share
Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows you to transfer files from Android to Mac. Verify that both devices have Bluetooth turned on, then connect and transfer the files.
First, establish a Bluetooth connection.
Your Mac and Android smartphone must first be paired. This is how you should proceed.
- To access the Bluetooth settings on your Android device, go to Settings > Connected devices or pick Bluetooth from the menu.
- Choose “Pair new device.”
- Tap your Mac once you see the available neighboring devices.
- On your Mac, a Connection Request pop-up window with a code ought to appear. Verify that the code corresponds with what appears on Android right away, then hit Connect.
Transferring Files Now Using Bluetooth
After the devices are successfully connected, Bluetooth makes file transfers simple.
- On Android, find the file. For example, you might have a photo in Google Photos or a paper saved in the Files app.
- Using the app that contains your file, open the Share option and select Bluetooth.
- Select your Mac from the menu.
- After that, your file ought to appear in the Mac Downloads folder.
Use the browser extension and Pushbullet app.
You can use Pushbullet if your main web browser on Mac is either Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. Send files between your devices after installing the app on your Android smartphone and the browser extension.
- Set up Pushbullet on the gadgets you own.
- Open Google Play on your Android device, type in “Pushbullet,” then choose Install. After that, you can use your Google account to sign up for free.
- Open Chrome or Firefox on your Mac, go to the Add-ons or Chrome Web Store pages, search for “Pushbullet,” and install the extension. Next, log in using the login credentials that you used on your Android smartphone.
2. When you’re prepared to move a file from an Android device to a Mac, launch Pushbullet and select the Pushing tab.
3. Select Take Photo, Send Photo, or Send File by tapping the attachment icon (paper clip) to the left of the message area. In this instance, Send File will be selected.
4. On the next screen, find and pick the file.
5. Select the device to which you want to send the item from the drop-down menu above the message box.
6. Press the Send (arrow) button.
7. When you launch Chrome or Firefox on your Mac, the file ought to show up as a tab within the browser by default.
You can also launch the Pushbullet extension, click People, and pick yourself as an alternative. Your file will appear in a discussion window, from which you can select it for opening or save it to your Mac by using a right-click.
You may use Pushbullet to sync files from your Android device to your Mac, as well as links to other websites and text reminders within the chat window.