My Mac does not appear
Confirm TapSend is open on the Mac, both devices use the same account, and both devices have internet access.
Send photos, videos, documents, and text from your Android phone to a Mac without connecting a USB cable. Install TapSend on both devices, sign in, and keep both devices connected to the internet.
Install TapSend on Android and Mac, sign in with the same account, and name both devices. On Android, open Send, select your files or enter text, then choose the Mac as the recipient. Start the transfer and open or save it from TapSend on your Mac. Both devices need internet access.
Before you start
A short setup checklist keeps the first transfer predictable.
Step-by-step
TapSend’s current sending order is content first, recipient second.
Step 1
Get TapSend from Google Play on your Android phone, then download and install TapSend on your Mac.
Step 2
Open TapSend on Android and Mac, then sign in to the same TapSend account on both devices.
Step 3
Give each device a clear name so you can recognize the Mac when choosing a recipient.
Step 4
Start a new transfer from the Send area in the Android app.
Step 5
Select the photos, videos, documents, or other files you want to move—or type or paste text.
Step 6
After choosing the content, select your named Mac as the recipient.
Step 7
Start the transfer and keep both devices connected to the internet while TapSend delivers it.
Step 8
Use TapSend on your Mac to open the incoming transfer and choose where to keep the received files.
Use the same account on Android and Mac before starting the Send flow.
Supported content
Use one transfer flow for common file types and text.
Photos and images
Videos
Documents
Multiple files
Plain text and links
File size, storage, history, and monthly transfer limits depend on your TapSend plan. The current Free plan allows files up to 50 MB per transfer.
Why TapSend
A straightforward option when your files and devices live across platforms.
Start from the Android app without physically connecting the phone to your Mac.
Recognize and choose your connected devices by name.
Move common files, pasted text, and links from the same Send experience.
TapSend also supports Windows, Linux, iPhone, and iPad workflows.
Both devices use an internet connection; TapSend is not an offline peer-to-peer tool.
Data is protected in transit using HTTPS/TLS. We do not claim end-to-end encryption.
Choose the right method
There is no universal winner. The right option depends on whether you need offline, nearby, wired, or account-based delivery.
| Method | Cable | Internet | Nearby / network | Account | Platform coverage | Cloud storage | Limits | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TapSend | No | Yes | Not a nearby-only workflow | Yes | Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone/iPad | Yes | Plan-based | One account across a mixed-device setup |
| Google Drive | No | Yes | No proximity requirement | Google Account | Android, macOS, Windows, iOS, and web | Yes | Google storage plan | Files already stored in Google Drive |
| USB with an MTP utility | Yes | No | Physical connection | Depends on the utility | Android and macOS with compatible software | No | Device, cable, and utility constraints | Direct offline transfers |
| Email or cloud link | No | Yes | No proximity requirement | Usually | Any supported browser or app | Usually | Provider-specific | Occasional files or sharing with another person |
| LocalSend | No | No external internet | Same local network | No | Multiple desktop and mobile platforms | No | Local device and network constraints | Local-network transfers |
Comparison is qualitative and can change as third-party products evolve. Check each product’s current documentation before choosing a workflow.
The core flow
This visual explains the order without pretending to be a screenshot of the TapSend interface.
Select files or enter text on Android.
Select your named Mac as recipient.
Open the incoming transfer and save your files.
Fix common issues
Start with the account, connectivity, and plan checks that apply to TapSend.
Confirm TapSend is open on the Mac, both devices use the same account, and both devices have internet access.
Sign out on one device, then sign back in with the account used on the other device.
Check the per-transfer limit for your plan. The current Free plan supports files up to 50 MB.
Review your plan usage and wait for the allowance to reset or choose a plan with a higher limit.
Reconnect the Mac to the internet, reopen TapSend, and retry the transfer.
Open TapSend on the Mac and check the transfer history instead of relying only on system notifications.
Check connectivity and plan limits, then start a new transfer from Android.
Open the transfer details in TapSend on the Mac and confirm the location selected when saving.
Answers
Straight answers about requirements, limits, and the Android-to-Mac workflow.
Install TapSend on your Android phone and Mac, sign in with the same account, choose the files on Android, select your Mac, and send. Both devices need internet access.
No. TapSend transfers the selected files through its cloud-backed service, so you do not need to connect your Android phone to the Mac with a USB cable.
TapSend requires internet access on both devices and the same TapSend account. It does not rely on a USB connection or Bluetooth pairing.
Yes. Sign in with the same TapSend account on Android and Mac so your devices can appear in the same device list.
Yes. TapSend is cloud-backed, so both the sending Android phone and receiving Mac need an internet connection.
You can use TapSend to send examples such as photos, videos, documents, multiple files, plain text, and links. Your operating system and current TapSend plan may affect what can be selected and sent.
The current Free plan supports files up to 50 MB per transfer. File-size, storage, history, and monthly-transfer limits vary by plan and may change, so check the pricing section before a large transfer.
Open the incoming transfer in TapSend on the Mac and use the available open or save action. The exact destination can depend on the app version and your macOS settings, so confirm the shown location before saving.
Yes. TapSend can send files and text between connected devices, so you can start the Send flow on your Mac and choose your Android phone as the recipient.
Follow the same workflow in the other direction.
Transfer files from Android to a Windows PC.
Send files from a Windows PC to Android.
Transfer files from iPhone to a Windows PC.
Get the app for your devices.
Review current transfer allowances.
Install TapSend on both devices, sign in with the same account, and send your first file—without connecting a USB cable.
Internet access and a TapSend account are required.