MacDroid not connecting: what its own FAQ says to check

If MacDroid is not connecting to your Android phone, first work out which of its three connection modes you are using, because each fails for a different reason. In MTP mode the usual causes are a phone left on charging or another Mac app holding the phone. In ADB mode it is USB debugging, or an unanswered prompt on the phone. In Wi-Fi mode it is the two devices being on different networks, or an incomplete pairing. And a phone that shows in MacDroid's device list but not in Finder simply has not been mounted yet.

Everything here comes from the MacDroid FAQ and the pages it links to. Its general info page says the app "offers three modes of connection: MTP, ADB, and Wi-Fi". We have not tested MacDroid ourselves.

Symptom, cause, fix

MTP mode: the phone does not appear

MacDroid's MTP guide has three steps: connect the device by USB cable, choose the File transfer option in the pop-up on the phone, and the device appears in MacDroid's device list. Then you click Mount.

If it does not appear:

1. Check the USB mode. MacDroid's MTP mode page says a phone "usually sets to 'charge only' mode by default". Unlock the phone, swipe down, tap the USB notification, and select Transfer files or File transfer. The page notes the steps "may vary slightly depending on the brand of your phone".
2. Look for a conflict. The MTP guide says MacDroid "may be prevented from accessing the phone's files in case another app, iPhoto for example, is running". The FAQ page on busy devices says you can see this in the device's status in MacDroid, and gives three ways out: "stop running the conflicting software", "disable working with MTP devices in its preferences", or "try mounting the device using ADB".

The MacDroid pages we read do not discuss faulty cables. If the phone charges and never offers a USB pop-up, see Android phone not showing up on Mac for the cable and Mac-side checks.

ADB mode: the phone does not appear

ADB mode, in the FAQ's words, "works only if Developer options have been activated on your Android device and USB debugging mode has been enabled".

1. Enable USB debugging. MacDroid's example for Android 10: open Settings, find About phone, tap the build number seven times until the phone says you are now a developer, then go to System, Advanced, Developer options and turn on USB debugging. The page warns that the route "varies from one Android version to another" and suggests searching for instructions for your exact model.
2. Authorise the Mac. The ADB guide says to "authorize the device by clicking the 'Allow' option" on the phone, and to tick Always allow from this computer so you are not asked every time.
3. Mount. The device then appears in the list. Click Mount.

Wi-Fi mode: pairing fails or the phone is not found

MacDroid's Wi-Fi guide ends with the note that explains most failures: "Your Android device and Mac should be on the same Wi-Fi network, and USB debugging should be enabled on your Android device."

The steps differ by Android version, and you pick the matching button in MacDroid.

Android 11 and later uses Wireless debugging. The guide gives three ways to pair, including these two:

• QR code. On the phone: Developer options, enable Wireless debugging, choose Pair device with QR code. In MacDroid choose Pair via QR code and scan it with the phone.
• Pairing code. On the phone choose Pair device with pairing code. In MacDroid choose Pair via pairing code, select the device, and enter the six-digit code.

Android 10 and earlier: find the phone's IP address in its Wi-Fi network details, enter it in MacDroid, and click Connect.

If none of that works, the guide offers a shortcut: "connect your device once with a USB cable. Once done, MacDroid will attempt to establish a wireless connection automatically."

If one pairing method fails, try the next. If both devices show the same Wi-Fi name and still cannot pair, the network itself may be keeping them apart; see Android and Mac not on the same network.

It connects but will not mount, or keeps unmounting

Not mounted. Connecting and mounting are separate steps. MacDroid's preferences page describes Auto mount at application start; if it is unchecked, "you can mount the required devices manually by selecting them in the list and clicking the Mount button".

Mount type. The FAQ lists three types:

The mount type setting is hidden. MacDroid's device options page says to press and hold Option to reveal it.

When should I stop and use something else?

If MTP mode will not connect and you would rather not enable USB debugging, MacDroid has run out of modes. MacDroid's support page is the place to ask. The alternatives:

• OpenMTP, free, cable only, no developer settings. See MacDroid vs OpenMTP.
• The Relay, for wireless browsing without USB debugging. Its file transfer and browsing pairs by scanning a QR code and shows the phone's storage in a window on the Mac, where you drag files either way over your local network. It costs $19.99 once. It does not mount the phone as a disk in Finder, so if editing files in place from Mac apps is why you chose MacDroid, The Relay does not replace that. It also has no USB mode.

Questions people ask

Why is MacDroid not detecting my phone?

In MTP mode, the phone is usually still on charging, or another app has it. In ADB mode, USB debugging is off or you have not tapped Allow. Check the mode you are in first.

Does MacDroid need USB debugging?

Not for MTP mode. MacDroid's guides say ADB mode and Wi-Fi mode both require it.

Which macOS does MacDroid need?

Its home page says "Requires macOS 11.5 or newer versions". Its MTP mode page says 10.15.4 or newer. The two disagree, so check the download page for the version you are installing.