We barely need to think about keeping track of thousands of downloaded songs and playlists due to the boom of streaming services. Any music we want, any time we want, and from almost any computer out there, we can access it.
If, however, you’re one of the very few people who still love the weight of downloaded music, as soon as you get the chance, you might be looking to move new songs from your PC to your smartphone. Although the process is a breeze for Android users on Windows PCs, when you are looking to switch from Mac to Android, it may feel a little difficult.
So, today, we took it upon ourselves to come up with a solution or two to help you move files fairly easily from your Mac to Android.
What happens when you connect your Android to Mac?
You may be tempted to plug it into your Macbook and attach your phone to it if you have a compatible USB cable lying around. However, thanks to the policies of Apple, which in this case are very different from windows, your Macbook will not install the drivers needed to connect your phone successfully automatically. So, on your Macbook, your phone will not appear and will continue to use your PC as a power source, used solely for charging.
How to connect your Android to Mac using USB?
It’s not possible to connect an Android device to a Mac by simply using a USB cable, as we mentioned in the previous section. Since the Android drivers are not installed by macOS automatically, users are forced to go the extra mile and pick up the drivers for themselves. Fortunately, Google has made this method a lot simpler.
All you have to do is go to this website and download Android File Transfer to your Mac.
After it finishes downloading, click on the DMG file. Drag it to your Applications folder after download, when prompted. To open, click on it. Everything that is!
Now, bring the USB cable back and connect to your Mac with your phone. Enable the PC to access your phone’s files.
You should be up and running in no time.
How to transfer audio files from your Mac to Android?
Usually, audio files come in two forms: MP3 and AAC. So, if you have a few of them lying around, soon after you have successfully formed a connection between your two beloved devices, you might get to work. To allow your PC to read the files on your Android device, make sure that access is allowed on your smartphone.
If you do not see an Android File Transfer client in your Dock, you will need to go to the Applications folder first.
Then, fire up the ‘Android File Transfer.’
Doing so should open up a list of files and folders on your Android device.
Find the file/files you want to transfer to your Android now. Windows allows you to copy and paste the files you want to transfer, as you might already know, directly into your Android device folder. Unfortunately, macOS does not give you the possibility to paste your files.
So, to move files to the folder of your phone from a folder on your Mac or desktop, all you have to do is keep the Windows folder side by side and drag the file to the folder of your smartphone.
As the file transfer completes, you’ll see the progress bar filling up. You’ll be able to see the audio file on your phone after it’s completed successfully and play it using the software of your choosing.
Some other ways to transfer audio files from Mac to Android
We addressed the most convenient way to send audio files over to your Android smartphone in the previous section. It’s the fastest, most powerful, and most reliable technique out there, by far. Still, if you can’t get your Android to pair up with your Mac for some reason, there are a few other alternatives that you might look into.
Send using Bluetooth
Since Android smartphones don’t come with AirDrop, Bluetooth file transfer has to be the next best wireless option. It’s certainly not the quickest solution out there, but it doesn’t require you to hop through your favorite audio files to pass them. It could take you about 3 to 5 minutes to send a standard audio file, depending on the file size.
First, click on the WiFi icon at the top right of your screen to set up a Bluetooth system, and go to ‘Network Preferences.’
Now, select the ‘Bluetooth PAN’ tab and hit ‘Set Up Bluetooth Device.’
Then, turn on your Android smartphone’s Bluetooth to make sure other devices can find it. When done, on your Mac, you will be able to see your smartphone on the list. Now, right-click your smartphone’s name and press ‘Transfer File to Mobile.’
The next bit allows you to locate the file you want to ‘Send.’
Finally, on your mobile, approve the file and watch the progress bar fill up while you wait impatiently.
Using a third-party application
For sure, Bluetooth is super convenient, but it may not be the best match for individuals who need some serious speed. Fortunately, there are plenty of file transfer apps on the market. Download the one that suits well and instantly start sharing. Alternatively, full file manager suites, which come with a number of other advantages, may also be opted for.
You can also use some of the cloud storage services to transfer files to your phone, such as Google Drive, iCloud, etc. Of course, it’s not going to be a direct transfer, but uploading files from your Mac and installing them on Android may not be as tedious as you might anticipate.
