Did you connect your Android phone to your MacBook, but you can’t copy any files? A Mac can’t open an Android phone’s storage on its own, so you need a small app. In my video I use Android File Transfer, Google’s free app to browse and transfer files between your Mac and your Android device. Here is how to install it and copy files in both directions.
Update (October 2026): Google no longer promotes Android File Transfer on its website: the old android.com/filetransfer page now redirects to Quick Share for Windows. The direct download link below still works (checked in October 2026). If it stops working, or the app doesn’t work on your Mac, try OpenMTP, a free and open-source alternative.
In this article
Android File Transfer
Browse and transfer files between your Mac computer and your Android device. Android File Transfer supports macOS 10.7 and higher.
Download Android File Transfer
Google’s old official download page: android.com/filetransfer (it now redirects to Quick Share for Windows).
Android File Transfer is made by Google. By downloading it, you agree to Google’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
What you need
- A Mac with macOS 10.7 or later.
- Your Android phone or tablet.
- A USB cable that fits both devices, for example the cable that came with your phone. In the video I use a USB-C cable.
How to install and use Android File Transfer
- Download the app with the button above.
- Open AndroidFileTransfer.dmg.
- Drag Android File Transfer to Applications.
- Connect your Android device to your Mac with the USB cable.
- Open Android File Transfer from Launchpad or the Applications folder. The first time, macOS warns that it is an app downloaded from the internet. Click Open.
- Unlock your phone. In the USB pop-up or notification on the phone, choose File transfer.
- Browse the files and folders on your Android device and drag the ones you want to your Mac, for example photos, videos or screen recordings.
Copy files from your Mac to Android
It works the other way too: drag files from your Mac into the Android File Transfer window, into the folder where you want them on the phone.
Troubleshooting
- “No Android device found”: check the cable, unlock your phone and choose File transfer in the USB notification. Then close Android File Transfer and open it again.
- “Can’t access device storage”: make sure your phone is unlocked and that File transfer (MTP) mode is selected.
- macOS won’t open the app: see how to fix “can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer”.
- Still not working? Use the free OpenMTP app instead.
Using a Windows PC instead of a Mac? See how to fix a Google Pixel that Windows 11 doesn’t recognize.
Watch the video
In the video I show every step on my MacBook:
