How to send files from an Android phone to a Mac without an app
By Thavasi · Updated 31 October 2026
Android phones and Macs don't get along well. AirDrop is built for Apple devices, and Google's old Android File Transfer app for Mac is no longer offered. If you just want to get some photos or a PDF from your Android phone onto a MacBook, here are the ways that actually work.
Quick comparison
| Method | Install anything? | Works with | Size limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser tool (WifloShare) | No | Any Android phone, any Mac | None |
| Quick Share with AirDrop | No | Only some newer Android phones | None |
| Google Drive / Photos | App on the phone | Any | Your free storage |
| USB cable + a transfer app | Yes, on the Mac | Any | None |
Method 1: From the browser (any Android, any Mac)
This needs only Chrome on the phone and Safari or Chrome on the Mac.
- Put both on the same Wi‑Fi Or turn on the phone's hotspot and join it from the Mac.
- On the phone, open wifloshare.com Tap Tap to choose files and pick your photos, videos or documents. You get a 6‑character code.
- On the Mac, open wifloshare.com Go to the Receive tab, type the code and click Download.
- Find the files in Downloads Several files arrive as one ZIP. Double-click it to unpack.
The files go straight from the phone to the Mac over your Wi‑Fi, so there's no upload, no size limit and no loss of quality.
Try it now: open wifloshare.com on both devices. It's free, with no sign-up and no size limit.
Open WifloShareMethod 2: Quick Share with AirDrop (newer phones only)
Since late 2025, Google has been adding AirDrop support to Quick Share, starting with recent Pixel phones and then some Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo and Honor models. If your phone supports it, you can send straight to a Mac from the share menu. Both devices must be set to be visible to Everyone, and contact-only sharing doesn't work between the two systems.
The catch: most phones in use today, including many mid-range and older models, don't have it yet. If you don't see the option, use Method 1.
Method 3: Google Drive or Google Photos
Upload from the phone, then open drive.google.com or photos.google.com on the Mac and download. It works from anywhere, but big files take time to upload and download, use your internet data twice, and count against your 15 GB of free storage. Google Photos may also save copies at reduced quality if you've chosen a storage-saving setting.
Method 4: USB cable and a transfer app
Macs can't open Android phones over USB on their own. You need a third-party app, such as the free, open-source OpenMTP. It's reliable for copying whole folders, but you need the right cable and an app on the Mac.
Which should you use?
- A few files, right now, nothing to install: the browser method.
- Your phone has AirDrop in its Quick Share menu: use that.
- Backing up your whole camera roll: Google Photos or a cable.