Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel to Mac

Updated October 24, 2026

Samsung and Google make the two best-selling Android phone families. Neither ships a modern Mac app for browsing phone files. Here is what each offers, and what works best today.

Samsung Galaxy to Mac

Smart Switch for Mac is for backing up and moving data to a new Galaxy, not for picking files. Samsung's UK page for it was last updated in December 2022 and lists Android File Transfer as a requirement.
Samsung has no Quick Share app for Mac that we could find.
Best option today: a USB cable and an MTP app. Choose “Transferring files / Android Auto” or “File transfer” in the Galaxy's USB notification, then open PhoneFerry.

Tip: quit Smart Switch before you connect. It can hold the phone so other apps cannot open it.

Google Pixel to Mac

Pixel 10 and Pixel 9 (not 9a) can send files to a Mac's AirDrop with Quick Share. Set AirDrop on the Mac to “Everyone for 10 minutes”.
Google's Pixel help offers Google Drive and Google Photos as the cloud route.
For many files or whole folders, use a USB cable with PhoneFerry, or pair over Wi-Fi.

Other brands

Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, Nothing, Oppo and other Android phones work the same way: choose “File transfer” in the USB notification and open an MTP app on the Mac.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Samsung Smart Switch to copy photos to a Mac?

No. Smart Switch is for backups and moving to a new phone. To pick and copy files, use a USB cable and an MTP app such as PhoneFerry.

Can a Pixel use AirDrop with a Mac?

Yes, Pixel 10 and Pixel 9 models except the 9a can send to AirDrop with Quick Share. It is phone-to-Mac and suits a few files at a time.

Does this work with Samsung DeX?

DeX is a desktop mode, not a file transfer tool. For files, use USB with an MTP app.