How to Copy files from an Android phone to Catalina

Recently I’ve discovered Macdroid and it’s running very will in Catalina with my Google Pixel 3.

I find the ‘Android File Transfer’ app very unreliable. In a previous article I recommended another solution called Pocketshare but it also has its problems. Macdorid is working wonderfully for me.

Step 1 is to Enable USB debugging.

• To do this open the “Settings” on your phone, scroll down and select “About phone.”
• Scroll down to find the ‘build number.’
• Press the build number repeatedly 7 tiles until it says ‘you are a developer.’
• Scroll down to “Debugging” and press “USB Debugging” to ON

Step 2 is to run Macdroid and plug your android phone into the USB port on you Mac.

• You’ll get a screen on your phone asking if you want to “Allow USB Debugging.”
• Press ‘Allow’
• In your notifications go to the USB notification and select ‘File transfer’ as follows:

Your Pixel or Android Phone will mount on your desktop and you can access it like a regular USB drive. The free version allows you read-only access. The paid version allows you to write files to your Android phone as well as read them.