OpenMTP alternatives: what to use when it does not work for you

If OpenMTP will not work on your Mac, the nearest alternative that also uses a USB cable is MacDroid, which has a free version and a paid PRO tier. If the cable is the problem, a wireless tool avoids it: NearDrop and LocalSend are free, and some recent Pixel and Galaxy phones can send straight to the Mac's AirDrop. Before you switch, spend two minutes on the checks below, because most "OpenMTP shows nothing" problems are the phone's USB setting or another app holding the connection.

Publisher note: The Relay publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Details about other products come from each maker's own pages, checked on 2 October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm before you buy.

What does OpenMTP do, so I know what I am replacing?

OpenMTP is a free, open-source Mac app. Its site describes a two-pane window with the Mac on one side and the phone on the other, drag and drop, switching between internal memory and the SD card, renaming files on the phone, and no limit on file size ("4GB+ files"). It says it needs macOS 10.14 Mojave or higher, with separate downloads for Apple silicon and Intel. Its FAQ says the app does not collect personally identifiable information, and answers "Can OpenMTP transfer files wirelessly?" with "No."

If those are the things you wanted, the alternatives below cover them with different trade-offs. If OpenMTP simply was not connecting, try the checks first.

What should I check before giving up on OpenMTP?

These come from OpenMTP's connection guide and FAQ.

1. Use a cable that carries data. The guide says "Some cables only charge."
2. Unlock the phone, pull down the notification shade, tap the USB notification, and under Use USB for choose File transfer. If there is no notification, search Settings for "USB".
3. Quit other apps that may hold the phone. The guide says "Only one app can use an MTP device at a time" and names Preview, Image Capture, Photos, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Android File Transfer, Garmin Express, iMovie and Lightroom.
4. Samsung phone? On a Galaxy, tap Allow when the phone asks "Allow access to phone data?". The guide says that if OpenMTP goes blank you should quit Samsung Smart Switch, and that uninstalling it "has fixed the problem for some users".
5. Click refresh on either pane in OpenMTP.

More steps are in OpenMTP not working. If none of this helps, pick from the table.

Which alternatives are there?

Which alternative fits which problem?

The cable or the USB mode keeps failing. Go wireless. LocalSend and NearDrop need no cable and no USB debugging. LocalSend's site says "No account, no login, no servers". NearDrop's README says it works over Wi-Fi LAN only and is visible to everyone on the network while it runs, so use it on a network you trust. Setup is in how to use NearDrop and LocalSend between a Mac and an Android phone.

You still want a cable and a window onto the phone. MacDroid is the other app built for that. Its home page says you select ADB or MTP mode after plugging in, then open the phone in Finder. Its free version, per its Android file transfer page, is limited, and sending files from the Mac needs PRO. Its yearly plan has a 7-day trial. See MacDroid vs OpenMTP.

You only have a file or two. Check Google's Quick Share page. It says certain phones can send to a macOS device, that the Mac user chooses Everyone for 10 minutes in AirDrop settings, and that no app is needed. AirDrop from Android to a Mac says which phones qualify.

Your Mac is old. Compare the minimums on each page: OpenMTP lists macOS 10.14 (with legacy support for older), MacDroid 11.5, LocalSend 11 Big Sur, The Relay macOS 13. OpenMTP's FAQ also describes version 3.1.15 for macOS 10.13 and earlier.

Where does The Relay fit?

The Relay is a paid app that replaces the cable with your Wi-Fi network. File transfer and browsing shows the phone's storage in a window on the Mac, and you drag files either way, with no file-size limit set by the app. It pairs by scanning a QR code shown on the Mac, so there is no USB mode to get wrong. It also syncs the clipboard, shows incoming texts with login codes copied to the Mac's clipboard, mirrors notifications, shows incoming calls, hands links across, and turns the phone into a webcam.

It is one subscription through Google Play that covers your phone and your Mac, with a 7-day free trial, and it needs Android 8.0 or later and macOS 13 Ventura or later. Your clipboard, files, texts, and notifications travel directly between your phone and your Mac over your local network. They are not uploaded to The Relay's servers. There is no account or sign-up with The Relay; the subscription is bought through Google Play. See the privacy policy.

It is the wrong choice if you want a cable, if you only move files occasionally, or if the phone and the Mac are on different networks. It has no USB mode and it does not work across the internet. For a once-a-month photo dump, OpenMTP, once it connects, costs nothing. See The Relay vs OpenMTP.

Could the problem be the Mac, not the app?

Possibly. Apple says a Mac laptop with Apple silicon asks you to approve a new USB accessory, and if you decline the Mac will not recognise it. If the phone shows up for charging only, check for that prompt. Android phone not showing up on Mac walks through it, and the same cable and USB-mode causes will affect any USB-based alternative, MacDroid included.

How do I choose in two minutes?

1. Try the five checks above.
2. Still nothing and you want free? Install LocalSend, or NearDrop if you would rather not install anything on the phone.
3. Want a cable and a Finder disk? Try MacDroid's free version.
4. Want files plus clipboard, codes and notifications? That is The Relay.

We have not tested these products. If you compare two, copy the same folder with each and check the files open.

Questions people ask

Why is OpenMTP not showing my Android phone?

The usual causes on OpenMTP's own list are a charge-only cable, the phone not set to File transfer, or another app holding the connection. See OpenMTP not working.

Is there an OpenMTP alternative that works wirelessly?

Yes: LocalSend, NearDrop, KDE Connect, Quick Share to AirDrop on supported phones, and The Relay. OpenMTP's FAQ says it is USB only.

Is OpenMTP still maintained?

Its GitHub releases page lists v3.3.0 as the newest release, dated 22 August. Look at the releases page for the current version.

Do these alternatives need USB debugging?

Not OpenMTP, and not the wireless tools above. MacDroid's Wi-Fi setup steps and its ADB mode do.