In This Article
Transferring files between Android and Mac finally got easier than it has been at any point in the platform’s history. Google’s Quick Share now works natively to Mac (rolled out in late 2024), Apple shipped the Migration Assistant Android pathway for full device moves, and the third-party tools that used to fill this gap (Android File Transfer, OpenMTP) remain useful for specific cases. Most users have at least three reliable paths to pick from depending on file size and use case.
Below covers the five workflows that consistently work without surprises, with recommendations on which fits which scenario. The era of plugging in a phone and praying Finder would recognise it is mostly behind us.
TL;DR
The pick: Use Google Quick Share for Mac for everyday file transfers under a few gigabytes; it ships free and works wirelessly over local network.
Runner-up: Use a wired USB-C cable with OpenMTP or the Files app on macOS Sonoma and later for very large files or full folder syncs.
Skip if: Skip Android File Transfer; Google’s official tool has been deprecated and replaced by Quick Share, with better third-party options available for legacy cases.
Google Quick Share for Mac for everyday transfers
Quick Share for Mac launched in late 2024 and works as a native macOS app downloaded from Google. Pair your Mac with your Google account, accept the device-trust dialog on both ends, and Quick Share appears as a sharing destination on Android. Speed is fast on a local Wi-Fi 6 network; reliability is good after the early 2025 updates.
This is the right default for typical file moves: photos from a recent trip, a PDF you marked up on the phone, an APK you side-loaded somewhere and want to back up. No cable, no waiting for cloud sync, no third-party app. Just the official Google tool talking to the official Mac client.
Wired USB-C with OpenMTP or Files for bulk moves
For multi-gigabyte transfers (a video library, a folder of raw photos), wired is still faster and more reliable than wireless. Plug your Android phone into the Mac with USB-C. On macOS Sonoma and later, the Files app handles MTP natively in some cases; OpenMTP remains the more reliable third-party option for everything else.
Install OpenMTP from the developer’s site (free, open source), plug the phone in, switch the USB mode on the phone to File Transfer, and the Mac sees the phone as a drive. Drag and drop works at native USB-C speeds; full library copies finish in minutes rather than hours.
Google Drive or Dropbox for cross-platform persistence
When the file needs to persist somewhere beyond the immediate transfer (a shared document, a project folder both devices touch), cloud sync is the right tool rather than a point-to-point copy. Google Drive on both ends covers the common case for free up to 15 GB and at paid tiers above; Dropbox, OneDrive, and Mega all cover the same ground.
The trade-off is sync time on first upload from the source side. Schedule large initial syncs overnight, then incremental updates run quickly.
Migration Assistant for moving fully off Android to Mac
Apple’s Migration Assistant added an Android pathway in mid-2024 that copies contacts, calendars, photos, files, and supported app data from an Android phone to a Mac for users moving platforms. Install the Move to iOS app on the Android side, run Migration Assistant on the Mac, and follow the pairing flow.
This is the one-shot tool for an actual platform migration. It is overkill for everyday file transfer but underused for the case it was built for. If you are switching from Android to Mac as a primary device, run this rather than copying files manually.
Snapdrop, LocalSend, and the open-source alternatives
Snapdrop (in the browser) and LocalSend (native apps for Mac and Android) handle peer-to-peer file transfer over local network without an account or cloud service. Both are free, open source, and useful when you do not want to log into Google or Apple services on one of the devices.
Speed is good on a Wi-Fi 6 network. Privacy is strong because nothing leaves your local network. LocalSend is the better pick for ongoing use because it has a real client app; Snapdrop is the friction-free option when you need to move a file once.
What about AirDroid, Pushbullet, and the older third-party apps?
AirDroid still works and remains useful for users who want a full remote Android management interface on Mac. Pushbullet has been in decline for years; most of what it once did is now native to Quick Share or LocalSend. Both apps require accounts, which is the trade-off versus the direct-pair tools above.
If you came here because AirDroid was your previous answer and something stopped working, Quick Share for Mac or LocalSend cover most of the same ground without the account requirement.
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | Wireless? | Account needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Quick Share for Mac | Everyday file transfers | Yes | |
| OpenMTP (wired) | Bulk transfers, large files | No (USB-C) | None |
| Google Drive / Dropbox | Persistent sync | Yes | Cloud provider |
| Migration Assistant | Platform migration to Mac | Yes | Apple ID |
| LocalSend | Privacy-first peer transfer | Yes | None |
| AirDroid | Remote Android management | Yes | AirDroid account |
The setup, step by step
- 1
Install Quick Share for Mac from google.com/quick-share
Free Google download; signs in with your Google account.
- 2
Open Quick Share on the Mac
Choose your visibility (everyone, contacts, your devices).
- 3
On Android, tap Share on the file
Select Quick Share.
- 4
Pick your Mac from the discovered devices
Accept the transfer prompt on the Mac.
- 5
Wait for the transfer to finish
Files land in the macOS Downloads folder by default.
FAQ
Is Android File Transfer still supported?
Google deprecated it in 2024 and recommends Quick Share for Mac instead. Existing installs may still work on older macOS versions but the tool is no longer updated.
Why is wireless transfer slow on my network?
Usually because one or both devices are on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Force both to 5 GHz or Wi-Fi 6 for substantially faster speeds on Quick Share and LocalSend.
Can I transfer iMessage or WhatsApp history this way?
Not generally. Messages migration is platform-specific and uses different tooling. WhatsApp has a Move to Android tool; iMessage requires the Migration Assistant flow.
Does Quick Share work between Android and iPhone?
Quick Share is Android and Mac. Apple’s AirDrop is iOS and Mac. There is no native equivalent between Android and iPhone; LocalSend or NearDrop work for that bridge.
The Android to Mac transfer order
Transferring files between Android and Mac is finally solved for everyday use. Quick Share for Mac is the default; wired USB-C with OpenMTP handles bulk moves; cloud sync covers persistent shared files; Migration Assistant handles platform migrations; LocalSend covers privacy-first peer transfers. Pick by scenario rather than by habit, and the workflow that used to be a pain point becomes a routine step.
