Many people are long-time Android phone users who do not change phone easily and their first iDevice may begin with a MacBook or iMac out of work or design need. Generally, people have better experience in resolution ratio and color when they do design work on a MacBook or iMac. So, if there are some rather important files on their Android phone, they may need to sync Android with Mac to backup files.
As you know, Android phone and Mac are two platforms with different OS, thus, it is not that easy to sync Android with Mac. But it is still possible. Many enthusiastic software developers have contributed different Android MacBook sync tools to help you sync Android with Mac, which is a great convenience for Android users.
Android File Transfer is a gadget issued by Google company to help users sync Android with Mac. It is convenient to transfer light files using Android File Transfer between Android and Mac, however, it is widely considered a "legacy" tool now. Google will not update it anymore, and it has several significant disadvantages that often make it a frustrating experience for MacBook users.
1. Many system errors prevent connecting or transferring between Android phone and Mac.
2. Time-out occurs frequently during Android MacBook sync for heavy files.
3. It is notoriously picky about USB cables. Cables that work perfectly for charging often fail to work for data transfer with AFT.
4. Android File Transfer only supports specific Android models.
5. Not all Android files are transferable to Mac using Android File Transfer.
6. Apps management is not supportable when you sync Android with Mac via Android File Transfer.
7. The interface and color are not user-friendly.
Even though Android File Transfer is not a good tool to sync Android with Mac, you can select other practical programs for synchronization, such as Coolmuster Android Assistant. As long as you download and install it on your Mac, you can easily preview and access your Android data on the computer. What's more, you can transfer most Android data to Mac directly, such as contacts, SMS, call logs, videos, music, photos, documents, and more.
Main features of the Android Assistant software:
Download Coolmuster Android Assistant.
Let's see how to sync Android with Mac via Coolmuster Android Assistant:
Step 1: Connect Android phone to Mac.
After installing and launching Coolmuster Android Assistant on Mac, use a USB cable to connect your Android phone with Mac. Then enable debugging and grant permission by constantly tap Allow or OK on Android phone when pop-up windows ask you.
After auto-detection and if the two are successfully connected, you will see Android phone's main interface on Mac.
Step 2: Sync Android with Mac.
* For all data backup, go to: Supper Toolkit > Backup > Tick all contents > Click Browser to choose a storage path on Mac > Back Up.
* For selective data backup, under My Device, Click desired folder (e.g. Messages) in the left window > Choose detailed items in the right side > Export to Mac.
After the progress bar finishes, you will sync Android with Mac successfully.
See also: How to Transfer Photos from Android to Mac Wirelessly
Apart from the above easy method to sync Android with Mac, some Cloud services, like Google Drive, can also sync Android with Mac. After uploading files from your Android phone, you can view and download the files from Google Drive to your Mac computer via a stable network.
To sync Android with Mac with Google Drive:
Step 1: Install Google Drive
Please download and install the Google Drive app on your Android phone from Google Play. Then sign in with your Google Account.
Step 2: Upload Android Files
To sync your Android files to Mac, please click the "+" icon, and choose "Upload" to select files from your Android internal storage.
Step 3: Download Files to Mac
After upload Android files, go to your Mac, and open the browser. Then access Google Drive web, and log in to the same account. Then you can see and download your uploaded Android files.
OpenMTP is a reliable and open-source alternative to the often-glitchy "Android File Transfer" app from Google. While OpenMTP is primarily a manual file transfer tool rather than an automated background sync service (like iCloud), it allows you to "sync" your data by easily moving files between the two systems.
Here's how:
Step 1: Installation and Setup
- Go to the official OpenMTP website and download the version compatible with your Mac. Then open the .dmg file and drag the OpenMTP icon into your "Applications" folder.
- When you first launch the app, macOS might block it because it's from a third-party developer. Go to "System Settings" > "Privacy & Security" and click "Open Anyway" if prompted.
Step 2: Connect Your Device
Connect your Android device to your Mac via USB. Then choose "File transfer" or "MTP" on the phone.
Step 3: Sync Files to Mac
Launch OpenMTP on your Mac. You will see the left pane is your Mac's folders and files, and the right pane is your Android phone's folders and files. Now, simply select files or folders from one side and drag them to the other. Then the files will be transferred to the destination device.
To sync Android with Mac seems to be not easier, compared with iPhone to Mac sync or Android to Android sync or Android to Windows computer sync. Correspondingly, direct tools to sync Android with Mac are even lesser. Luckily, Coolmuster Android Assistant is here for you, which can solve all problems concerning Android MacBook sync. Go to download and try it now. If you encounter any problems during use, welcome to leave a comment below.
Related Articles:
Android Sync Manager | Best 6 Phone Sync Apps You Can't Miss
6 Simple Ways to Fast Connect Android to Mac (Proven & Effective)
How to Transfer Music from Mac to Android Effortlessly? Solved in 4 Ways
How to Transfer Photos from Samsung to Mac for Backup? 4 Ways in 2026
Feedback
Download for PC
Download for Mac
