by Christine Smith • 2020-10-28 17:55:41 • Proven solutions
How to transfer videos from Android to PC is a typical question when we transfer data. Besides, having a Macbook and Android smartphone is the most annoying combination. Why? Because it’s quite hectic to exchange data between the two devices. Since security is one of the major USPs of all Apple products, you can’t directly connect your Android smartphone and copy-paste the files you want to transfer.
Fortunately, there are a couple of tricks that’ll help you transfer video from Android to Mac without having to go through too much trouble. In today’s guide, we’ve scribbled a list of 8 recommended methods to send video from your Android smartphone to a Macbook instantly.
Part 1. Transfer Video from Android to Mac with USB Cable
HandShaker (formerly known as SmartFinder) can connect your Mac to your Android phone in USB debugging mode and enables you to browse and transfer content in both directions with ease.The app automatically keeps the content organized by file type, but you can also use additional filtering options. The app automatically keeps the content organized by file type, but you can also use additional filtering options. Connect your Android phone to your Mac and start transferring files Once your Mac is authorized to connect to your phone in USB Debugging mode, in the HandShaker main window you can browse.
Even though you can’t directly connect your Android smartphone and access the file manager, there’s still a way to transfer files between Android and Macbook via USB. All you have to do is to install third-party software, known as Android File Transfer on your Macbook and use it to transfer video files.
Android File Transfer is Google’s official tool to transfer data from Android to Mac and vice-versa. The tool will allow you to access your smartphone’s File Manager directly on your MacBook with a simple USB connection.
Here’s the step-by-step process on how to transfer videos from Android to Mac using Android File Transfer.
Step 1: Download and Install Android File Transfer on your Macbook.
Step 2: Connect your smartphone to your laptop via USB. Make sure that the USB option is set to File Transfer or MTP (Media Transfer Protocol).
Step 3: At this point, Android File Transfer should open automatically. Here browse through the directories and select the files that you want to transfer.
Step 4: Drag the selected files to your desktop, and they’ll be instantly transferred to your Macbook from the Android device.
While it may seem too convenient, many users have reported encountering bugs while using Android File Transfer. If you’re also stuck in a similar situation, make sure to check out the next methods on our list.
Part 2. 4 Ways to Transfer Video from Android to Mac Wirelessly
If you don’t have a USB cable at the moment, you can also transfer video from Android to Macwirelessly. There is an array of wireless transfer methods that’ll help you exchange data, including images and video files, between the two devices. Some of these wireless methods include.
1. Use Cloud Storage Like Google Drive
One of the most convenient ways to transfer video from Android to Macbook is to use a cloud-storage app like Google Drive. You can simply upload your videos to Google Drive and download them on Mac using the same Google account.
However, this method is only suitable if you have limited data. Google Drive only offers 15GB free space. So, if you’re planning to transfer 15GB+ data, you’ll have to purchase additional space. Moreover, you’ll require a stable Internet connection with fast upload speed to upload your video files on Google Drive.
It means that using cloud storage to transfer video from Android to Mac will only be suitable if you’re planning to move 3-4 videos with limited file size.
Step 1: Open Google Drive on your smartphone and tap the + icon.
Step 2: Click on Upload and select the files that you want to add.
Step 3: The uploaded files will be inside My Drive unless you manually move them to a different folder.
Handshaker For Mac
Step 4: Now, open Google Drive on your Macbook and right-click the specific video file. Select Download to save the file on your laptop.
2. Transfer Via Bluetooth
You can also share files from your Android smartphone to the Mac via Bluetooth. Since every Android device has Bluetooth built-in, you won’t need a third-party app to transfer the videos. Moreover, you don’t need any fast Internet connection to share files over Bluetooth.
Here’s how to transfer videos from Android to PC using Bluetooth.
Step 1: Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on both devices.
Step 2: Also, enable Bluetooth Sharing on your Macbook. To do so, go to System Preferences and select Sharing. In the left side-panel, check the Bluetooth Sharing option.
Step 3: Now, pair the two devices with each other. Make sure that pairing code matches on the two devices.
Step 4: Once the devices are paired, you can select files that you want to transfer and click Share on your smartphone. Choose Bluetooth and choose your Macbook to transfer the videos successfully.
While it’s quite convenient to transfer files via Bluetooth, there’s one limitation of Bluetooth Transfer. As compared to other wireless transfer methods, Bluetooth sharing is comparatively slower.
3. Sync Videos to Google Photos
Google Photos is yet another cloud-storage application that’ll make it easier to transfer video from Android to Mac. One of the major advantages of using Google Photos is that you can directly sync your smartphone’s storage, and all the files will automatically be saved on the cloud. You can then download these files anytime you want on your Macbook by signing-into your Google account.
Follow these instructions to enable back-up & sync using Google Photos on your Android smartphone.
Step 1: Launch Google Photos on your smartphone and sign-in with your Google account credentials.
Step 2: Tap Menu in the top-left corner and select Settings.
Step 3: Now, click Back-up & Sync and enable/disable the feature by toggling the switch.
4. Transfer Files Using OTG USB Drive
OTG, also known as on-the-go, is an impressive technology that has made it easier to transfer video from Android to PC, be it Windows or Mac. You can plug-in the USB flash drive in your smartphone and copy the files that you want to transfer.
Once these files are transferred, you can simply plug-in the USB drive to your Macbook and transfer the data to your PC with one tap. This is an extremely convenient way to transfer data between Android and Mac, even if you’re planning to transfer a large amount of data.
Part 3. 3 Apps to Transfer Media Files from Android to Mac
Like Android File Transfer, there are several other third-party apps you can use to transfer data from Android to Mac. Since it might get a bit difficult to choose from these many options, we’ve cherry-picked 3 best data-transfer apps that’ll allow you to share files from Android to Macbook.
1. Handshaker
Handshaker is simple, yet the most convenient app to exchange data between Android and Mac. The app is available for free on Apple’s App Store, which means you can directly install it on your system, without visiting a third-party website. Moreover, an easy-to-use interface makes it extremely easy to transfer files between the two devices.
Follow these instructions to transfer video from Android to Mac by Handshaker.
Step 1: Go to Apple’s App Store and download Handshaker. Install the software on your system.
Step 2: Now, connect your Android smartphone to your Macbook via USB. Make sure to enable USB-debugging on your smartphone. You can follow the steps mentioned in the following snippets to enable the feature.
Step 3: Handshaker will automatically detect your Android device and display its File Manager on the Mac. Browse through the folders to select files that you want to transfer. Once selected, simply drag-&-drop them on your desktop.
2. Commander One
Commander One is another utility for Mac that allows file transfer between Mac and Android. The software mounts an Android device as an external hard-drive, making it easier to navigate through folders and transfer selective files quickly. In addition to Android devices, you can also use Commander One to transfer videos from other external devices, including your digital cameras.
Here’s how to transfer video from Android to Mac using Commander One.
Step 1: Download Commander One on your Macbook and install the software.
Step 2: Now, connect your Android device via USB and let Commander One automatically recognize the device.
Step 3: Once it detects the smartphone, you’ll be prompted to the following screen. Select and drag the files to your desktop to save them on your Macbook.
3. SendAnyWhere
SendAnywhere is one of the most popular third-party data-transfer apps, which is available for almost every platform. You can install the dedicated app on your Mac and Android smartphone and use it to connect the two devices quickly.
SendAnywhere transfers files over Wifi, and therefore, you can expect fast data transfer rates. One of the major USPs of SendAnywhere is data encryption. Your files are securely transferred over an encrypted server, restricting potential hackers from stealing your valuable data.
Here’s how to transfer videos from Android to Mac using Send Anywhere
Step 1: Download and launch the app on both devices.
![Store Store](https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?thumbnail=130%2C87&quality=95&image_uri=https:%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fuu%2Fapi%2Fres%2F1.2%2FFlf8ZEZlQScl9K6TS_Pk8g--~B%2FaD02Mzk7dz05NjA7YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b24-%2Fhttps:%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fhss%2Fstorage%2Fmidas%2F7be50c2729554e734812a52be2af996%2F202208055%2Fapple-watch-steel-link-will-lipman.jpg&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=8d5aa672a98a703896f1062da8e787a80fcd29c7)
Step 2: Select the video files on your Android device and click Send. You’ll see a 6-digit code on your screen.
Step 3: Enter this code on your Macbook under the Receive section and press enter.
Step 4: Click Download, and the files will be instantly transferred to your Macbook.
Part 4. Bonus Way: Transfer Video from Mac to Android in 3 Steps
That wraps up our guide on how to transfer video from Android to Mac. However, what if you want to transfer videos the other way around, i.e., from Mac to your Android device. In this case, you can install a third-party tool, Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate), on your Macbook and use it to transfer files from Macbook to an Android smartphone.
Even though the tool is marketed as a video converter for PC, you can use its Transfer feature to send videos from PC to external storage devices. All you have to do is to follow these three quick steps.
Wondershare UniConverter-Quick Tranfer Tool for Mac and Windows
- Transfer videos from Android to Mac without any issues.
- Convert to 1,000+ video/audio/image formats.
- 30X faster speed for conversion.
- Basic video editing meet your simple demands.
- Download or record videos from YouTube and other 10,000+ video sharing sites.
Security Verified. 7,851,625 people have downloaded it.
Step 1 Launch the tool
Install and launch Wondershare UniConverter on your Macbook. Select the Transfer option from the Toolbox tab.
Step 2 Get the device connected
Grab the USB cord and use it to connect your Android device to the Mac. The program will start to decompressing driver files. Now, follow the onscreen instructions to enable USB Debugging.
Step 3 Insert the video file
Click on the +Add Files icon in the top-left corner and choose videos from your Macbook’s local storage.
Step 4 Transfer Now
Once you’ve selected the files, simply tap the Transfer All button to initiate the transfer from Mac to Android.
Conclusion
Even though connecting an Android smartphone to Macbook is challenging, the methods mentioned above will help you transfer files between the two devices. Whether you have shot a short video clip on Android or want to move a complete TV-series, these methods will help you conveniently transfer video from Android to PC.
A lot of Android users rely on Mac as their primary computer. Keeping this in mind, it’s important to have best android file transfer app or software that can help you transfer files between your Android smartphone and Mac. Given that Apple doesn’t offer a software by default to do this, users have long had to rely on third-party solutions for safe and secure file transfer between a Mac and an Android device.
Google has had the Android File Transfer app for Mac that helps you easily transfer files (or even drag and drop) onto your Android phone or tablet. However, this is not suitable for every purpose. Despite its feature set, Android Device Manager does have some limitations.
This is where other offerings come into the mix. Given that there are quite a lot of these apps now, we decided to compile a list of the five best Android file transfer software for Mac in 2020. So without waiting any further, let’s get right to it.
A word on Mac
It’s worth noting that, even though Android has improved substantially over the years — and so has macOS — you still cannot just download files by plugging in your USB or USB-C cable. You have to download what is essentially the “compatibility” app Google has made for macOS, Android File Transfer. Once you download that — for free — you should be able to transfer files as freely as you’d like.
That said, Android File Transfer is also still the best file transfer software that you can pick up for Mac. There are plenty of others that add more features, but truly, all you need is Android File Transfer from Google, which we’ll talk about here:
Best Android File Transfer Software for Mac
1) Android File Transfer
This service has been around for quite a while now. Google has refined the app over the years to maintain compatibility with newer macOS versions. It’s a pretty basic solution to something that concerns so many users. Android File Transfer allows you to seamlessly access your Android smartphone or tablet through a macOS computer. It allows you to transfer or view photos, videos, contacts and more in no time.
It works over a USB connection, so it’s imperative to have a wired connection with your Mac for this feature to work. As we said, it’s not the best solution out there, but it works out pretty well for a lot of users. Sure, it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of other apps, though it gets the job done pretty decently. Android File Transfer is available from Google’s site (link above), and is free.
Download it now: here
2) SyncMate
This is an elaborate software for your macOS computer that can connect to several other devices in addition to your Android smartphone or tablet. Further, it allows you to connect your Android device as a separate hard drive, allowing seamless file transfer between your Mac and Android device. You can also mount your Android smartphone as a separate disk on your Mac, giving you the freedom to quickly transfer files between folders. What makes SyncMate really stand out is the fact that it can also sync music, contacts, and even folders without any effort from the user.
Pretty much like an iPhone, SyncMate can automatically sync predetermined folders in no time. It can also sync apps between your Mac and Android devices, which is an appealing feature to have on a Mac software. It’s an extremely functional app and has to be high up on your list if you’re seeking to stick to a handy solution. The company offers a free edition that anybody can try out and then move on to the paid of “Expert” version if they like the product.
Download it now: here
3) Handshaker
This is an app that doesn’t require a separate download link as it can be downloaded directly from the Mac App Store. It’s perhaps the best alternative to third-party Android file transfer apps as it has been approved by Apple for this very purpose. Keeping this in mind, it has to be on top of every Mac/Android user’s list. As far as the features are concerned, it’s fairly easy to pair with an Android smartphone or tablet. The app supports drag and drop of files between the Mac and the Android device.
Although the app initially required a wired connection for file transfer, it now supports wireless file transfer as well with impressive speeds. The best part here is that the app also lets you access your phone’s microSD card storage and transfer files conveniently. What makes this app my favorite is the fact that it’s completely free to download on the Mac App Store. Be sure to check it out.
Download it now: here
4) AnyTrans for Android
This particular software is pretty similar to SyncMate, in that it offers a comprehensive device syncing solution between a Mac and Android smartphone/tablet. It supports all the versions of Android, so you’re well covered even if you own a slightly older Android device. This particular offering is fully capable of syncing photos, music, videos, and even apps through .apk files. The app uses a secure protocol to setup a connection between the Mac and the Android device to protect the safety of your files.
If there’s one downside, it’s the fact that AnyTrans can take a while sometimes to recognize your device. This can be annoying especially if you’re in a hurry. But to make up for this, remember that AnyTrans can also help you download music videos online at no cost. iPhone users have been using AnyTrans as a viable iTunes alternative to sync music and photos, so it’s only fair that the folks at AnyTrans have a version for Android users as well.
Download it now: here
Mac Handshaker
5) Cloud Services
This is a bit of an odd choice but hear us out. Services like Dropbox and Google Drive have allowed seamless syncing between desktops and Android devices for quite some time. Keeping this in mind, it’s not a bad idea to install a Google Drive or Dropbox plugin on your macOS computer and copying the files there to access it immediately on your Android smartphone and vice versa. This can, however, take some time and is highly dependent on the kind of internet connectivity you have, so it might not be for everyone.
But if the internet speed is not a concern, this simple option can come in handy to every user. It’s also important to remember that Cloud services offer a certain amount of free storage to some users. Keeping this in mind, this is perhaps one of the cheapest and most effective modes of file transfer between a Mac and an Android device, although the speed remains a concern for some users.
Download it now: here
Verdict on the best android file transfer app
As you can see, there are a lot of excellent applications that you can use to seamlessly transfer files from Android to Mac. The nice thing about applications like these is that they allow you to quickly and easily move files from Android to Mac, and from Mac to Android.
Do you have a favorite way that you transfer files from Android to Mac, and the other way around? Let us know in the comments section below!
Handshaker App Windows
We will receive sales commission if you purchase items using our links. Learn More.