Android File Transfer not working on your Mac? Here's why, and what to use instead

Updated September 2026 · by the developer of Plugged

If you just plugged an Android phone into a Mac and Android File Transfer says “Could not connect to device”, or does nothing at all, you are not doing anything wrong. The app is gone.

What happened to Android File Transfer

Google removed Android File Transfer from its website in 2024 and stopped updating it. The last build is from 2018 and was never notarized for modern macOS. On macOS 14 (Sonoma), 15 (Sequoia) and 26 it may refuse to open, open and then fail to see the phone, or connect once and never again.

Why it fails on recent macOS, even when the cable is fine

Since macOS 26, the system's own camera daemon (ptpcamerad) grabs any Android phone the moment Finder, Preview, Photos or Image Capture touches it. Once the system holds the USB interface, no other app can open it, and older transfer tools show a generic “device busy” or “could not connect” error without saying why.

Five things to try before giving up

1. Use a data cable. Many cables sold for charging carry no data. The cable that came with the phone is the safe bet.
2. Unlock the phone. Android hides storage while the screen is locked.
3. Switch the USB mode. Swipe down the notification shade, tap “Charging this device via USB” (or “USB preferences”), and choose File Transfer. It is sometimes labelled MTP or “Transfer files”. “Photo transfer / PTP” and “Charging only” will not work.
4. Quit the apps that hold the phone. Quit Preview, Photos and Image Capture, and close any Finder window showing the phone. Also quit Samsung Smart Switch, OpenMTP, phone-manager apps and virtual machines (Parallels, VMware, UTM) or release the device from the VM's USB menu.
5. Try another USB port, directly on the Mac rather than through a hub.

What to use instead in 2026

OpenMTP (free, open source)

A community project that still works for many people. Rough edges on macOS 15 and later, and it does not tell you which app is holding the phone when the connection fails.

Wi-Fi transfer: LocalSend (free)

If you do not need USB, LocalSend moves files between phone and Mac over the local network. Slower than a cable for large folders and it needs an app on the phone too.

Plugged (paid, one-time)

The one we make. Plug in, pick File Transfer on the phone, and the phone's storage shows up in a Finder-like window: drag files both ways, Quick Look photos and videos still on the phone, queue several transfers with real progress. When the phone doesn't show up, Plugged names the app that is holding it and tells you which USB setting to tap. It asks only for USB access, never touches the network, and costs .99 once. No subscription, no “free version” with upload locked.

MacDroid and other subscription tools

They work, but most now lock uploads behind a “Pro” subscription. If you transfer files twice a year, a subscription is the wrong shape.

Honest limits of any USB tool

• Transfer speed is set by the phone. USB 2.0 phones manage roughly 20–40 MB/s; USB 3 phones are faster. Many small files are slower than one large file.
• Android/data and Android/obb are protected by Android itself and cannot be read over USB by any app.
• Some phones drop the connection when the screen locks. Keep the phone unlocked during long transfers.