File Transfer From Android To Mac
So, you have the nightmare scenario, an Android phone and a Mac and all you want to do is transfer a file from your Android to your Mac.
To cut right to the chase, using a file transfer platform like Kwiqflick is the best. The following steps will tell you how to transfer files from Android to Mac instantlyS
Step by step - Transfer from Android to Mac
Step 1
Go to Kwiqflick on your Mac and register an account — it’s free forever to transfer 3GB, so don’t worry about any hidden costs.
Step 2
Sign in to your kwiqflick account on an Android device using a mobile browser.
Step 3
Add files to your kwiqflick account using the ‘add’ button. Add as many as you like. You can upload directly from your gallery or file folder.
Step 4
Go back to your Mac and open Kwiqflick, and there are your files. You can download them using a zip file, or download them one by one, or just look at them and admire them from afar. But the work is done. As soon as you upload your files to Kwiqflick, you automatically have them on your Mac whenever you want.
Using the Android App
The official app that Android has built is not the best by far because it’s not simple.
Of course, it’s not going to be simple because Apple first designs all its products around its ecosystem. Their user experience across their suite of products makes it easier to transfer content and files between Apple devices. It’s much more beneficial for Apple for people to buy a new Apple device rather than make it easy for them to transfer files from your Android device to a Mac. It works too. Once you are in the Apple ecosystem, it’s near impossible to get out.
Disclaimer: I decided to move away from Apple a couple of years ago. I’m now writing this article on the latest apple mac book pro, wearing the newest Apple watch. I’ll let you know that I have an iPad generation six with an apple pencil for good measure. Also, I have apple iPod pros, and I subscribe to almost every Apple service. So as you can see, the move away from Apple went well.
However, it’s much easier than you think to transfer files, photos and content between the two.
First of all, Android has built an app for such a thing. Of course, it is in Androids interest to make sure that you don’t have to purchase an Apple device and get sucked into Apple’s ecosystem.
To get the app, simply go to https://www.android.com/filetransfer/ and follow the instructions.
It’s not the best.
Now, suppose you are like me, and you feel like transferring files should be simple and easy. In that case, you would not have to download an app, plug in a cable and possibly go through several cycles of psychopathic rage to get it all to work; there is another way.
Of course, I’m referring to Kwiqflick – the clue is in the URL.
Kwiqflick recap
For those of you that are not familiar with Kwiqflick, it’s simple. Imagine a single, free application where you can combine a place to store your files and send them to anyone with an email address. Not having to mess around with finding links and copying them, but literally click a send button, selecting files and then adding an email address and sending them.
If simple file transfer and management is what you are craving, then Kwiqflick is for you.
Needless to say that this works the other way around too. You can add files to Kwiqflick using your Mac to have them instantly available on your Android device.
The Need For Transfer Apps
So why all the trouble?
Well, this touches on the heart of why we built kwiqflick in the first place. Transferring files and working with them is not a great experience. Android and Apple do not inherently build compatibility into their operating systems because they are more focused on delivering their ecosystem’s user experience. They are not that focused on providing usability cross-platform because it’s not in their interest. Apple’s operating system is simply different to Android’s operating system. For instance, Airdrop will always work amazingly well with Apple devices. Still, you will never transfer a file from Android to Apple using Airdrop unless Apple is forced to allow you to. And they will not give that unique offer without a fight.
This makes it impossible for Apple product users to transfer files to other devices or transfer files to Apple devices using inbuilt operating protocols. Instead, plugins and additional applications are needed. Even if they are required, those applications are produced by Apple of Android themselves.
Usually, one of these companies would develop an application allowing the transfer of files and content from third parties to their own ecosystem. Thus, there is no incentive to provide and support a great user experience to transfer outside of their ecosystem.
The official solution to using Android for file transfers is explained below. Still, several other workarounds and apps can connect an Android via cable to a Mac but not wirelessly. In the age of wireless transfers, not many people will opt for plugging in cables unless necessary.
Like AirDrop, which allows a connection between an iPhone and a Mac on the same network, some apps enable wireless Android file transfer via WiFi and USB from a Mac too and from a Mac.
Dropbox and Google Drive offer decent workarounds for those with a dedicated Android file transfer app. But they do not provide an excellent user experience when you would like to send a file to someone else. That’s why Kwiqflick was created because we wanted to make it as easy as possible to transfer files and content between devices and allow files to be sent to anyone simply and easily.
FTP between operating systems
Now I can’t create an article without talking about FTP between the two operating systems. So if this simple sentence has made you go, “what the heck is that?”. Don’t worry, ignore the following few paragraphs and simply use Kwiqflick.
However, if you would like to kill the next five minutes because you have nothing better to do, you can use FTP to share files between Android and macOS. All you need on your Android phone is a file explorer with solid file explorer and download functionality to create an FTP server. This way, you have many options for file sharing between your devices.
The File Transfer Protocol is a standard communication protocol used to transfer computer files from a server to a client on a computer network. FTP is built on a client-server model architecture using separate control and data connections between the client and the server. The application that people usually default to is Filezilla. After downloading (yes, exactly yet another download), select the file you want to share and drag it to your Mac or vice versa. You will see that your phone files are located on a remote page in the FileZilla area. Tap Set up user and create a user password to access the files.
Navigate to the directory and find the files you want to share on your Mac. Then, drag and drop the files to your music folder on your device (optional) or memory card. Next, the files move to the folder you set via Bluetooth to share on the Mac.
Find the exact file and drag it from the desktop to your preferred folder. For example, on a Windows system, you can connect your Android smartphone to a Chromebook, plug it in, open the USB port, tap the USB charging notification on the phone, select transfer files and select transfer the photo to treat your phone as a multimedia file focused on the camera. On your Mac screen, you can also click on the name of your Android phone to select which files you want to send your phone to.
Feel like you just lost some time of your life that you will never get back? I did try and warn you.
It also works for windows
If you think, “you left out windows!” here is a quick paragraph to cover windows.
The process of moving files and content from Android users to Windows PCs can be pretty long, and it can seem a bit scary. But for those wondering how to transfer files from Android to Windows, Kwiqflick will do it in the exact same way.
So there you have it, Kwiqflick is web-based, so there is no limitation in moving files in content from different devices, different operating systems, with the added benefit that you can also send any of that content to someone else super easily. Did I mention it’s free?
If you want to know more about sending large files you can check out further content here.
