How to Fix Android File Transfer Not Working on macOS Ventura

Wondering why Android file transfer is not working on your Mac running macOS Ventura?

macOS Ventura is one of Apple’s most stable software updates. Despite this, users still ran into some problems. 

One of the main issues with macOS Ventura is external storage management. 

There are users having trouble with using external drives, while others can’t transfer files from their Android devices. 

Today, we will show you how to manage your external storage and transfer files from an Android device to your Mac. 

Let’s jump right in!

1. Restart Your Devices. 

If you can’t transfer files from your Android device, we suggest restarting both your Mac and mobile phone. 

This should ensure that there are no temporary errors on your system that cause the problem. 

To restart your Android device: 

1. Press and hold the Power button on your phone until the options menu appears. 
2. Now, tap on Restart. 
3. If a confirmation box appears, tap Restart again to continue. 

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To restart your Mac:

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Next, click on the Restart option. 
3. Confirm your action by clicking Restart again. 

Once done, connect your Android phone and see if you can now transfer your files. 

2. Quit Third-Party Apps. 

One of the most effective solutions for this problem is quitting conflicting applications. 

Many users have already confirmed that closing the Google Drive and Preview app resolved the Android file transfer issue on their Mac. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. First, press the Command + Space keys on your keyboard. This brings up Spotlight Search. 
2. Now, look for the Activity Monitor and open it. 

3. Inside the Activity Monitor, find Google Drive from the list. 
4. Select the app and click the Stop icon in the upper portion of the window. 

5. Shift your attention to the dock afterward and find the Preview app. 
6. Point your cursor over the Preview app and make a two-finger tap to open the options window. 
7. Click on Force Quit to stop the app from running. 

Once done, try transferring files from your Android device to confirm if the problem is solved. 

Related: How to Fix Calculator Not Working on Mac

3. Enable USB Debugging. 

USB Debugging allows your Android device to communicate with a computer that is running Android Software Developer Kit, in order to use advanced operations. 

You can try enabling USB Debugging on your phone and see if you can perform file transfers with your Mac. 

See the steps below to enable the feature on your phone: 

1. Open Settings on your Android device. 
2. Now, go to About or About Phone. 

3. Tap on Software Information. 

4. Find the Build Number tab and tap on it seven times or until the ‘Developer options unlocked’ prompt appears. 

5. After that, go back to the main page and scroll down to the bottom. 
6. Tap on Developer Options. 

7. Look for USB Debugging and enable the option. 

Reconnect your mobile device to your Mac and check if the problem is solved. 

4. Check USB Preference. 

When you connect your Android phone to a computer, it will give you options on what to do with the connection. 

If you can’t transfer files or your Mac can’t detect the device, it’s possible that your USB preference is set to ‘charge only’. 

Here’s how you can confirm your configurations: 

1. First, unlock your Android phone and connect it to your Mac. 
2. Go to your phone and swipe downwards to open the Device Controls page. 
3. Now, tap on the Android System next to the USB icon. 

4. Under Use USB For, choose File Transfer/Android Auto. 

Go back to your Mac and your device should be detected. 

5. Update Your Software. 

There might be a problem with your Mac or Android phone’s software that causes file transfers to fail. To rule this out, make sure that you have the latest software for your devices installed. 

To update your Mac: 

1. Open the Apple Menu by clicking the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, click on System Preferences. 

3. Inside System Preferences, click on Software Update. 

4. If there’s an available update, click on Update Now or Upgrade Now. 

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To update your Android device: 

1. Open Settings on your mobile device. 
2. Now, scroll down and tap on Software Update. 

3. Tap Download and Install if there’s a new version available. 

Once done, try transferring your files to check if the problem is solved. 

Related: How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Mounting After macOS Ventura Update

6. Reinstall Android File Transfer. 

If you still encounter problems transferring files from your Android device to your Mac, we suggest reinstalling the Android File Transfer software on your Mac. 

This way, you can ensure that there are no problems with the software and you have the latest version. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Go to Finder on your Mac. 
2. Now, open the Applications folder. 
3. Look for Android File Transfer and drag the app to the Trash Bin. 

After removing the app, go to Android’s official website and download the latest version of the software for your Mac. 

Try moving a few files from your device afterward to confirm if the problem is solved. 

That brings us to the end of our guide on how to fix Android File Transfer if it’s not working on macOS Ventura.

If you have other concerns, let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to help you out. 

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