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MacDroid short-guide series

Transfer photos from Android to Mac and vice versa easily

Android and iOS are the two dominant operating systems for portable devices these days. However, for users of Apple software, many problems can be encountered when trying to move data between a Mac and Android device. The two softwares have been designed independently of each other, and operate in very different ways.

When you transfer photos from Android to PC, the software is practically identical so you don’t need anything extra, macOS is not like that. On top of that, many users find that the compatibility between Mac software and Android software can vary a lot from device to device - you may know how to transfer photos from Samsung S7 to PC, but a different version could be far less compatible.

It’s not uncommon for users to encounter "Could not connect to device", "No device found" or "Can’t access device storage" error messages when trying to transfer photos from Android to Mac. Obviously, when this happens, you can try checking the physical connections between your Mac and device or restart both or either one.

However, this isn’t a foolproof way of solving the problem, and if you rely on a good connection between your devices, you can’t risk any unreliability. That’s where MacDroid comes in to connect Android to Mac.

Try MacDroid - best app to transfer Android photos to Mac
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How to transfer photos from Android to Mac


First off, we’re going to look at sending Android photos to Mac using the MTP mode:

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You’ll need to connect your Android device to your Mac using a standard USB cable. Make sure it’s connected properly, as a poor connection will make Android data transfer impossible.
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Next, check that you have got MacDroid set to MTP. If a request for access comes up on your phone, select File Transfer. You should get a confirmation message on the interface letting you know that your device has been successfully connected.


You’ll also have the option to do some troubleshooting if you are having any issues, or watch an instructional video that will show you how to copy files from Android to Mac.


Although MTP mode is a common way for Android users to transfer files between Mac and Android, the advanced ADB mode is also available with MacDroid.
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You should now be able to see your Android device in the bar on the left hand side of the interface. At this step, you can rename your device if you want to personalise it in any way. You won’t be able to transfer photos from Android to Mac until you mount the device, so click the Mount button at the bottom of the interface.


MacDroid can mount multiple devices, so you can manage data right from Finder on all your Android gadgets that were connected.
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From here, you should be able to get to the files on your phone and start transferring photos from Android to Mac.


No additional actions are needed, as it was the last step to connect your Android with Mac for photos transfer.

The file explorer lets you go to the folders where any photos are held. It’s worth mentioning that your saved images may be in several different folders. For instance, you may have some saved in Pictures, and others saved in Downloads. Also, with most Android phones, you’ll have a folder called DCIM. This stands for Digital Camera Images.


This is where any pictures that you have taken with your phone camera will appear. Once you find the images you’re looking for, all you need to do is transfer photos from Samsung to Mac, or any other kind of Android device.


MTP and ADB are the two options available on MacDroid, and the names refer to different methods of Android file transfer. With MTP, the computer sends a series of requests to the Android device, and the device responds by giving the computer access to certain files. With ADB, the computer is given complete access to the Android device, making it a faster way to move Android pics to Mac as there is no need for sending requests or waiting for responses.



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Device compatibility - Full
Device compatibility - Full
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free

What is MacDroid photo transfer app

MacDroid

4.5 Rank based on 56 + users Reviews (56)
Requirements: macOS 10.15 , 20.41MB free space. Version 2.2.404 ( 12 Sep, 2024 )
Category: DeveloperApplication

MacDroid is a solution of Android file transfer for Mac designed to help the many Mac users who prefer using Android portable devices. While most people know how to transfer photos from Android to PC, Macs are more complicated. As the different platforms lack any native connectivity, MacDroid bridges the gap and makes it easy for you to maintain connections between devices with different operating systems.


It is designed to let you keep your devices in sync, with a minimum of difficulty.

The MacDroid photo transfer app lets you ensure your Mac and Android device are up-to-date across a wide range of different file types. Audio and video can be easily moved from one device to the other, and you can quickly transfer photos from Android to Mac, or vice-versa.


MacDroid lets you edit files directly from your Mac, saving you the trouble of importing files, editing them, and then exporting them again. You can also use the software to transfer videos from Android to Mac entirely, letting you view them on widescreen at any time you choose.


MacDroid can run in two different modes. Single operation mode (MTP) lets you connect to your Android device, or any other MTP device. It can also be operated in Multi Operational Mode (ADB). This allows for a more rapid way of moving data from your Mac to your portable devices.


All you need to make use of MacDroid is the software, and a USB connection between your Mac and Android device. If you already know how to transfer photos from Android to PC using USB cable, you’ll know how to connect your devices.


MacDroid is available in free and PRO options. The free option only allows you to transfer photos from Android to Mac as well as other files, and so lacks the versatility of the full version. The PRO version, on the other hand, lets you move data in both directions, transfer music to Android from Mac and so allows for full usability.


The PRO mode also features consistent updates, ensuring that the software runs at its very best. You can subscribe to the free version of MacDroid and enjoy a free week’s trial of the PRO version, to find out just how useful it is.

MacDroid | Google photos Mac app
Import photos to Mac from Android

How to transfer photos from Android to Mac using USB (Android File Transfer by Google)


Android File Transfer by Google is an app that connects your Android phone to your Mac via USB. You can use the app to transfer photos from Android to Mac (and also to transfer photos from Mac to Android).


Although the app is outdated and has a lot of bugs, Android File Transfer is still popular as the app is free to use.


Here’s the step-by-step guide to transferring photos from Android to Mac using Android File Transfer:

1
Download Android File Transfer and install the program on your Mac.
2
Connect your Android phone to your Mac using a USB cable.
3
Then, open Finder on your Mac and search for Android File Transfer (it should be in your list of drives).
4
Then, double-click the Android drive icon and you should be able to see a list of apps which you can drag and drop to your desktop, as needed.
5
You can then import photos to iPhoto or videos to iMovie.
You can also transfer files between computers - for example, between your work and home computer, as long as both computers have Android File Transfer installed.



How to transfer photos from Android to MacBook wirelessly (SyncMate)


If you don’t want to transfer Android to Mac photos via USB, there is another way. Using SyncMate, you can transfer files and photos wirelessly. SyncMate is a professional tool that allows you to transfer almost any type of file between Android devices and your Mac.


Here are the steps to follow if you want to transfer photos from Android to MacBook wirelessly using SyncMate:

1
First, download and install SyncMate on your Mac. You’ll need to upgrade to the Expert edition to transfer photos.
2
Launch SyncMate on your Mac, and ensure Wi-Fi is enabled on your device.
3
Then, make sure that the SyncMate module is launched on your device. You can download the module here. Note that if you previously connected your device to your Mac using SyncMate and a USB cable, the SyncMate module should have installed automatically on your device.
4
Make sure "Wi-Fi Sync" is checked in the module.
5

Adjust the connection settings for your device.


You can add multiple connections and synchronize all your data on your Android gadgets.
6
Then you’re ready to sync!

Android to Mac photos file transfer via cloud (Google Photos)


The final option for performing an Android to Mac photos transfer is to use the cloud and a service like Google Photos. You can set up Google Photos so that any photos you save on the app on your device will automatically be viewable on your Mac.


Just follow this simple step-by-step guide to do that:

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First, you’ll want to install the Google Photos Uploader app on your Mac.
2
You’ll also need to install the Google Drive Sync app, which syncs data on your computer with Google Drive.
3

Now, go to Google Drive from your browser of choice, and then select Google Photos.


You can find all the photos stored in your Google Drive account.
4
Open the Settings pane for Google Photos on Google Drive, and check that the Create Google Photos folder option is enabled.
5
Now, go to the Google Drive settings on your Mac, and select the Google Photos folder in your Google Drive.
6
That’s it! Your photos should now sync automatically between your Android device and your Mac.
Try MacDroid to access photos on Mac
Photo transfer app desktop

Final thoughts on transferring photos from Android to Mac


And that’s pretty much everything you need to know about how transfer pics from Android to Mac laptop. MacDroid, as Android File Transfer alternative, has been designed to make this process as simple as possible, and has become the program of choice for many phone users.


The free version gives you a certain degree of control, and lets you find out what’s on offer. We recommend that you try it out, and find out for yourself how user-friendly and efficient the program is with the free 7 day trial.

FAQ


You probably know how to transfer files from Samsung Android to PC. However, unfortunately, since Android and macOS are two separate operating systems, many users encounter difficulties when they try to connect Android phone to Mac. Both systems have their strong points, so it’s unsurprising that many people favour Mac for their laptop or computer, and Android for their portable device.


The most reliable way to connect Android to Mac and transfer files from Android to Mac is to use a program such as MacDroid. These programs have been designed to make it as easy as possible to connect these two devices, and you can easily find out how to copy files from Android to PC or Mac.

The current version of Android File Transfer has been designed to work on macOS 10.7 and up, so if you have a previous version, you won’t be able to make it work. Users have also reported that Android File Transfer encounters some problems and compatibility issues on certain versions of macOS such as 10.15. You may also need to make some changes to your phone settings if you want to make use of the program.

MTP stands for Media Transfer Protocol and is a straightforward method of moving data between devices. It has been designed for Android OS, and rather than making the raw data on an Android device available to a computer, it instead provides the computer with a directory of the data available.


The computer then makes requests for files in order for them to be transferred. ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a faster method of connecting, whereby the computer can send direct commands to an Android phone. That means that, rather than sending queries and waiting for access, it can quickly and directly change files on the device.

There are plenty of different programs on the market designed to transfer photos from Android to Mac. MacDroid has become a popular choice for users. The free version is an effective tool for moving photos from Android to Mac. And if you want more advanced features, you can invest in the PRO version, which also lets you transfer from Mac to Android.


The MacDroid website lets you know how to transfer photos from Samsung to computer macOS systems, and more.

You’ll find a handy step-by-step guide for how to transfer photos from Android to Mac via Wi-Fi above (see the How to transfer photos from Android to MacBook wirelessly section). Did you know that you can also use SyncMate to transfer photos from Android to Mac (and to transfer photos from Mac to Android) via Bluetooth?
You used to be able to use Samsung Kies to quickly and easily perform an Android to Mac photos transfer - if you have a Samsung phone. However, Samsung Kies hasn’t been updated in some time. You can use Samsung Switch to transfer your photos and other data - but this is really designed for transferring data from one phone to another. The quickest and easiest way to transfer photos from Samsung to Mac is to use MacDroid.
MacDroid

Break transfer barrier between Android and Mac

Requires macOS 10.15 or newer; compatible with all Android and MTP devices
MacDroid is your best way to transfer photos from Android to Mac.
Requires macOS 10.15 or newer; compatible with any Android and MTP devices
4.5 overall rank,
based on 56+ users, Reviews (56)
Version 2.2.404,
released on 12 Sep, 2024