Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola and other Android phones to Mac

Updated October 24, 2026

Every Android phone can share its files over USB, but each brand names the setting a little differently and some hide it. Here is what to look for, brand by brand, and the steps that work for all of them.

The steps for every brand

Connect the phone to the Mac with a USB data cable.
Unlock the phone and pull down the notification shade.
Tap the USB notification and choose the file option (names below).
Open PhoneFerry on the Mac. The phone appears in the sidebar.

What the USB option is called

Brand	Look for
Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO	“File transfer” or “Transfer files / Android Auto”. The default is often “Charging only” or “No data transfer”.
OnePlus, Oppo, Realme	“File transfer” (sometimes “Transfer files”).
Motorola	“File transfer” in the USB notification.
Nothing	“File transfer”.
Samsung Galaxy	“Transferring files / Android Auto”.
Google Pixel	“File transfer / Android Auto”.

If the phone still does not show up

Use another data cable and plug it straight into the Mac.
Close other phone apps on the Mac (brand PC suites, Smart Switch, cloud sync).
Restart the phone. Some brands reset the USB mode after an update.
Read our checklist “Mac not recognizing Android phone”.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the brand's own PC suite?

No. Any Android phone in File transfer mode works with an MTP app such as PhoneFerry.

My Xiaomi shows only photos. Why?

It is in Photo transfer (PTP) mode. Switch to File transfer to see every folder.