How to Transfer Files Between Mac and Android (Both Ways)
Android File Transfer is creaky. Skip the cable and use a browser tab on both devices to push files in either direction.
The fast version
Open interdrop.com in Chrome on Android and Safari (or anything) on the Mac. Both devices appear on each other’s screens. Tap to send. Total elapsed time: less than a minute.
AndroidLin
MacBookSam
PathDirect · same LAN
EncryptionDTLS-SRTP
Throughput112 Mb/s
Progress0%
Step-by-step
Step 1 of 5
Open InterDrop on the Android
In any modern browser, go to interdrop.com. The page picks up a temporary name and avatar for the device.
interdrop.com
01 / 05
Sending the other direction
Same flow, reversed. To send from Mac to Android, do the picking step on the Mac and accept on the phone. Both devices see each other; either side can initiate.
Common gotchas
- Phone goes to sleep mid-transfer. Keep the InterDrop tab in the foreground. Android Chrome throttles background tabs aggressively.
- Mac asks for a save location. Once per browser, then it remembers.
- Different networks. Works, but slower — both sides need to read out the short pairing code on screen.
Frequently asked
Will this work on a Pixel and a MacBook on different Wi-Fi?
Yes — WebRTC connects across the internet. Direct in-LAN is faster, but it works either way.
What about Android File Transfer's 4 GB cap?
Doesn't apply. P2P streams the file; there's no FAT32-style size limit.
Do I need to enable USB debugging or anything?
No. It's a web page. The whole appeal is not having to set up anything.
Try peer-to-peer for yourself.
Open InterDrop on this device, open it on the device you want to send to, and drop a file. No sign-up. No install.
Open InterDrop