8 Recommended Ways to Transfer Video from Android to Mac in 2024

How to transfer videos from Android to PC is a typical question when we transfer data. Besides, having a Macbook and Android smartphone is the most annoying combination. Why? Because it’s quite hectic to exchange data between the two devices. Since security is one of the major USPs of all Apple products, you can’t directly connect your Android smartphone and copy-paste the files you want to transfer.

Fortunately, there are a couple of tricks that’ll help you transfer video from Android to Mac without having to go through too much trouble. In today’s guide, we’ve scribbled a list of 8 recommended methods to send video from your Android smartphone to a Macbook instantly.

• Part 1. Transfer Video from Android to Mac with USB Cable
• Part 2. 4 Ways to Transfer Video from Android to Mac Wirelessly
• Part 3. 3 Apps to Transfer Media Files from Android to Mac
• Part 4. Bonus Way: Transfer Video from Mac to Android in 3 Steps

Part 1. Transfer Video from Android to Mac with USB Cable

Even though you can’t directly connect your Android smartphone and access the file manager, there’s still a way to transfer files between Android and Macbook via USB. All you have to do is to install third-party software, known as Android File Transfer on your Macbook and use it to transfer video files.

Android File Transfer is Google’s official tool to transfer data from Android to Mac and vice-versa. The tool will allow you to access your smartphone’s File Manager directly on your MacBook with a simple USB connection.

Here’s the step-by-step process on how to transfer videos from Android to Mac using Android File Transfer.

Step 1: Download and Install Android File Transfer on your Macbook.

Step 2: Connect your smartphone to your laptop via USB. Make sure that the USB option is set to File Transfer or MTP (Media Transfer Protocol).

Step 3: At this point, Android File Transfer should open automatically. Here browse through the directories and select the files that you want to transfer.

Step 4: Drag the selected files to your desktop, and they’ll be instantly transferred to your Macbook from the Android device.

While it may seem too convenient, many users have reported encountering bugs while using Android File Transfer. If you’re also stuck in a similar situation, make sure to check out the next methods on our list.

Part 2. 4 Ways to Transfer Video from Android to Mac Wirelessly

If you don’t have a USB cable at the moment, you can also transfer video from Android to Mac wirelessly. There is an array of wireless transfer methods that’ll help you exchange data, including images and video files, between the two devices. Some of these wireless methods include.

1. Use Cloud Storage Like Google Drive

One of the most convenient ways to transfer video from Android to Macbook is to use a cloud-storage app like Google Drive. You can simply upload your videos to Google Drive and download them on Mac using the same Google account.

However, this method is only suitable if you have limited data. Google Drive only offers 15GB free space. So, if you’re planning to transfer 15GB+ data, you’ll have to purchase additional space. Moreover, you’ll require a stable Internet connection with fast upload speed to upload your video files on Google Drive.

It means that using cloud storage to transfer video from Android to Mac will only be suitable if you’re planning to move 3-4 videos with limited file size.

Step 1: Open Google Drive on your smartphone and tap the + icon.

Step 2: Click on Upload and select the files that you want to add.

Step 3: The uploaded files will be inside My Drive unless you manually move them to a different folder.

Step 4: Now, open Google Drive on your Macbook and right-click the specific video file. Select Download to save the file on your laptop.

2. Transfer Via Bluetooth

You can also share files from your Android smartphone to the Mac via Bluetooth. Since every Android device has Bluetooth built-in, you won’t need a third-party app to transfer the videos. Moreover, you don’t need any fast Internet connection to share files over Bluetooth.

Here’s how to transfer videos from Android to PC using Bluetooth.

Step 1: Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on both devices.

Step 2: Also, enable Bluetooth Sharing on your Macbook. To do so, go to System Preferences and select Sharing. In the left side-panel, check the Bluetooth Sharing option.

Step 3: Now, pair the two devices with each other. Make sure that pairing code matches on the two devices.

Step 4: Once the devices are paired, you can select files that you want to transfer and click Share on your smartphone. Choose Bluetooth and choose your Macbook to transfer the videos successfully.

While it’s quite convenient to transfer files via Bluetooth, there’s one limitation of Bluetooth Transfer. As compared to other wireless transfer methods, Bluetooth sharing is comparatively slower.

3. Sync Videos to Google Photos

Google Photos is yet another cloud-storage application that’ll make it easier to transfer video from Android to Mac. One of the major advantages of using Google Photos is that you can directly sync your smartphone’s storage, and all the files will automatically be saved on the cloud. You can then download these files anytime you want on your Macbook by signing-into your Google account.

Follow these instructions to enable back-up & sync using Google Photos on your Android smartphone.

Step 1: Launch Google Photos on your smartphone and sign-in with your Google account credentials.

Step 2: Tap Menu in the top-left corner and select Settings.

Step 3: Now, click Back-up & Sync and enable/disable the feature by toggling the switch.

4. Transfer Files Using OTG USB Drive

OTG, also known as on-the-go, is an impressive technology that has made it easier to transfer video from Android to PC, be it Windows or Mac. You can plug-in the USB flash drive in your smartphone and copy the files that you want to transfer.

Once these files are transferred, you can simply plug-in the USB drive to your Macbook and transfer the data to your PC with one tap. This is an extremely convenient way to transfer data between Android and Mac, even if you’re planning to transfer a large amount of data.

(Wish to learn the easy way to transfer video from Mac to Android? Click below to find out!)

Part 3. 3 Apps to Transfer Media Files from Android to Mac

Like Android File Transfer, there are several other third-party apps you can use to transfer data from Android to Mac. Since it might get a bit difficult to choose from these many options, we’ve cherry-picked 3 best data-transfer apps that’ll allow you to share files from Android to Macbook.

1. Handshaker

Handshaker is simple, yet the most convenient app to exchange data between Android and Mac. The app is available for free on Apple’s App Store, which means you can directly install it on your system, without visiting a third-party website. Moreover, an easy-to-use interface makes it extremely easy to transfer files between the two devices.

Follow these instructions to transfer video from Android to Mac by Handshaker.

Step 1: Go to Apple’s App Store and download Handshaker. Install the software on your system.

Step 2: Now, connect your Android smartphone to your Macbook via USB. Make sure to enable USB-debugging on your smartphone. You can follow the steps mentioned in the following snippets to enable the feature.

Step 3: Handshaker will automatically detect your Android device and display its File Manager on the Mac. Browse through the folders to select files that you want to transfer. Once selected, simply drag-&-drop them on your desktop.

2. Commander One

Commander One is another utility for Mac that allows file transfer between Mac and Android. The software mounts an Android device as an external hard-drive, making it easier to navigate through folders and transfer selective files quickly. In addition to Android devices, you can also use Commander One to transfer videos from other external devices, including your digital cameras.

Here’s how to transfer video from Android to Mac using Commander One.

Step 1: Download Commander One on your Macbook and install the software.

Step 2: Now, connect your Android device via USB and let Commander One automatically recognize the device.

Step 3: Once it detects the smartphone, you’ll be prompted to the following screen. Select and drag the files to your desktop to save them on your Macbook.

3. SendAnyWhere

SendAnywhere is one of the most popular third-party data-transfer apps, which is available for almost every platform. You can install the dedicated app on your Mac and Android smartphone and use it to connect the two devices quickly.

SendAnywhere transfers files over Wifi, and therefore, you can expect fast data transfer rates. One of the major USPs of SendAnywhere is data encryption. Your files are securely transferred over an encrypted server, restricting potential hackers from stealing your valuable data.

Here’s how to transfer videos from Android to Mac using Send Anywhere

Step 1: Download and launch the app on both devices.

Step 2: Select the video files on your Android device and click Send. You’ll see a 6-digit code on your screen.

Step 3: Enter this code on your Macbook under the Receive section and press enter.

Step 4: Click Download, and the files will be instantly transferred to your Macbook.

(Wish to learn the easy way to transfer video from Mac to Android? Click below to find out!)

Part 4. Bonus Way: Transfer Video from Mac to Android in 3 Steps

That wraps up our guide on how to transfer video from Android to Mac. However, what if you want to transfer videos the other way around, i.e., from Mac to your Android device. In this case, you can install a third-party tool, Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate), on your Macbook and use it to transfer files from Macbook to an Android smartphone.

Even though the tool is marketed as a video converter for PC, you can use its Transfer feature to send videos from PC to external storage devices. All you have to do is to follow these three quick steps.

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Step 1 Launch the tool

Install and launch Wondershare UniConverter on your Macbook. Select the Transfer option from the Toolbox tab.

Step 2 Get the device connected

Grab the USB cord and use it to connect your Android device to the Mac. The program will start to decompressing driver files. Now, follow the onscreen instructions to enable USB Debugging.

Step 3 Insert the video file

Click on the +Add Files icon in the top-left corner and choose videos from your Macbook’s local storage.

Step 4 Transfer Now

Once you’ve selected the files, simply tap the Transfer All button to initiate the transfer from Mac to Android.

Conclusion

Even though connecting an Android smartphone to Macbook is challenging, the methods mentioned above will help you transfer files between the two devices. Whether you have shot a short video clip on Android or want to move a complete TV-series, these methods will help you conveniently transfer video from Android to PC.