Android File Transfer Not Working on Mac

It is not uncommon to run into issues while transferring photos and files from your Android smartphone to your MacBook. If you’re getting one of the following errors and fail to transfer files with the Android File Transfer application, this article might be helpful.

• Could not connect to the device
• No Android device found
• Can’t access device storage

Solution # 1: Restart Your Mac & Android

Sometimes a temporary technical glitch causes issues with the Android File Transfer. Restart the Mac operating system and your Android smartphone. Now relaunch the Android File Transfer application again.

 

Solution # 2: Enable USB Debugging

As an Android user, you might have already heard about USB Debugging. It is highly important to understand what this feature is before you go on to use it.

USB Debugging allows your Android smartphone to communicate with your PC or Mac. This makes pulling up log files, receiving personal files, and command-lines over a USB connection a very easy job.

1. Disconnect the USB cable that connects your smartphone to the Mac.
2. Reconnect it after a few minutes.
3. Tap Settings on your Android phone.
4. Tap Connected Devices | USB.
5. Turn on USB Debugging to Media device (MTP).

Note: DO NOT keep USB Debugging enabled for an indefinite amount of time. Plugging your Android smartphone to a public charging station or someone else’s computer with USB Debugging activated could put your personal and sensitive data at a huge risk. Any rogue element could easily steal your confidential information, personal files, passwords or even copy malware to it. It is recommended that you activate this feature while connecting your phone to your own personal computer only, and disable it after use.

 

Solution # 3: Change the USB Cable

USB cables wear out over time, just like any other piece of hardware. Unplug the USB cable and check if it’s broken or partially damaged. Instead of breathing life into an already broken cable, it is best to replace it with a newer one. This would ensure maximum transfer speed and no connection loss.

 

Solution # 4: Unlock the Screen

Make sure that your Android smartphone’s screen is NOT locked. Disconnect the USB cable, unlock the smartphone and then reconnect it. This might help.

 

Solution # 5: Update Your Android OS

Which version of Android do you use? Running an obsolete Android version could not only possess security risks but also run you into compatibility issues. To avoid Android File Transfer problems, update your Android smartphone to the latest version.

1. Tap the Settings icon.
2. Scroll down to the bottom, and tap System.
3. Tap System update | Check for Updates.

 

Solution # 6: Wirelessly Transfer the Files

If none of the solutions mentioned above helped fix the Android File Transfer not working issue, try a wireless file transfer. Please note that you must have a high-speed Wi-Fi network to use this feature.

Method # 1: Using Cloud Sharing

One of the easiest ways to transfer files is to use cloud storage and sharing services. They offer a reasonable alternative to the existing Wi-Fi sharing apps. The best bet is to register an account on popular cloud storage services such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box which offer considerably high transfer speed. All of these services provide a free quota to transfer your documents, images, videos, music, compressed files. This free quota should be sufficient for a limited number of files. If you need to transfer a large number of files, you will have to upgrade to a paid plan.

1. Register an account on the Google Drive platform. If you already don’t have a Google account, create it.
2. Tap the PlayStore app, and search for the Google Drive client app on your smartphone.
3. Install the app.
4. Tap the circular Plus icon on the bottom-right corner of the screen and tap Upload.
5. To select multiple files, tap and hold the first file in the sequence. For subsequent files in the queue, simply tap to select them.
6. Your files will be uploaded to the Google Drive servers. This might take some time depending on the size of your files.
7. Once all the files are uploaded, download the Google Drive client on your Mac and install it.
8. Enter your login credentials to sign in, and then sync your files in bulk.

 

Method # 2: Using AirDroid (Freemium)

AirDroid is an Android app that can seamlessly transfer your files without needing to rely on the Android File Transfer system. There is no need to connect any cables or install any application on your Mac operating system. The steps are as follows:

1. Tap the Google Play Store icon on your Android device.
2. Type AirDroid in the Search box.
3. Locate the AirDroid app, download and install it on your smartphone.
4. Launch the app and tap the AirDroid Web option.
5. The app will give you two choices. You can either click on the web address leading to the AirDroid browser-based application or use a unique IP Address displayed in the second option. This option will require you to connect from the same local network from your Android and Mac.
6. Navigate to the IP address displayed in option 2 via the web browser of your MacBook.
7. As soon as you open the IP address, a prompt will appear on your smartphone requesting you to connect. Tab the Accept option.
8. In the AirDroid screen on your Mac’s browser, tap the Photos icon.
9. Select the photo you want to download and click on the Download button.
10. Similarly, you can click on the Files icon to view and download other files such as documents.