Send Files from Android to Mac

AirDrop is Apple-only, full stop; there’s no version of it for Android talking to a Mac. Nearsend fills that gap directly in the browser.

The usual problem

The usual fallback is Android File Transfer (a separate app you have to install on the Mac) over a USB cable, or a round trip through cloud storage. Both work, but neither is quick for sending a handful of photos or a document.

How Nearsend solves it

Open nearsend.app in Chrome (or any browser) on the Android phone and in a browser on the Mac. Pair them with a QR code, PIN, or voice phrase, then send files or a full folder; no Android File Transfer app, no cable, no cloud upload.

How to do it

Open Nearsend on both devices, Go to nearsend.app in any modern browser on the sending and receiving device; no app to install.
Pair them, Scan the animated QR code, enter the 6-digit PIN, or say the voice phrase to connect the two devices directly.
Send your files or folder, Drop files or a full folder onto the page, or pick them from the file browser. They stream straight to the other device.

Why it works well here

No app to install, runs in the browser on both devices
No account or sign-up required
Works across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, ChromeOS, and HarmonyOS
Files stream directly device-to-device; nothing is stored on a server

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install Android File Transfer on the Mac?

No. Nearsend works entirely through the browser instead.

Can Android and Mac actually connect without a cable?

Yes, Nearsend pairs them directly over an encrypted WebRTC connection.

Is there a file size limit?

No server-side limit; files stream directly between the two devices.

Does it work on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs?

Yes, any Mac with a modern browser works.

Do I need a Google or Apple account?

No account is required on either device.

Does this work with Samsung or other Android skins, not just stock Android?

Yes. Nearsend only depends on the phone having a modern browser, so it works the same regardless of which manufacturer's version of Android is running.

Can I send a file from the Mac back to the Android phone?

Yes, the connection works in both directions once paired, so either device can send at any point during the session.

What if the Android phone doesn't have Chrome installed?

Any modern browser works, not just Chrome, Firefox, Samsung Internet, and others all support the same web features Nearsend relies on.

Does this drain the Android phone's battery faster than a cable transfer would?

A direct wireless transfer does use some battery, similar to any active network connection, for a typical photo or document handoff, the difference compared to a cable is negligible in practice.

Can I send a large video from Android to the Mac this way?

Yes; there's no server-side size limit, so a large video streams the same way a small file does, just taking longer depending on your connection.

Is there a way to preview a file before it fully arrives on the Mac?

The transfer needs to complete before the Mac can open the file, since it's streaming directly rather than being progressively cached anywhere in between.