Transferring Files From Android To Mac

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LocalSend app

Run the LocalSend app on both Mac and Android. This will set up share points on both devices.

Once LocalSend is running, it will be a "share" option. So you select files in whatever Android app, select "share" then select the LocalSend app.

Then select the share point that is running on the Mac desktop.

N.B. Android limits photo sharing to 100 files at a time.

AirDroid app

Successfully used this with the AirDroid Web option.

AirDroid requires a paid subscription now and feels spammy.

Android

• First, connect the phone to the computer with a USB cable.
• Go into Settings
• Search for USB Preferences
  • USB Controlled By: This device
  • Use USB For: `File Transfer/Android Auto
• Connect the Android device to the Mac using a USB cable.

Mac

OpenMTP

Alternate to Android File Transfer. Information about installing and using OpenMTP.

Doesn't connect very well with an Android device, even with cloud storage services turned off.

Troubleshooting

If OpenMTP can't connect to the Android device,

• Close all cloud services: Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, Google Drive
• On the Android device: USB Preferences > Use USB for > File Transfer / Android Auto
• On the Android device, photographs are located at /DCIM/Camera/. Give the app a minute to load the file list after clicking on the Camera directory.

Also, the phone going to sleep will interrupt OpenMTP's connection to the phone.

Android File Transfer

I removed Android File Transfer (Oct. 2023) because every time it's run it updates the Login Items in the Mac's system settings to add itself as a login item. Then it interferes with reading the phone as a USB drive, and can't seem to provide access to the files on the phone either. Try using OpenMTP instead.

Android File Transfer is distributed by Google. Some people have commented that development on this app is dead.

• Install Android File Transfer

Android File Transfer will automatically detect when an Android device is connected to the Mac.

Troubleshooting

I was getting a message from the Android File Transfer app every time to the effect of, "Cannot connect to the device."

Solution Stop all cloud services by going to their icon on the main Mac desktop menu and right clicking for the Quit option.

• Google Drive
• MS OneDrive
• Dropbox
• Box

If necessary, remove Google Drive from Login Items from within the Mac's system preferences. Restart the Mac.

Also remember that the Android device may need the File Transfer setting applied within USB preferences each time the device is connected to a Mac.