How Transfer Photos from Android to Mac: 6 Reliable Methods

"How do I transfer pictures from Android to Mac? I want a way that can transfer all my photos from my Android phone to my MacBook without taking a long time."

If you are an Android and Mac user, you probably encounter that you need to transfer photos from Android to Mac for sharing, backup, freeing up Android storage space, coping with your pictures on your Mac, etc. Fortunately, you can get 6 effective methods to transfer your photos easily.

Part 1: Transfer Photos from Android to Mac via iReaShare Android Manager

For a comprehensive solution, iReaShare Android Manager offers a user-friendly way to manage and transfer your Android data, including photos, to your Mac. With this software, you can easily view your Android photos on your MacBook, and then select and transfer your desired photos without losing any quality. Besides, you can import your photos from your Mac to your Android device.

Main features of iReaShare Android Manager:

• Transfer photos from Android to a computer and vice versa, including Mac and Windows.
• Load and display all your Android photos' thumbnails on the interface.
• Allow you to manage your Android pictures on Mac, including creating albums, deleting useless images, etc.
• Enable you to transfer other data like videos, contacts, music, SMS, installed apps, and more.
• Back up various Android data to Mac in 1 click, and restore backup data to Android without hassle.
• The USB and Wi-Fi transfer modes are available.
• Support Android 6.0 and upper, including Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, OPPO, Vivo, Tecno, realme, Honor, and more.

Download iReaShare Android Manager.

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Follow the steps to transfer pictures from Android to Mac with this program:

Step 1: Please launch iReaShare Android Manager on your MacBook after downloading and installing it successfully. Then connect your Android phone to Mac with USB.

Step 2: Follow the on-screen instructions to activate the USB debugging mode on the Android device. Then the program will recognize it quickly, and the connection will be established.

Step 3: Choose the "Photos" option, and select the photos you want to transfer. Then click "Export" to save the pictures to your MacBook.

Tips: If you want to recover your deleted Android photos, you can read this guide to gain 5 methods.

Part 2: Transfer Pictures from Android to Mac via Image Capture

Image Capture is a built-in macOS application that allows you to import photos and videos from cameras and other devices, including Android phones, such as Samsung Galaxy phones and other Android devices of different brands. Furthermore, it supports direct photo imports via a USB connection.

Here's how to import Samsung photos to Mac with Image Capture:

Step 1: Connect your Samsung Android phone to your Mac using a USB cable. On your Android phone, you might need to change the USB connection mode to "File transfer/Android Auto".

Step 2: Launch Image Capture on your Mac (you can find it in your Applications folder or by searching with Spotlight). Your Android phone should appear under "Devices" on the left sidebar. Select it.

Step 3: Image Capture will display your photos. Select the ones you want to import. At the bottom of the window, click "Import To" to choose the destination folder on your Mac. Click the "Download All" button.

Part 3: Download Android Photos to Mac Using Google Photos

Google Photos provides a cloud-based solution for backing up and syncing your photos, making them accessible from any device, including your Android and Mac devices. However, please make sure you have sufficient cloud storage space on your Google Account.

Here's how to download photos from Android to Mac via Google Photos:

Step 1: Install and open the Google Photos app on your Android device, and then log in to your Google Account.

Step 2: Click the "Menu" icon. Then enable "Back up & sync". Your photos will be uploaded to your account.

Step 3: On your Mac, open a web browser and go to photos.google.com. Sign in with the same Google Account you use on your Android phone.

Step 4: You'll see all your backed-up photos. You can select individual photos or albums and then click the three-dot menu icon (or right-click) to choose the "Download" option.

Part 4: Move Photos from Android to Mac Using Android File Transfer

Android File Transfer is a free, official utility developed by Google to facilitate file transfers between Android devices and Macs. You can use it to access and move your Android photos on your MacBook.

Here's how:

Step 1: Download and install Android File Transfer on your Mac from the official Android website. Next, connect your Android phone to your Mac using a USB cable.

Step 2: Open Android File Transfer. It should automatically launch when you connect your phone. If not, open it from your "Applications" folder.

Step 3: The application will display the file system of your Android device. Navigate to the "DCIM" folder (where camera photos are usually stored) or other folders where your photos might be saved.

Step 4: Simply drag and drop the desired photo folders or individual photos from the Android File Transfer window to a folder on your Mac.

Part 5: Get Photos from Android to Mac Using AirDroid

AirDroid offers a wireless solution for managing your Android device from your Mac, including transferring photos, without the need for a USB cable.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Install the AirDroid app on your Android phone and the AirDroid desktop client on your Mac.

Step 2: Sign in to the same AirDroid account on both your Android phone and your Mac. Alternatively, you can use the "Scan QR Code" option to establish a connection.

Step 3: Once connected, click the "Transfer" tab on Android, and choose your Mac device on the screen. Then click the "Photos" icon to select the pictures from your Android device. Finally, send them to your Mac. You can save the photos on your MacBook directly.

Part 6: Import Photos from Android to Mac Using NearDrop

NearDrop is a third-party, open-source project that brings a Google Nearby Share-like functionality to macOS, allowing you to wirelessly transfer files, including photos, from your Android to your Mac.

Here's how to use NearDrop to import photos from Android to Mac:

Step 1: Download and install the NearDrop application on your Mac from its GitHub page or a reliable source.

Step 2: On your Android phone, ensure Nearby Share is enabled and your device's visibility is set to "Everyone" or "Contacts". You can usually find this in your phone's Quick Settings or under Google settings.

Step 3: Launch NearDrop on your Mac. It will typically run in the menu bar. On your Android phone, select the photos you want to send. Tap the "Share" icon, and then select "NearDrop".

Step 4: If prompted, click "Accept" on your Mac computer. Then you will receive your Android pictures.

Part 7: FAQs About Android to MacBook Photo Transfer

Q1: Why won't my Mac recognize my Android phone?

This issue can be caused by:

1. Connection issues: Make sure the USB cable is not damaged and that it is properly connected.
2. Android settings: On your Android phone, swipe down the notification bar and select the "File Transfer" option (if available) to enable file transfers.
3. Outdated software: Ensure that both your Android device and MacBook have the latest software updates.
4. USB Debugging: Enabling USB debugging in Developer Options on your Android phone may help in some cases.

Q2: Can I use AirDrop or Quick Share to transfer photos from Android to Mac?

Directly using Apple's AirDrop from an Android device to a Mac isn't possible because AirDrop is an Apple-exclusive feature. Similarly, Google's Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share) doesn't have native support for macOS.

Q3: Is it possible to transfer photos from Android to MacBook using iCloud?

While iCloud is an Apple service, you can upload your Android photos to iCloud using the web version:

1. Upload photos: Go to iCloud.com, sign in, and upload photos manually to your iCloud account.
2. Download on Mac: Once uploaded, you can access the photos from the iCloud Photos app on your MacBook.

Conclusion

So, you have known that it is easy to transfer photos from Android to Mac. If you want more features to transfer and manage your Android photos on Mac, iReaShare Android Manager will be the best option. It can swiftly copy your photos and allow you to organize your images and other Android data. But if you only want to transfer your photos, other methods are reliable.

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Amelia Garcia Editor

Amelia is a generalist of mobile devices and understands Android devices in particular. Due to her passion for mobile devices and their technology, she has been sharing her insights and advice, and answering related questions on various platforms, including Android backup, Android erasure, mobile data migration, and more.