Android File Transfer: How to Move Files from Phone to Mac and Windows PC

Transferring files between your Android phone and a computer used to be simple. You just had to plug in a USB cable, drag files and be done. While that is still true on a Windows PC, if you are on a Mac, things have changed drastically as Google has abandoned its Android File Transfer app. The good news is that there are now better options, including a cross-platform app to transfer files between Android and Windows PC or Mac. On that note, let's go ahead and learn all the transfer methods.

What Happened to Google's Android File Transfer App?

For years, Android File Transfer was the default way Mac users transferred files to and from their Android phones, but in May 2024, Google quietly pulled the plug and discontinued the app. It had not received a major update in years and kept breaking on newer macOS versions like Sequoia and Tahoe.

On Windows, Google never released a dedicated Android file transfer app because Media Transfer Protocol or MTP already works natively when you plug your phone into a PC. That said, Google launched wireless Quick Share for Windows in 2024, which replaces the old Nearby Share branding, and it's the closest Windows equivalent to AirDrop.

So depending on whether you are on a PC or a Mac, the best Android file transfer method is completely different in 2026. Let's now go through each one.

Android File Transfer Between Phone and Mac

Since Android File Transfer no longer works, here are the three best methods that actually work in 2026. We have included both wireless and wired methods.

Using Blip App to Transfer Files Wirelessly

This is the one option I want every Mac and Android user to know about. Blip is a free cross-platform app that is the closest thing to a true AirDrop replacement for Android phones. It's faster than every other wireless method I have tried, and it doesn't matter if your Mac and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network or not. Here is how to use Blip to transfer files between Android and Mac.

1. Download and install Blip on your Android phone from the Play Store and on your Mac from the Blip website.
2. Once done, launch the Blip app and sign up with the same email on both devices. You only need to do this once.

3. Now that the setup is done, simply select a file and tap on the Share button on your Android phone.
4. Next, choose Blip from the share sheet and tap on your Mac from the list.

5. The file will be transferred to your Mac in no time, even when you are not on the same network. Similarly, you can transfer files from the Mac to your Android phone as well.

The best part about Blip is that it has no file size limits and works over the internet when you are not on the same Wi-Fi. In addition, it preserves folder structures unlike LocalSend or PairDrop and supports auto-resuming too. Everything is encrypted with TLS 1.3, and the company claims that the files are never stored on any server. It's free for personal use and works across Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, Android and Linux. I personally use it to transfer files from Android to iPhone, and it works amazingly well.

Using OpenMTP to Transfer Files with a USB Cable

If you miss the old Android File Transfer tool, you can try the free and open-source OpenMTP tool. It's a wired method that quickly facilitates file transfer between Android and Mac. Here is how to use it.

1. First off, download and install OpenMTP on your Mac. It supports both Apple Silicon and Intel-based MacBooks.

2. Next, connect your Android phone via a USB cable.
3. Now on your Android phone, pull down the Notification drawer and tap on Tap for other USB options and select Transferring files / Android Auto.

4. After that, open the OpenMTP app on your Mac, and it will automatically detect your Android phone.
5. Here, you will see a dual-pane interface; your Mac storage will be on the left side and Android storage on the right.
6. Now, drag and drop files between the two panes to transfer files between Android and Mac.

Note that if the OpenMTP app fails to detect your Android phone on the first try, switch to the Legacy mode from the settings. This fixes the issue for newer Samsung and Pixel phones.

Using MacDroid to Mount Phone Storage on Mac

If you want to mount your Android phone as a disc in macOS' Finder so you can easily browse and edit files without copying them first, MacDroid is the tool to use. It offers a free version that lets you copy files from your Android phone to Mac, but to move files from Mac to Android, you need a paid subscription. If you want a fast wired transfer solution, you can check out MacDroid.

1. Download and install the MacDroid app from the Mac App Store.
2. Now, open the MacDroid app and connect your phone via Wi-Fi, ADB or MTP.
3. Here, I am showing the MTP method, which is a wired transfer. Click on Connect via MTP.

4. Now, connect your Android phone to the Mac using a USB cable.
5. MacDroid will automatically detect your Android phone, and when it does, click on Show in Finder.

6. You can now browse the internal storage of your Android phone and copy files to your Mac without any issue.

Android File Transfer Between Phone and Windows PC

Windows users have it easy, and they can seamlessly transfer files between Android and PC. Here are the top three methods that I personally use.

Using a USB Cable (MTP)

As I mentioned above, MTP natively works on Windows, so you can easily connect your Android phone to a Windows PC using a USB cable and transfer files. Here is how to do it.

1. Connect your Android phone to your PC using a USB cable.
2. On the Android phone, pull down the Notification drawer and select Tap for other USB options alert.
3. Here, choose Transferring files / Android Auto inside the Use settings screen.

4. Now, open the File Explorer on your PC and your phone will show up as a storage device.

5. Double-click on your phone's name to open it, and from here you can now transfer files between your Android phone and Windows PC.

Using Google's Quick Share App

Quick Share is the official solution by Google for Android to Android file transfer. It's also now available on Windows, and you can use it to wirelessly transfer files between your Android phone and Windows PC. Here is how to set it up.

1. Download and install the Quick Share app on your Windows PC.
2. Now, open the Quick Share app and set your device visibility to Everyone from the "Who can share with you" dropdown.

3. Make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are both enabled on your PC and Android phone.
4. On your Android phone, choose a file you want to transfer, tap on Share and pick Quick Share from the Share sheet.
5. Choose your PC from the list of devices.

6. Now, tap on Accept on the Quick Share app to approve the transfer on your PC.

7. The file will be transferred right away from your Android phone to the Windows PC.

Using Blip to Wirelessly Transfer Files from Android to Windows

Just like on Mac, Blip is also available on Windows PC, and you can use it to transfer files between your Android phone and PC. Frankly, I use Blip more than Quick Share for wireless transfer, as it's much more seamless and fast. On top of that, I don't have to be on the same Wi-Fi network. With that said, here are the steps to follow.

1. Download and install Blip from the Play Store on your Android phone and on Windows from the Blip website.
2. Now, launch Blip on both devices and sign up with your email ID. This is just a one-time process.

3. Next, on Android, open the Files app, long-press the file you want to transfer and tap on the Share icon.
4. Pick Blip from the Share sheet and choose your Windows PC.

5. The file will get saved on your PC the moment you hit Send. No need to manually approve the transfer.

That's how you transfer files between Android and a Mac or Windows PC. I would highly recommend using Blip, as it's the best app for wireless transfer across multiple platforms, even better than LocalSend. But for wired transfer, go for OpenMTP on Mac and native MTP support on Windows. These methods work really well and without any fuss. If you are using a Nothing phone, the brand has launched Nothing Wrap app for built-in Android-to-Mac wireless transfer.