I recently updated my Mac to macOS Sonoma and now Android File Transfer won’t recognize my device. I’ve tried different cables and settings, but nothing works. Has anyone else faced this issue or found a solution? I need to transfer files for work, so any help would be appreciated.
Android File Transfer: Why Does It Always Have to be This Way?
So here’s the situation: you want to move some photos or music from your Android phone to your Mac, and you hit the wall known as Android File Transfer (AFT). Welcome to the club. AFT is like that old coffee maker in the office kitchen—sometimes it works, usually it doesn’t, and no one knows who put it there in the first place. Oh, and if you try to go to Google’s site to download it now, nope. Not happening. They’ve yoinked the link off the face of the internet.
Let’s do a quick rundown of things worth a shot before you flip your desk over.
Fast Fixes You Can Actually Try
- File Transfer Mode: The Button They Never Tell You About
- Plug in your phone and, if you see a random notification asking what you want to do with the connection, pick “File Transfer” (sometimes labeled MTP). If you ignore it or the default mode is “Charging Only,” congrats—nothing happens.
- Cable Roulette
- Some USB cables are just power cables. I keep a cup full of them—half don’t do data. If it’s not working, dig around and find a different one (the thicker it is, usually the better).
- The Old “Switch the USB Port” Gag
- Your MacBook has more than one port for a reason. Sometimes, the port is just being moody. Change ports. Bonus: Try a USB-A port if you have a dongle, because sometimes new Macs just don’t play nice with USB-C.
- Just Restart Everything
- It sounds ridiculous, but turning the phone and Mac off and then back on again can actually fix this 20% of the time. Magic? Nope. Just bad software.
- System Update Roll Call
- If your Mac hasn’t been updated recently, the odds go down fast. So check for updates.
- Ditch AFT and Switch Tools
- Look, AFT isn’t the only game in town. You can try something like MacDroid. At least it actually connects more than once a blue moon.
Drag, Drop, Done: How MacDroid Changes the Game
Instead of bashing your head against brick walls, you can actually get files moved around with something that works. MacDroid lets you hook up your Android to your Mac using USB or even Wi-Fi if you’re feeling wirelessy fancy. It transforms file transfers from “watching grass grow” speed into something a lot slicker.
Once it’s set up, you get full access to all your Android files right in Finder. Mix and match photos, MP3s, folders—you name it. I’ve moved entire photo backups from my Pixel to my MacBook in under five minutes. Way easier than digging through cloud links or trying to remember your Google password.
A Breakdown of Connection Modes (For The Extra Curious)
- MTP: This is the basic, plug-and-play method. No deep hacks required—just mount your Android and go. It’s as close as it gets to “it just works.”
- ADB Mode: If you’re the type who likes to tweak and poke under the hood, ADB is like finding the secret menu at a diner. Faster, more powerful, and lets you dig into Android’s system files. But don’t hit stuff you don’t recognize, unless you like surprises.
- Wireless Join-Up: Got both devices on the same Wi-Fi? Great. Trade files without even touching a cable. Perfect for couch-based productivity.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to moving stuff between Android and Mac, expect detours and potholes if you use Android File Transfer. Try the fixes above, but if you want something less headache-inducing, there are better alternatives out there. No hype. Just tested (and for many of us, long overdue).
If you have wild stories or weird solutions involving AFT or MacDroid, share them—maybe your pain will help the next poor soul in line.
Same boat here after updating to Sonoma, except my AFT experience hit a new level of absurdity: not only does it NOT work, it sometimes locks up my Finder and requires a force quit. Honestly, not surprised—AFT has felt abandoned for years, and the Google download page going dark just drives it home. @mikeappsreviewer pretty much nailed the misery. But I think clinging to restarts and port swaps is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
Instead, I’ve just ditched AFT altogether. Those band-aid fixes for AFT honestly feel like whack-a-mole. It’s busted at the OS level most times, and, let’s be real, after major macOS updates Google never seems to update AFT. My workaround: use MacDroid. Yeah, it’s a paid app (with a limited free version), but it works not just with Android 13 and up, but also seems way more snappy than AFT ever did. You just drag and drop files between your Android device and your Mac using Finder—no more useless popups or phantom connections. You can link your devices via USB or even Wi-Fi if you prefer not to fight with another cable (score).
If you’re sick of AFT drama, try making Android file transfers headache-free on Mac. Genuinely made file transfers boring again, which is what they should be. If you want something totally free, Android File Transfer for Linux inside a VM technically works, but that’s a pain and overkill for quick jobs.
And if you ever see rumors about AFT getting a Sonoma update—don’t hold your breath. This feels like the end of the road for Google’s tool, so better to switch now than spend another evening on cable roulette and system restarts. Anyone found a legit, always-free alternative that’s not a sketchy sideload? If so, spill!
Yeah, AFT on macOS Sonoma is basically a recurring joke at this point—one that’s not even funny anymore. Cables, ports, resets… been there, done that, got the USB graveyard to prove it. And like @mikeappsreviewer and @techchizkid said, Google isn’t even pretending to care about it working anymore (RIP that download page—seriously, couldn’t even leave the corpse up for the nostalgia?).
Here’s my thing though: ditching AFT for MacDroid is solid, but am I the only one slightly salty there’s no truly free, non-shady option that just plugs and works? Everything is “almost” what we want: Linux in a VM (lol, sure, let me fire up a mini IT lab for a selfie transfer), or some random Java-based projects with so many permissions warnings you’d think you were hacking the Pentagon. And don’t even start me on those Wi-Fi-only transfer apps that get stuck on 38% FOREVER.
Honestly, until Apple or Google (yeah, right) step up, paid alternatives are the only sane move. MacDroid’s not just a clunky workaround, it actually lets you use Finder like a normal human—and if you’re sick of the circus, just grab it via easy Android & Mac file transfers (no drama). Would I rather have a native solution or, say, Android phones mounting like USB drives did in 2008? For sure. But we don’t live in that world.
If anyone stumbles on something totally free, Sonoma compatible, with no weird popups or CLI magic… drop that knowledge, please. Otherwise, I’ll just keep sighing dramatically every time “Android File Transfer” comes up in conversation.
Here’s my anti-rant on AFT (Android File Transfer) with macOS Sonoma: It’s a relic, buggy, and, after Sonoma, basically DOA. Totally agree with the crew venting above—USB roulette is NOT a productivity hack, and that old “try another port” advice is feeling trollish at this point. Also, it’s hilarious/tragic how Google just memory-holed the AFT download. Must’ve been embarrassed.
BUT—there’s another thing that rarely gets mentioned: what if you, like me, don’t want to shell out for the convenience tax every time Apple and Google can’t be bothered to make nice? Honestly, I’m still chasing the unicorn of a free, reliable Mac-Android solution that doesn’t require terminal-foo or dodgy Java pop-ups.
So, MacDroid. Everyone’s hyped about how seamless it works with Finder, and I’ll admit, dragging stuff between my Galaxy and MacBook in a normal window is way better than the sad AFT UI. Pros? Plug-and-play (finally absorbs new OS updates), good support for both USB and Wi-Fi, runs stable on Sonoma, you see “real” Android folders—huge. Cons? Subscription model, limited free version, so unless you cough up, you’ll be hit with annoying restrictions. Also, closed-source, so you’re trusting a 3rd party with your file access. Security sticklers might balk.
Compared to what the others said, I’m less stoked about paying for basics. Sure, I tried other things (OpenMTP, HandShaker, AirDroid, etc). OpenMTP is free and does some of what you want, but it’s not always reliable with newer Android versions, and the interface is clunkier. AirDroid? Wi-Fi-centric, but has file size and speed limits, plus privacy concerns.
tl;dr: If you want a “it just works” solution and can justify the subscription, MacDroid is tops for macOS Sonoma. It’s not perfect (wish it was free & open-source), but right now, better than the wild web of half-broken betas and over-permissioned cloud hacks. If someone finds a truly free, Sonoma-friendly, plug-and-play answer, say something—I’m first in line.