At this point I'm quite sure I'm not the only one disenchanted with Android File Transfer. It's really a hideous and atrocious piece of software. What is there out there that's better? Anything? There really must be something better than this horrific POS. I won't bother telling you the problems I've had with it every time I have tried to use it, I'm sure you all know.
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Android File Transfer, anything better?
- Thread starter amylewis
- Start date
I can't comment on Android File Transfer as I've never even tried it out. Years ago I started using AirDroid and it's been my default file transfer utility all along. Requires your phone/tablet to be on the same local LAN as your target computer/laptop, WiFi to WiFi or WiFi to wired doesn't matter, you just need to be on the same local network. But aside from that all that's required is the AirDroid app on your phone and that's it, you don't need to mess with any drivers or USB settings on the target computer, and it bypasses the need to always have a USB cable with you as all you need is a web browser to connect the two. As far as your target computer, it's platform neutral (Linux, Mac, Windows, whatever) and any browser will suffice (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Opera, Safari, etc.)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sand.airdroid&hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sand.airdroid&hl=en
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I've dug as deep as possible there. No luck. What I want is something I can use via USB cable to transfer video files onto my tablet, or from my phone to my Mac. Android file transfer will not even see my phone, and it constantly drops connection with my tablet, often refusing to see it. It's horrible software.
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If you got a Samsung device, there's Kies, which IMO is also atrocious.
Frankly Apple is expecting you to be using an iPhone or iPad with your Mac, and apart from Android File Transfer or Samsung Kies for Mac, nobody else has really bothered. I have Macs myself, and use AirDroid or the phone's FTP, and just don't bother trying to do wired connections. BTW even if you don't have any WiFi available you can still use AirDroid or FTP wirelessly. By using the phone's WiFi hotspot and tethering, but turn off cellular data, so it's not trying to use that.
If the phone has FTP, you can actually make a wireless connection to it using the OS X Finder, which basically allows you to directly see and do what you like with files.
For the occasional rooting jobs I do sometimes, which might require a direct USB connection, I keep an old Windows 7 netbook around.
Frankly Apple is expecting you to be using an iPhone or iPad with your Mac, and apart from Android File Transfer or Samsung Kies for Mac, nobody else has really bothered. I have Macs myself, and use AirDroid or the phone's FTP, and just don't bother trying to do wired connections. BTW even if you don't have any WiFi available you can still use AirDroid or FTP wirelessly. By using the phone's WiFi hotspot and tethering, but turn off cellular data, so it's not trying to use that.
If the phone has FTP, you can actually make a wireless connection to it using the OS X Finder, which basically allows you to directly see and do what you like with files.
For the occasional rooting jobs I do sometimes, which might require a direct USB connection, I keep an old Windows 7 netbook around.
Last edited:
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Macs require an app to transfer files with Android??? On a PC you can just plug in an Android device, Windows automatically downloads the driver, and then you just drag and drop files between the devices-- even dozens of GB, no problem. Wow! Apple sucks! I wouldn't complain about Android File Transfer. I'd complain about Apple's lack of a solution to play nice with the rest of the world.
PCs play nice with Androids, iOS, Blackberry, Symbian, & Windows Phones.
PCs play nice with Androids, iOS, Blackberry, Symbian, & Windows Phones.
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