How can I transfer photo files from Android to Mac?

Well, transferring files between iPhone and Mac is an easy job but it is not the case for Android devices. I have a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and need to transfer dozens of photos from my Samsung phone to M1 Mac. In fact, I did this a couple of years with the official Android File Transfer app provided by Google but now there is no way to find this app.


The Google support page only lists instructions for Windows PC and Chromebook and it seems it drops support for Mac.


How can I transfer files from Android to Mac with an Apple Silicon chip? macOS version is Sonoma 14.6.1.


Thanks

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Posted on Sep 4, 2024 3:45 AM

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Posted on Sep 5, 2024 1:05 AM

I also found that Google seems to have given up support for Mac, but it doesn’t matter, I have two ways to help you transfer photos from Android to Mac:


  1. AirDroid: I have been using this recently. It does not require any wires. As long as your phone and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network, you can easily transfer files by opening the AirDroid web client. For me, the speed is quite fast and I haven’t encountered any major problems.
  2. Commander One: This is a file manager on Mac that supports connecting Android devices to Mac. You just need to connect your phone with a USB cable, and then use Commander One to manage and transfer files. It is also no problem for M1 Mac. I tried it several times and it went smoothly.


Both methods are very simple, and there is no need to look for Android File Transfer anymore.

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 5, 2024 1:05 AM in response to hogdanw

I also found that Google seems to have given up support for Mac, but it doesn’t matter, I have two ways to help you transfer photos from Android to Mac:


  1. AirDroid: I have been using this recently. It does not require any wires. As long as your phone and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network, you can easily transfer files by opening the AirDroid web client. For me, the speed is quite fast and I haven’t encountered any major problems.
  2. Commander One: This is a file manager on Mac that supports connecting Android devices to Mac. You just need to connect your phone with a USB cable, and then use Commander One to manage and transfer files. It is also no problem for M1 Mac. I tried it several times and it went smoothly.


Both methods are very simple, and there is no need to look for Android File Transfer anymore.

Sep 5, 2024 1:19 AM in response to hogdanw

I've had issues with AirDroid's slow transfer speeds when using a public Wi-Fi network. But, when I'm connected to my home network, it's worked like a charm! Commander One has been a breeze to use, but I have had to deal with occasional disconnections when using an older USB cable.


If you're looking for a convenient and fast way to transfer photos files from Android to Mac without worrying about file size limitations, Commander One might be the better option. However, if you're looking for a wireless solution that's easy to set up, AirDroid is definitely worth considering.

Sep 5, 2024 8:19 PM in response to hogdanw

Android File Transfer is built for Intel macOS and so requires Rosetta 2 to be installed.


You can install Rosetta 2 with:

softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license


Note that it is very difficult to remove Rosetta 2 once it is installed.


After that, connect Android phone to Mac with USB cable and start transferring files from Android to Mac with the android file transfer app.

Sep 5, 2024 1:27 AM in response to hogdanw

Using Bluetooth to transfer photo from Android to Mac isn't the fastest method out there, especially when you're dealing with a bunch of high-res photos. If you're trying to send a large album, you might end up waiting around for ages. It's kind of like watching paint dry! You gotta keep your devices close to each other. If you step away while transferring, you might get a dropped connection. Not ideal if you're trying to multitask, right?

Sep 4, 2024 7:03 PM in response to hogdanw

Android File Transfer is now replaced by Quick Share, the official software recommended by Google. It is a wireless solution for transferring files among nearby devices. Unfortunately, it does not support ARM and Mac devices. You have to use other apps to help you transfer files from Android to Mac. The following is the notice from Android.com.


What Windows computers are compatible with Quick Share?

Windows computers (i.e. desktops and laptops) running a 64-bit version of Windows 10 and up — ARM devices not supported. Download Quick Share and ensure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on your Windows PC.

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How can I transfer photo files from Android to Mac?

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