Using devices that belong to the same OS ecosystem is an excellent idea if you want to avoid compatibility issues. But that’s not always possible.
If you own a MacBook and an Android phone and you try to connect the two, that might take more work than expected. If you simply connect your devices via a USB cable, your Mac won’t recognize the phone. There are a few things that you need to do in order to make your Android compatible with your MacBook.
Troubleshooting Android and Mac Connection Issues
1. Check your USB cable and restart your devices
First of all, make sure the cable itself is not the culprit. Check it and make sure it’s not faulty or damaged. If possible, use a different cable to test the connection. If it works, this indicates the cable you tried before is faulty and you need to replace it.
Also, don’t forget that a simple restart can quickly solve your technical problems. Go ahead and restart both your Android device and MacBook and check if the issue is gone.
2. Use Android’s debugging mode
Before connecting your Android phone to your Mac, make sure to enable debugging mode on your Android device.
- To do this, open the Settings menu on your Android device
- Go to Applications, and tap Development
- Next, tap USB Debugging
- Make sure USB debugging is enabled
- You can now use your USB cable to connect your Android device to your MacBook.
If you own a Samsung Android phone, you also need to go to Smart Switch for your Mac to recognize your phone.
3. Use Android File Transfer
Android File Transfer is perhaps the most popular app that Android users rely on to connect their devices to Mac computers via USB cable. This is perhaps because the app does not require an active Internet connection. Once this app installed, your phone will appear as a drive on your Mac.
Here’s how to use Android File Transfer
- Download and install Android File Transfer to your Mac
- Use the USB charging cable to connect the two devices
- Launch Mac Finder
- Locate Android File Transfer
- Double-click the Android icon to access your apps
- You can then drag and drop them to your MacBook’s desktop or export photos and videos to your Mac.
4. Install AirDroid (requires Wi-Fi connection)
The AirDroid app is a very useful app that allows Android users to access the UI of their phone from a computer browser. You can use this app to manage your notifications, send messages and emails, download files and photos, and so on.
Keep in mind that you need a Wi-Fi connection for AirDroid to work properly.
Here’s how to use AirDroid:
- Install the app on your phone from
- Visit AirDroid.com on your Mac
- Create an account, sign in and you can access and manage your Android phone on your Mac.
Conclusion
In order to connect your Android to your Mac, make sure the USB cable you’re using is not faulty, enable USB debugging or install a third-party app such as Android File Transfer or AirDrop. If your Mac doesn’t recognize your Android device, make sure the conditions listed above are met.
Andy says
The developer settings are hidden by default on some phones. You forgot to mention ‘Tap Build Number seven (7) times’ to activate Debugging Mode. Build Number would be under About Phone, usually.
Dana says
Well I don’t know if this will help anybody today but I was having the same problem as everybody else was above in the comments and I did try everything and it didn’t work except for one thing. I went ahead and tried the airdroid app you have to download it on your imac and your cell phone and then you just transfer wat u want to. I promise you it works. I tried everything under the sun and this is the only thing that actually did work hope this helps someone I’ve been trying for a week to get this to connect . The airdroid app will transfer anything that you would like it to that’s on your cell phone to your desktop, they have a free version and a premium for a dollar a month, the free version works great so far ! Good luck
Anne Leblanc says
this didn’t work for me either (how many of us is that, now?)
There is no Development or no USB Debugging on my Galaxy A8.
Bluetooth is on on both laptop and phone but no connection.
So frustrated with this!
Anne
Andy says
Pretty sure anyone who thinks the problem is the operating system (macOS) is on the money.
I’ve tried everything to get my iMac to speak/handshake/connect that’s running 10.12 (sierra) with an Android phone LG V50 running (android 11) and not a celluloid cat in hells chance. Tried EVERYTHING… Bluetooth.WiFi hard wired via USB…. nothing at all zero co-operation from either device. Typical apple throwing a spanner in the works trying to thwart anyone who isn’t a “COMPLETE” convert.
Changed to an old laptop running Yosemite (10.10.5) after a clue here from Satish and Christoph Bingo! everything works as it should. Cheers guys it’s not just Big Sur it’s probably everything from 10.10 onwards but I’ll try 10.11 just for fun and also some glue to re=affix the hair I ripped out!
I used to be a card carrying Apple disciple… till the company changed for the worst about the time the prodigal son returned and the ieverythings emerged…not anymore
stuck with a mac says
yeah this is dubious at best. not only is the path way on android way off NONE of the named locations are even ON my android A20 as of 9-30-2021. why the heck should i get some sus as hell file system? bogus and worthless info. move on from this post. if i could vote this page would get a thumbs down.
Will says
Galaxy users Gary and Neil – enable dev options by going to ‘about phone/software info/build number’ and then repeatedly tapping the build number option. After this, dev mode will be in the main menu, below ‘about phone’. Unfortunately, the usb debugging still did not solve this for me.
Fraser says
Hi Guys…….also try Instashare for file transferring…….dead easy…..install Instashare on Android phone then find Instashare in Apple App Store and add to mac……then off you go!!
Hope this helps!
netanel says
SAMEEE HEREEEE those bastards!! I tried EVERYTHING!! please help me!
satish says
Christoph—same here I have done all that but my Mac still won’t recognize my phone. it was working before updating to Big Sur
sally says
did you find a solution? i have the same predicament
Gary Crispin says
No ‘development’ under the apps menu in settings on my samsung galaxy
Christoph says
I have done all that but my Mac still won’t recognize my phone. I think it used to work before updating to Big Sur?
Neil Williams says
Cannot find debugging mode on my galaxy S8…
Evan Millar says
Good information. Android phone is unuseable due screen not working so cannot do anything on the device like setting into debug mode. Any options that do not require action on the phone.
PS Macdroid shows phone on the device list as ‘not connected’ so it must be able to see it but not 100&