Having problems trying to download Android File Transfer on my Mac—every time I try, it either won’t start or gives me an error message. Really need this to transfer files between my Android phone and my computer. Anyone know what could be causing this or how to fix it?
Android File Transfer for Mac: Here’s What’s Up
So let’s talk about Android File Transfer for Mac—yep, the one that used to be the go-to solution for moving stuff between your Android and Mac. The official route has totally dried up. You head over to Google’s website, and it’s ghosted. Not just “unavailable for now,” but flat-out discontinued. No more downloads, no more official support, and if you poke around a bit, you’ll see frustrated users all over the place asking what happened.
The Hunt for Something That Actually Works
It’s like this big game of musical chairs. Suddenly, everyone’s scrambling to figure out a replacement. I tried the USB shuffle, fiddled with Bluetooth, and even emailed photos to myself like it was 2011. But honestly? That process is clunky and, let’s be real, sometimes files just vanish or get corrupted. Airdrop? Not happening—Apple still acts like Android doesn’t exist.
There are a few names that get thrown around in the forums. OpenMTP pops up a lot, and it’s not bad if you don’t mind a bit of a learning curve. But if your patience is running thin or you want something straightforward, MacDroid has been floating around in user recommendations.
Here’s My Take After Trying Out MacDroid
Plugged my Pixel in. MacDroid noticed it right away. No jumping through hoops, no installing drivers, just go.
What stood out:
- You can move entire folders both ways (Android ↔️ Mac), not just single files. This was a huge upgrade over the old Android File Transfer.
- Direct access to both internal and external storage—think photo dumps or shuffling around music, hassle-free.
- Doesn’t randomly crash when you move large files (looking at you, AFT).
- You don’t have to tinker with Terminal or special permissions. It just shows up in Finder like a regular drive.
- Multiple Android devices? No sweat. I swapped between my phone and an old tablet and MacDroid played nice with both.
Real talk: It doesn’t try to do anything weird in the background. No awkward syncing features, no pop-ups. It pretty much does one thing and does it well.
What Else Is on the Table?
Not trying to start a war—OpenMTP is a solid pick if you want open-source, and sometimes simple built-in tools work if you just need a quick photo transfer via Google Photos or email. But for day-to-day file juggling, especially with big media folders, MacDroid shaped up to be a strong contender.
Google isn’t bringing Android File Transfer back—at least not soon. If you’re bouncing between Androids and Macs (for whatever reason), MacDroid is a solid alternative that hits the sweet spot for usability and features. Definitely worth a look if you’re tired of workarounds and want something reliable. The search for a decent file transfer tool just got a little less annoying.
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Yup, Android File Transfer is pretty much a fossil now, and like you said, actually downloading still-active copies from Google’s site is a lost cause. Saw @mikeappsreviewer plug MacDroid—which honestly, fair, it does the core job. But before everyone jumps on new apps, a quick reality check: these third-party solutions have their quirks too. In my case, MacDroid worked… until it didn’t (sometimes it just drops the connection for no reason, and I’ve got the Pro version). OpenMTP is decent if you have patience for a not-always-polished UI—the bonus is it’s open source, for what that’s worth.
But, call me stubborn, I still haven’t given up on ye olde methods. FTP via WiFi (using Solid Explorer app on Android + Transmit or Cyberduck on Mac) gets my stuff across, no cable drama, just kinda slow if you’re dealing with huge files. It’s not for everyone, but just tossing it out in case anyone else is sick of installing Yet Another App.
As for Bluetooth and email–nope, not if you value your sanity or have more than 3 photos to move. Seriously, who does that in 2024? Best of luck to anyone clinging to official support coming back. Until then, seems like picking your least-annoying workaround is the real answer.
Not surprised you’re hitting a wall—Android File Transfer (AFT) is basically MIA now. Like, official downloads are donezo, so unless you unearth some ancient installer (sketchy alert), it just won’t work. Honestly, not sure why Google gave up on something that so many folks actually needed, but here we are.
So @mikeappsreviewer and @byteguru already covered MacDroid and OpenMTP, and honestly, I agree they’re better options than beating your head against a dead tool. But just to toss another angle in—has anyone here actually had zero drama with Finder’s built-in SMB file sharing? You can set up your Mac as a shared network drive, then use an app like CX File Explorer on Android to access your Mac’s files directly over WiFi. No wires, no dropped AFT connections, and you aren’t stuck with (usually) paid apps. Yes, setting up shares can be a lil weird at first, but it’s all local and, in my case, more reliable than crossing my fingers with every cable plug-in.
That said, nothing matches drag’n’drop in Finder, and MacDroid really comes close—but (just me?) sometimes mounts flake out if your phone’s in some weird charging state or doesn’t ask for file transfer. I’m not convinced any method is perfect yet, but MacDroid’s at least in active development, so maybe it’ll get polished up more than the abandoned AFT ever was.
To sum up: AFT ain’t coming back, MacDroid and OpenMTP are decent (pick your flavor), but if you want to avoid more apps, try SMB. Just please don’t go back to emailing yourself files unless you really want to relive high school.