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MacDroid short-guide series

Transfer files Android to Android via Mac and wirelessly

We often store documents, photos, videos, and other files on our phones. And after all, when switching to a new Android phone, you may need to transfer all these things from your old Android. Actually, there are plenty of ways to transfer files between your Android devices. You can even use your Mac as backup storage and execute Android file transfer Mac using a USB cable. Let’s consider the most common ways in this article.

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1. How to transfer files from one Android to another using MacDroid

MacDroid

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Requirements: macOS 10.15 , 20.41MB free space. Version 2.2.404 ( 12 Sep, 2024 )
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If you are looking for a USB solution to transfer files Android to Android, you can rely on MacDroid. This full-featured app is fully compatible with the latest versions of macOS and provides fast and glitch-free file transfers. To start copying files, you just need to connect Mac to Android with a USB cable. Just a few steps and your photos, music, videos will be transferred.

MacDroid is packed with handy features. You can edit Android files directly in Finder without moving them around on your computer. What’s more, there is a possibility to create new, delete, and rename Android folders on Mac.

The app allows mounting Android as a disk on Mac. This means you can access all of your files on Android and copy them to your devices. There are two modes you can connect devices in: Single-Operation Mode (MTP) and Multi-Operation Mode (ADB). MTP is an easy way to connect your Android and other devices like digital cameras, portable media players, while ADB is more efficient and faster.


Let's look at MacDroid's pros&cons.

icon pros Pros:

  • Supports Android and MTP devices
  • You can use up to five Macs and unlimited Android devices
  • Offers 7 day PRO trial
  • Single- and Multi-Operation modes
  • Enables editing Android files directly on Mac.

icon cons Cons:

  • The free version is available only for Android Mac file transfer, to be able move files from Mac to Android you should upgrade to the PRO version
  • Doesn’t work with Windows and iOS devices.

Supported OS: macOS

Price: $19.99 per year


As a Mac software, MacDroid lets you move all your files and entire folders between two Android devices using Mac as backup storage. Here is the complete guide on how to transfer files from one Android to another:
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Download and install MacDroid on your Mac.
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Connect your devices with the supplied USB cable.
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Open MacDroid and navigate the "Devices" in the main menu.
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Select either MTP or ADB mode and follow the instructions to grant your Mac access to your Android.


It's up to you to choose appropriate mode.

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If needed, confirm the file transfer in the notifications section of your Android.
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Select your Android device in the "Device list" and then hit "Mount".
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Once your devices are connected, you can open Finder and start moving files to Mac.
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After moving everything you need to your Mac, unplug the devices.
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Next, connect another Android to Mac and move files you just transferred.
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That’s all! You’ve successfully completed the file transfer to another Android.
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Android USB file transfer

2. Wireless ways to transfer files to new phone

Transferring files from Android to Android via USB may not be a suitable solution for some users. If you are among those users, don’t despair. You can move your files wirelessly. It’s really convenient, especially if you don't have a USB cable at hand.

Bluetooth

First and foremost, you can use Bluetooth to transfer files from one phone to another. You can transfer videos, photos, music, and more. However, if you need to move large files, you should search for another option as file transfers over Bluetooth may take longer. So, to transfer files from one Android to another, make sure Bluetooth is turned on both devices and pair them.

Once your devices are paired, you will be able to transfer files. Locate the file you want to move and find the "Share" option. Next, select Bluetooth and you will see other nearby smartphones, select your other phone from the list. Accept a file transfer request on your other device.


That's how to transfer from one Android phone to another with Bluetooth.


NFC (Android Beam)

NFC (stands for Near Field Communication) refers to a protocol for transferring data between two devices. Most smartphones and even tablets have an NFC chip. If your device is running Android 4.1 or higher and has an NFC chip, then it supports Android Beam file transfer feature. How does it work?

To start transferring files, both devices should have NFC activated. Take the sender phone and locate the file you want to share, then navigate the sharing menu. Choose Android Beam and bring two devices close to each other. Tap on the sender phone screen to start beaming.


That's how to transfer from one Android phone to another with Android Beam.


Google Nearby Share

Every iOS, iPadOS, and macOS user knows about AirDrop, a feature that allows users to instantly share files between Apple devices. Google also has a file sharing feature called Nearby Share. If you want to transfer a photo or a video from your Android, you can do so using Nearby Share.

To get started, you just need to find the file you want to share, tap the share icon and select Nearby Share. After the receiver’s phone is identified, tap on its name. The transfer will start after the recipient clicks "Accept". Note: Nearby Share should also be enabled on the phone to which you’re sending the file.


That's how to transfer from one Android phone to another with Nearby Share.


Third-party apps

One more wireless way to transfer files from Android to Android is using third-party apps like Send Anywhere. It is a file transfer service that makes sending files between Android devices a breeze. To send files, you need to pair two devices together by using a special code.

So, open an app and add all the files you want to send, tap the "Send" button. You will get a six-digit key. To start the transfer, take the receiver phone and enter this key. In addition to the Android app, Send Anywhere is available as a web-based app.


That's how to transfer from one Android phone to another with Send Anywhere.


3. How to transfer from one Android phone to another: official suites

Large phone manufacturers usually offer official suites for Android mobile phone transfer. Generally, such utilities are easy to use and support Wi-Fi transfers. For example, if you are using Samsung, then you can seamlessly transfer all the data you need to another Samsung Galaxy device using Samsung Smart Switch. It is available as PC version, Mac version, and Android mobile application.

Other examples of official suites worth mentioning is LG Mobile Switch. However, official suites work best when moving files to a phone of the same brand.


Find official suite for your phone on the manufacturer's website.


4. Main aspects to transfer files from one Android to another

Using Google account and cloud services

You can transfer files via Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox. These services provide instant access to all your files from wherever you are via an app installed on your phone or through your web browser. Surely, to work with cloud services, you need an Internet connection.

Using Backup tools

One more option you can use to transfer files from one Android to another is to back up files from your phone to Mac or PC. It takes a few steps: connect your devices, back up your phone’s files to your computer and then restore backed-up files from the computer to another phone. This method usually requires a USB cable and a third-party app.

Transferring files from Android phone to Android tablet

You don’t need to look for other ways to transfer files from phone to tablet. You can use any of the methods described in the article: whether it’s a USB file transfer or cloud services. Just choose the one that’s right for you.

Transferring photos from Android to Android

Our phones store a lot of photos, so when switching to a new one we want to keep all our important files. The good news is that it’s quite simple to transfer photos from Android to Android using any of the described ways.

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Android files transfer to Mac

Now you know how to transfer files from Android to Android. There are quite a lot of methods that will definitely help you to move files between your phones. Although all of the ways are efficient, we will recommend you MacDroid. It's easy to use, reliable, and simplifies the transfer process. With MacDroid, you will be able to access your phone’s files from Mac, move them around, transfer entire folders and back up your media.

Frequently Asked Questions:


There are multiple official suites and other Android data transfer solutions that will help you to send files from one Android to another wirelessly. You can also try to back up your Android files to PC and then restore them to your other phone.
You can opt for MacDroid that lets you access Android from Mac and transfer any kind of files, including photos, music, videos, and more. With it, you can also move folders. Just connect your first Android to Mac with a USB cable and transfer folders you need to your computer. Then connect the second phone and send those folders from Mac.
When switching to a new Android phone, you may need to transfer all content from your old phone. For this purpose, you should use a phone transfer app, which will allow you to move everything you need to your new device. Additionally, you can try moving your data using NFC if both of your devices support it.

The most common way is to use Bluetooth. It still remains a convenient way to transfer files from Android to Android. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on both devices. Once enabled, find files you want to transfer, tap the share button and select Bluetooth among other options. Choose the name of the receiving device from the list and click on it.

Since most laptops are Bluetooth enabled, you can also use this method for Android file transfer Windows.

MacDroid

Break transfer barrier between Android and Mac

Requires macOS 10.15 or newer; compatible with all Android and MTP devices
Transfer files between Android and Mac using MacDroid.