For Mac Android File Transfer
It may come as a shock to many but, yes, there are actually Mac users out there who sport Android phones. In fact, since you’re reading the article, you might be one of them! And it could be a smart move.
Part 5: Android File Transfer for Mac alternative: SyncMate The SyncMate is Android file transfer Mac which syncs the files between Mac computer and your Android device. It is a free app that offers sync function and is one of the powerful tools that works amazingly for transferring the data. Android File Transfer can be used to view and transfer files between your Mac and an Android device. Browse the files and folders on your Android device, add folders, copy files up to 4 GB to or from your Mac, delete files, and more.
Some good reasons for why people might use a Mac laptop or desktop with an Android smartphone instead of an iPhone include:
- Needing to use Android for access to work-related apps or files
- Saving money by buying less expensive Android handsets
- Preferring certain features that Android offers (e.g. direct USB access, always-on display, or multiple users)
Of course, iPhone owners are spoilt for choice in that they can use AirDrop, Image Capture, iCloud, or the Photos app to transfer files between smartphone and Mac. Sadly, it isn’t quite so easy to transfer files from Android to Mac. Here, you need to get a bit more creative.
The “official” solution to this problem is using Android File Transfer, which will be covered in more detail below, but there are also various other workarounds and apps that can be used to connect Android to Mac, both wired and not. This article features some of the ins and outs of these methods of Android file transfer for Mac.
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How To Use Android File Transfer
The most well-known way of transferring files between Android and your Mac, not to mention one of the easiest, is to download Google’s official Android File Transfer app (AFT).
Although it’s designed for use (at least partially) with an operating system other than iOS (e.g. Google’s Android OS), downloading and installing the app is pretty straightforward and feels like any other app on Mac:
- Download and install the software from the Android website
- Double-click the AndroidFileTransfer.dmg file from your Downloads
- Drag the icon to your Applications folder and double-click it
- Open the software and, if required, authorize it to run
Once you’ve done that, it’s time to plug your smartphone into your Mac using a USB cable. Open AFT, if it doesn’t open automatically, and you can transfer files using the familiar Finder interface.
From there, using the app is pretty intuitive. The issue of how to transfer pictures from Android to Mac is the only thing that’s a little counterintuitive, as any images taken using your Android’s camera appear not in the Pictures folder but in DCIM ➙ Camera.
Now that we’ve covered how to transfer files from Android to Mac using AFT, we can address a big problem with the above: if you have a newer MacBook (i.e. one that uses USB-C), you won’t necessarily be able to connect your smartphone using your usual USB cable.
That means you’ll need to purchase either a new cable or adaptors to successfully test out how to move files on Mac from Android. That’s far from ideal, particularly if time and money are of the essence.
Fortunately, there are a few wireless solutions for how to connect Android to Mac without using Android File Transfer at all.
Sync with Dropbox and Google Drive
Dropbox certainly isn’t a solution that was designed specifically with transferring files between your Mac and Android in mind, but it’s one that quite a few people rely on every day, as it requires no extra tools to be downloaded.
If you already have a Dropbox account, you’ll probably already know how this process works. If not, here’s how to do it:
- Sign up for an account on the Dropbox website
- Download the app on your Android (and your Mac, unless you’re happy to use the browser version)
- Place files in the Dropbox folder on your Mac to make them visible on your Android Dropbox app
- For how to connect Android to Mac, you’ll need to select Upload in your Dropbox app, and choose a file type and the relevant item
You’ll notice that, while this process is fairly simple, it’s not particularly well-suited if you’re trying to figure out how to move files on Mac in large batches from your Android.
That’s even more true if you want to transfer files from Android to Mac of many different types at once (e.g. a Word doc, several images, and a video that all need to move over to your Mac for a use in a single project).
If you’re not a fan of Dropbox, or have simply never signed up for it, Google Drive is another alternative for Android to Mac file transfer. Steps on using it for the likes of how to transfer pictures from Android to Mac are pretty similar to those listed for Dropbox, except there’s no longer a dedicated Google Drive app for Mac. That means you would need to check out their Backup and Sync app for macOS instead.
Some people find Dropbox or Google Drive a bit clunky and end up joining everyone who googles “Android File Transfer not working on Mac” (the app is sadly known to be a bit temperamental). Luckily, there’s another option available. In fact, there are quite a few dedicated wireless apps for Mac to Android file transfer in existence.
Connect via wireless transfer apps
Similar to the way AirDrop allows connections between iPhones and Macs on the same network, there are apps that allow for wireless Android file transfer to Mac using WiFi or USB.
One such app is AnyTrans for Android. Using it is simple:
- Download the AnyTrans app on your Mac and Android device
- Open up the apps and scan the QR code using your Android handset
- Your device will be added to the Device Manager for file transfer
That’s pretty much all there is to it!
You can use AnyTrans for Android to back up important files, move all of your data to a new Android handset (or iPhone) with a single click, and download content from more than 900 sites using a built-in media downloader before transferring it to your Android.
With options to manage files by category or connect via USB if you’re unable to get all of the relevant pieces of hardware on the same WiFi network, AnyTrans for Android offers a thorough and organized approach to Android file transfer to Mac as well as some useful file management options.
The oddity of Windows and Mac rivalry
One of the biggest reasons why so many iPhone users have a Mac and so many Android users have a PC is that, in so many ways, Microsoft and Apple are still refusing to place nicely with each other in the way that many other hardware providers now do.
The relative difficulty of connecting Android to a Mac is one such example of this, although you may be surprised (or perhaps frustrated) to learn that connecting an iPhone to Windows is a significantly easier process thanks to iCloud, iTunes, and the Windows Photos app.
It’s very easy to become a victim of the war between Apple and Microsoft but there’s no reason to do so if you don’t want to choose one allegiance or are obliged to use an Android phone for some other reason.
Consumers are getting more used to mixing and matching products from different companies — Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime coexist on a single smart TV — and it’s likely that combinations such as Android and Mac will become more common as time passes.
In the meantime, Android File Transfer for Mac is a great option if you’re able to use USB. Dropbox or Google Drive offer a decent workaround if not, but a dedicated Android file transfer app like AnyTrans is hard to beat when it comes to making moving files from Android to Mac intuitive and organizable.
Best of all, AnyTrans for Android is available to you on a free trial through Setapp, a platform of more than 150 best-in-class Mac apps that let you significantly expand the capabilities of your Mac and fill any functionality missing by default. Finally, having an Android device stops feeling like a burden.
Due to the defects of Android File Transfer, some of you may wish to get an alternative to this software. And certainly, it is not difficult to find an Android File Transfer alternative for Mac in Information Age. However, it would be nerve-wracking for you to pick up a reliable one from thousands of tools. So to help you get rid of the trouble, this article is written to show you 5 best alternatives to Android File Transfer.
Why Do You Need an Alternative to Android File Transfer?
Android File Transfer is a tool developed by Google. This tool enables users to browse and transfer files between Mac computer and Android device. For the users who wish to transfer files from Android device to Mac computer or from Mac to Android, using this software would be a good option. However, some users reject to download and install Android File Transfer on their Mac computers since:
- The tool has not been updated for several years and is not compatible with all Android versions;
- The installing process is a little bit complex and time-consuming;
- File transferring is limited - only 4GB allowed;
- Sometimes it does not work.
Therefore, to ensure the success of the transfer between Android and Mac, users select to find an Android File Transfer alternative.
Best Android File Transfer Alternative - MobiKin Assistant for Android
The best Android File Transfer alternative is MobiKin Assistant for Android (Mac Version). This is a professional file transfer software for Android - it allows you to transfer different types of files between Android and Mac easily, such as contacts, messages, music, photos, videos, books, Apps and more. And if you want, you can even backup and restore all your phone data with one click.
This program is not only a file transfer tool, but also the best Android file manager for Mac. With it, you can also add, delete or edit your Android contacts, send, receive or delete messages, etc. Hence, MobiKin Assistant for Android (Mac Version) is considered the best alternative to Android File Transfer.
MobiKin also provides the Windows version of this software. If you need the Windows version, you can turn to 'MobiKin Assistant for Android (Windows Version)'.
Do you like this program? If you do, just click the icon below to get the tool.
3 steps to transfer files from Android to Mac:
1st Step: Download, install and launch the program and then connect your Android to Mac.
2nd Step: Tap on a category in the left panel, such as 'Contacts'. Then check the contacts that you want to transfer in the right panel.
3rd Step: Click 'Export' on the top menu to transfer the selected files.
Supposed that you want to sync files from Mac computer to Android, you can click 'Contacts' > 'Import' to move the wanted data to Android.
Other Alternatives to Android File Transfer for Mac
There are also some other alternatives to Android File Transfer for Mac:
1. AirDroid
AirDroid is a powerful mobile device management suite. It empowers you to access, manage and transfer your Android device on Mac computer wirelessly. The file types that AirDroid supports to transfer include photos, documents, music or APKs. You can even directly transfer folders with this tool. And except for Android and Mac OS, it also supports iOS, Windows and AirDroid Web.
2. HandShaker
Another recommended Android file manager for Mac is HandShaker. This software enables users to connect their Mac and Android devices wirelessly and then manage their devices. With it, you can transfer files between two devices in a high speed. What's more important, this is a freeware - you can download and use it to transfer files on your Mac for free.
Free duplicate file finder for mac. 3. SyncMate
SyncMate is a helpful Android file transfer App for Mac. It supports to sync and transfer data from Mac/Android devices to Android/Mac computer. Its supported file types are various, including contacts, calendars, music, photos, videos, etc.
4. dr.fone - Transfer (Android)
With the help of dr.fone - Transfer (Android), you can easily transfer files like contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, etc. from Android to Mac. This software is compatible with almost all Android versions, so you don't need to worry about the compatibility. Another advantage of this software is that it is easy to use - even a green hand can handle it in a short time.
It is also possible that you want to know:
Write in the End
Compared with Android File Transfer, the tools introduced above are more helpful - these Android File Transfer alternatives are compatible with almost all Android devices and the size of file transfer is much larger. Hence, if you plan to transfer file between Android and Mac computer, you are strongly recommended to select one software from above. Csv converter (free version download for mac. And among these alternative tools, MobiKin Assistant for Android is the best one - it can help you complete the transfer more easily.
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