How to transfer files from Android to a Mac without a cable
Macs and Android phones don't share AirDrop, and Android File Transfer is gone. OmniBeam moves photos, videos and documents between them over Wi‑Fi, right in the browser, with nothing to install.
Steps
- On the Mac, open omnibeam.site in Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
- On the Android phone, open omnibeam.site in Chrome. After a moment each device shows the other.
- On the phone, tap the Mac and pick photos, videos or any file.
- Click Accept on the Mac, then Save. Several files can be saved at once as a ZIP.
From the Mac to the phone
It works both ways: drag files from Finder onto the phone's card on the Mac, then accept on the phone.
Make it even faster
- Install OmniBeam on the phone (Chrome menu, then Install app). It then appears in Android's share menu: share from the Gallery and pick the Mac.
- On a Mac you can add OmniBeam to the right‑click menu in Finder; see sending files from Mac and Linux.
- Not on the same Wi‑Fi? Pair the two devices once with a 6‑digit code and they find each other anywhere.
Android File Transfer is no longer updated, so many Mac users have no easy way to get files off an Android phone. A browser tab on each side is enough: there is nothing to install on the Mac, and photos and videos arrive in their original quality.
With OmniBeam you can send files from Android to a Mac without a cable, an app or an account.
Questions and answers
Why doesn’t my Mac see my Android phone over USB?
macOS does not support the file transfer mode that Android phones use over USB without extra software, and Apple’s AirDrop does not include Android. A browser-based tool avoids both problems.
Which browser should I use on the Mac?
Safari, Chrome, Edge and Firefox all work. Open omnibeam.site in any of them and keep the tab open while you send.
Where are the files saved on the Mac?
They go to your Downloads folder by default, or wherever your browser is set to save downloads. Several files can also be saved together as one ZIP.
Can I send folders?
Yes. You can send a whole folder from the Mac, and on Android you can select many files at once from the gallery or the file manager.
Does it work the other way?
Yes, from the Mac to the Android phone too.
Do I need the same Wi‑Fi?
Not necessarily. On the same Wi‑Fi the Mac appears automatically. If the phone is on mobile data, pair the two devices once with a 6‑digit code or the QR code shown on the Mac.
Is it safe for documents?
Yes. Every transfer is encrypted end to end on your phone and only the Mac can decrypt it. Nothing is stored on a server on the way.
Can I keep OmniBeam ready on the Mac?
Yes. Keep the tab pinned in your browser, or add the OmniBeam extension to Chrome, and the Mac is ready to receive whenever you open it.