I’m having trouble downloading Android File Transfer to my Mac. I need this app so I can transfer files between my Android phone and my Mac for work. But when I search for a website to install the program, it seems to have disappeared. Any advice would be appreciated.
Wait, So Android File Transfer Is Gone?
Yeah, just found out the hard way—you go poking around for the official Android File Transfer app, and poof, nowhere to be seen on the Android website. Kinda wild, honestly. You’d think Google would at least give a heads-up, but all roads lead to dead ends or redirects. If you’re hunting for a legit download for Mac, it’s like searching for a payphone in 2024.
Dealing with the Aftermath and Finding Something That Works
Okay, confession: I wasted about half an hour looking for a download button that doesn’t exist. Pretty sure I clicked every Google support doc twice. Not gonna sugarcoat it—this is annoying, especially if you’re juggling work stuff between an Android device and a Mac. The “simple drag and drop” days are gone unless you like rolling dice with dusty third-party sites.
So, after enough frustration to last me through the week, ended up trying MacDroid. Not making any promises, but honestly, it gets the job done. Plug in, open, transfer. No crash-and-burn, no ads tryna sell me fake antivirus. I’ve thrown music libraries, giant folders, all kinds of chaos at it. Works consistently, which is basically all you can ask for at this point.
A Snapshot of Reality
If You Still Want to Relive 2015
There’s still a shadowy corner of the internet serving up the classic Android File Transfer software. Your mileage may vary—just sayin’, it’s not official anymore, so don’t yell at your computer if things go sideways!
TL;DR:
- Official Android File Transfer app for Mac: Vanished
- MacDroid: Makes your life easier if you’re tired of messing around
- Old AFT: Still kicking around in unofficial places, if you’re into that sort of thing
That’s the update. If someone finds out Google sneaked out a new tool, drop the link—some of us are still holding out hope.
2 Likes
You’re not imagining it: the official Android File Transfer for Mac is (almost) extinct. You’d think Google would keep at least one lifeline open for us Mac+Android misfits, but nope, they’ve basically nuked it from orbit. And yes, like @mikeappsreviewer said, even the Google support pages loop endlessly or throw up “not found” errors. The wildest part? Zero warning or official story. It’s like, if you know, you know, and if not…well, enjoy the scavenger hunt.
But I gotta respectfully disagree with the idea that you should 100% go outside the official ecosystem just to wrangle your gigabytes. Downloading the crusty AFT from sketchy sites is a gamble I wouldn’t take with a work device (unless you love malware roulette?). I tried that route and ended up with a DMG from a site that looked like it hadn’t been updated since the Obama administration. It actually crashed my Finder so hard I thought I bricked the Mac.
MacDroid, like @mikeappsreviewer mentioned, is definitely one solid alternative. It’s on the Mac App Store, so your Mac won’t freak out about unidentified developers, and the interface is clear—unlike the fever dream that is Android File Transfer’s pop-up error messages. There’s also OpenMTP, if you prefer open source, but in my experience, it’s a little buggy with some newer Androids and picky about cable types (don’t get me started).
You could try cloud stuff (Google Drive, Dropbox, et al.) but that’s a pain if you gotta move giant files quickly or deal with spotty office Wi-Fi. And honestly, I’m not willing to pay extra just for a workaround that should be basic.
So tl;dr: Android File Transfer is officially MIA. Don’t trust random download sites. MacDroid is the current go-to for Mac/Android peace, unless you love troubleshooting for fun or enjoy rolling back system restores because of mystery software.
Android File Transfer is basically the Marie Kondo of apps: one day it just decide to spark zero joy and poof, disappeared. Google, in true mysterious fashion, seems to have yanked AFT off their site with no warning, as others already griped. So if you’ve been clicking old links and getting error 404’d into oblivion, no, you’re not losing it. It’s essentially gone from official channels.
I’ll back up the main point from @mikeappsreviewer and @sognonotturno about not trusting those sketchy “download here” sites. It’s not 2012 and you’re not looking for LimeWire. Unless you’re feeling nostalgic for malware, just… don’t.
BUT—real question, why’s nobody shouting about using plain old network transfers? If you’re on the same WiFi as your Mac, apps like AirDroid or even just the Files by Google app (with a web client) can beam stuff over wirelessly. No need to plug in, mess with cables, or pray that a DMG installer doesn’t nuke your Launchpad. Sure, it’s not as fast for huge files, but for documents, photos, stuff for work—it’s simple.
I’ll admit, though, if you’re constantly juggling massive video files or whole folders, yeah, you want that direct cable access. That’s where something like MacDroid is boss. I do think @sognonotturno oversold how “buggy” OpenMTP is—I’ve seen it work fine, but it’s hit or miss if your phone isn’t playing nice with MTP, which is (let’s face it) more of an Android-side problem than the fault of the apps.
Anyway, you’re not crazy, AFT is in the wind. Either go with MacDroid (honestly pretty reliable and on the App Store so it won’t trip your Mac’s security freakout) or try network transfers for lighter duty. If Google ever brings AFT back from the digital graveyard, we’ll throw a party. Til then—you’ve got options, just not the one you expected.
Alright, so the official Android File Transfer is gone—RIP. Nothing like corporate vaporware to throw a wrench in simple tasks, right? Big ups to the folks who already pointed out MacDroid; it actually works if you need plug-and-play support, but real talk, it’s not flawless. The pros: Easy to set up, modern UI, and lives in the Mac App Store so you sidestep security nags. But the cons? You only get the basics in the free version—full features want a subscription (ugh). Also, not quite as snappy as raw MTP on Windows, and sometimes long transfers stall until you fiddle with both devices.
A couple of people have mentioned OpenMTP, and to be fair, it’s not universally buggy—but compatibility is hit or miss, especially with newer Android OS updates. And all the third-party random download sites hosting the old AFT installer? May as well play “Will It Malware?” in your terminal.
One angle I haven’t seen much here: Why not just use cloud transfer, like Google Drive, if you’re shifting a handful of work docs or screenshots? Lightning-fast for a few files, though not viable for, say, dumping a 50GB video folder.
TL;DR: MacDroid covers the cable-transfer crowd, Google Drive (or network/FTP/SMB for nerds) does quick light lifts, OpenMTP is a wild card, old AFT is best left in the nostalgia bin. No magic bullet, but at least you’ve got options!