How to Manage Files on Android with a Mac

One great feature of an Android device is the capability of managing files from the folder itself. On a PC, once you connect the USB cable from the device to the computer, you will be able to explore files in folder views. However, on a Mac, it’s not as simple as that. Although by default you won’t be able to explore File Manager, there are applications that will allow you to do so. Go to step 1 below if you are a Mac user and own an Android device.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Use Android File Transfer

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    Download Android File Transfer. You can get the file from the app website here.
    • Click Download Now, and it will start downloading the file.
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    Double-click on androidfiletransfer.dmg. You will see this file once the download is complete.
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    Drag the Android File Transfer icon to the Applications folder.
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    Connect the USB cable. Connect one end of the cable to your device and the other to the Mac.
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    Open Android File Transfer. Double-click on the Android File Transfer icon inside the Applications folder.
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    Browse files. Your device will be automatically detected. You will see all the folders inside your phone.
    • You can copy files up to 4GB from and to your Mac as well as delete unwanted files.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Manage files with Mac Android Manager

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    Download Mac Android Manager. You can download the file from the app’s website.
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    Install Mac Android Manager. When you open the downloaded file, simply drag the app icon into the Applications folder.
    • Double-click on the icon to open the app.
    • Click on the free trial option.
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    Connect the Android device to Mac. Connect your data cable to a USB port of your Mac and the other end to your Android device.
    • The application will automatically detect your phone.
    • If successful, you will see your phone details displayed on the screen.
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    Manage files and media. Once you are connected, you will be able to manage media files, contacts, and messages; you can even back up your device.
    • Click on the corresponding category you see on-screen.
    • Click on the Add button on the top-left corner of your window.
    • You will not be able to choose any file to include in your device.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Use AirDroid App

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    Download and install AirDroid. You can download this app from Google Play or visit the apps website.
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    Open the application.
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    Register your account. Select the register option on the bottom of the screen.
    • Enter a valid e-mail address.
    • Enter a password.
    • Type in your nickname.
    • Hit the Register button.
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    Go to the AirDroid website. On your browser, enter web.airdroid.com and enter your login credentials.
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    Manage files from the web app. From the web app interface, you can instantly see all file categories you can manage.
    • To access the folders in your device, just click on the Files icon.
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References

  1. http://www.android.com/filetransfer/
  2. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sand.airdroid
  3. http://www.airdroid.com/

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 16,588 times.
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Co-authors: 8
Updated: March 29, 2019
Views: 16,588
Categories: Android
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