MacDroid App - exchange files between Mac and Android smartphone

If you want to exchange files, music, photos and more between iPhone and Mac, it's very easy. It's easy to do via iTunes (up to macOS Mojave) or the Finder (from macOS Catalina); via AirDrop much easier and faster. But if you use an Android smartphone or want to receive data from someone's Android device on your Apple Mac, this is not so easy. The developers of ElectronicTeam, Inc. have made it their business to solve the problem with macdroid to solve. Details about the MacDroid app, the test version and the PRO version can be found below.

TL; DR: Click here for the download page

Exchange data between macOS and Android with the MacDroid app

With MacDroid, the "Electronic Team, Inc." wants to break down the barriers between macOS and Android devices in order to realize a smooth exchange of individual files and even entire folders. What works on the Windows PC sometimes without an auxiliary app and, depending on the manufacturer, with free clients and MTP drivers, is quite difficult on the Mac. Therefore, the following functions of the MacDroid app should help:

• Mounting the internal storage and external storage (SD cards in the Android device)
• Edit Android files without copying them to computer
• Should work with any Android or MTP device that you have lying around
• Only MacDroid is required, no further drivers, plugins or extensions
• Connection of the devices via a USB cable (e.g. smartphone charging cable)

To explain: "MTP" stands for Media Transfer Protocol. 

MacDroid Download: 7 days free (?) Or PRO version

To get a first impression of the app, you can download a test version. That can be done directly via the developer website. There you will also find the "Get PRO" option, which costs 19,99 US dollars a year. For this price, you have the option of dragging files and folders from or to the Android smartphone as well as editing the files on the mobile device on the Mac at any time and without limits. In the following short test, you can read why the alleged 7-day trial version is not suitable for this!

Short test: MacDroid PRO tested with MacBook and Android mobile phone

The MacDroid download from the site linked above works without any problems. You may have to confirm that Safari (or another browser) is allowed to download data from the site. The one now in the download folder macdroid.dmg is only 16,4 MB in size and is mounted with a double click; then all you have to do is drag the app into the program folder.

Now you can either start the app from the Applications folder or via the Launchpad. There is probably a warning that it is a program that has been downloaded from the Internet, etc. Just click on “Open”.

The app starts with a short introduction (even in German!), Which describes the connection via USB, the mounting of an Android smartphone or tablet as a hard drive and more. If you diligently click on the "Next" button, you finally get to the start screen, where the first point of criticism comes up for me: Instead of the 7 days promised on the website, there is something of a 5-day test version! There is also no file management in the free version, although the website says “Try PRO for FREE for 7 days”. 

Update 14.02.2020/7/XNUMX: XNUMX days demo is correct!

I have just received a message from the developer that a typo in the translation resulted in the installation being 7 days instead of 5 days. However - as announced on the website - 7 days demo are allowed. The error will be fixed in the next update.

However, the other point of criticism remains: You don't get a PRO as a demo, but only a limited version. I would have wished it different.

So I continue the test with a license code and use the full MacDroid PRO version. 

When connecting an Android device (Xiaomi smartphone of the sub-brand "Redmi"), I first had to select the mode for data transfer on the device itself - for security reasons, you can also select "only charging". Then the device was also displayed in the MacDroid list:

Product recommendation: USB condom - Safe charging at external USB ports

With a click on the "Show in Finder" button, the device overview of the Mac is opened and you can now open the smartphone or tablet that has been mounted, i.e. added as a drive. For me, a higher-level folder "Internal shared storage" was displayed in front of the internal folder structure:

Navigating the individual folders (e.g. DCIM and Camera) worked flawlessly. I was also able to open and edit a photo without moving the file, and save it directly on the device. During the saving process, a small clock is displayed next to the file symbol in the folder, which shows that the saving process is still running. Something similar happens if, for example, MP3 files are moved to the “Music” folder of the device. It's very easy to do with drag-and-drop. 

To disconnect, you can eject the Android device in the MacDroid app, in the Finder and also on the desk. And you're done with exchanging files and folders between Android and macOS.

Transparency notice: The license code for testing the MacDroid PRO app was provided to me free of charge by Electronic Team, Inc. However, this has in no way influenced the opinion presented.

MacDroid icon and menu in the macOS menu bar

Only after my actual test did I notice that MacDroid PRO also added an icon to the menu bar. If you click on it, you will find the most important options of the app as a dropdown menu:

Conclusion on the exchange of data between Android and Mac

The MacDroid app is a very good idea, which is also wonderfully implemented in the PRO version. Incredibly a shame is the misleading description of the test version with "Try PRO for FREE for 7 days" - because once you have downloaded the program, there are only 5 days left and you cannot use all PRO functions. The only good thing about it: Until then, you haven't spent a cent on the program and can uninstall it if you have any doubts. But if you need a permanent solution for the data exchange between the operating systems of Google and Apple, the MacDroid subscription of $ 19,99 per year can be worthwhile.

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.