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An an android user this is such a challenge... Don't want to return my Machine yet!

NLLV

NLLV

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 16, 2020
218
389
So first Mac in over a decade.

Beautiful piece of engineering. 2020 iMac specced out aside from ram.

Problem being that I use android and until Apple launches a device with a huge battery, 5g and video that at least meets what my Samsung galaxy s20 does i will continue to be an android user as I run a youtube channel and this is part of how I feed my family.

Today I needed to get some files onto my Mac so I could use them in final cut x.

Plugging the phone in does nothing. There is no driver and no way to access the device in finder.

As an extra slap in the face, the phone doesn't even try and charge over USB-C

Downloaded some sort of third party app for this from the app store and nothing. Not Apple's fault of course but still no solution.

The answer you might give to use a 3rd party wifi file transfer app may SEEM fine, but try to transfer 4 gigabytes of video this way and let me know what results you have.

So far I'm dissapointed. I really don't want to switch phones in order to be able to have workflow with this Mac.

Installing boot camp is an option, but why then did I pay $3850 for a Mac when I could have paid less for a custom built pc?

Any ideas here?
 
There is. I think it was called Android device manager or something. I remember having this hurdle when going from an iPhone to an Android (when iOS 7 came out and I hated it--I went Samsung back in 2013) since it wouldn't show anything in iTunes. I specifically wanted to get my music off my iPhone to my Android via my 2012 MBP. Music was purchased via Amazon (I didn't really get into iTunes) so the only method to transfer MP3s from the MBP to the android was via that app. But keep in mind that back then, USB Mass storage behaved a lot different than whatever convoluted method Google has implemented more recently. USB-C further complicates things as not everything that worked via Micro-USB works under USB-C.

The app (Android Device Manager/File Transfer) won't be found under the Mac App Store. You have to download it from the website that hosts it.
 
hobowankenobi said:
Take your pick. If it were me, I would look at a network sync tool too. If you needed storage too, Synology has a nice file sync tool that is cross-platform....Drive. Or...a cloud-based sync via something like Mega.
Click to expand...
Really bad article, obviously written to push sales of some unnecessary software.

All OP needs is Android File Transfer from Google, it's absolutely free. Then they can just drag and drop those presumably large files without the complications of a network share.

Transfer files between your computer & Android device - Android Help

You can use your Google Account or a USB cable to move photos, music, and other files between your computer and Android device. Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 9.0 and up.
support.google.com
 
I make maps that are compatible with iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows and Linux devices. These are typically very large files, anywhere from 2gb to 16gb each. Have had no problems transfering them to my Samsung tablet using Android File Transfer.
 
I have a Samsung S2 tablet (not a phone).

It charges via USB (USB "a" port), and I can connect it via USB to transfer data from my Mac desktop or MacBook Pro.

As mentioned above, I think you need something called "Android file transfer" (possibly with an ancillary file "Android file transfer agent").

I also have an old Samsung Galaxy Player (similar to a phone, but it doesn't have "a phone" as a part of it), and it, too, connects and charges via USB to my Macs.

So... there's something you're doing wrong, or something you need that is missing.

Hmmm....
Have you tried going here:
www.android.com

The New Quick Share App for Windows | Android

Wirelessly share photos, documents, and more between Android devices and Windows PCs by downloading the Quick Share for Windows App.
www.android.com www.android.com
 
Other than Android File Transfer (which was mentioned before), you could get the Smart Switch app, which I feel works better for transferring files than Android File Transfer. It also allows you to backup, update and sync the phone too. However, this app only works with Galaxy devices, and not other Android phones AFAIK.
 
spyguy10709 said:
Really bad article, obviously written to push sales of some unnecessary software.

All OP needs is Android File Transfer from Google, it's absolutely free. Then they can just drag and drop those presumably large files without the complications of a network share.

Transfer files between your computer & Android device - Android Help

You can use your Google Account or a USB cable to move photos, music, and other files between your computer and Android device. Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 9.0 and up.
support.google.com
Click to expand...

Just showing there are options....that's what OP asked about. He's talking about returning a computer and switching platforms. That would be more complicated. NAS is another option. Very useful and viable.
 
unnamed.png


Really old Androids using say 2.3 Gingerbread or below, had what was called 'USB Mass Storage' that just made them appear as a disk on a Mac or Windows computer. Sadly, for some reason I cannot fathom, Google went and ditched that in favor of some far more convoluted MTP crap that makes it far harder to do the same task. That's why Android File Transfer or whatever is needed these days, and even then, it can be a headache. I have an old Window 8 laptop that I converted to a Linux server acting as an NAS to move files to that, and point to it on my Mac to make it far easier. Faster than using 'the cloud' as well.
 
was in this same situation and best solution was using a usb c external drive. Android recognises the drive, you can move files to it, and connect the drive to imac.

And there's the Android app CX file explorer that finds Macs in your network so you can move/copy files from your phone to the mac. Like an old school file explorer. Works great but slower for large files, external drive is faster
 
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