I have an older Android phone: what still works with a Mac?

Quite a lot. The deciding number is the Android version on the phone, not its age or brand. As of 26 October 2026, the makers' own pages put the floor at Android 5.0 for Google Messages for web and scrcpy, Android 6 for Quick Share, Android 7.0 for the current LocalSend, and Android 8.0 for The Relay. Cable transfer with OpenMTP lists no Android version at all. Look up your version first, then use the table below.

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 26 October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm before you buy.

How do I find my Android version?

Open Settings, then About phone (on some phones it sits under System), and look for Android version. Menu names differ between makers, so if yours does not match, search the Settings app for "Android version". Write the number down. Also note your Mac's macOS version under Apple menu, then About This Mac, because some tools have a macOS floor too.

What is the minimum Android version for each tool?

Two reading notes. The Quick Share row means the phone can use Quick Share, not that it can reach a Mac: reaching a Mac needs the AirDrop-compatible list, which is model-based, not version-based. The QR code fallback does not depend on the model, since Google says devices without AirDrop support use it, and "both devices need internet access." And for LocalSend, an older release can still run on Android 5 or 6, which is the page's own wording, but we have not tried it.

What about files from a very old phone?

A cable is the dependable choice. OpenMTP's page states no Android version, and its macOS requirement is "macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or higher". The steps on the phone follow Google's USB page: unlock the phone, tap the "Charging this device via USB" notification, and under "Use USB for" select File Transfer. That page gives steps for Windows and Chromebook, not Mac, so the Mac side needs OpenMTP. Full walkthrough: Android to Mac file transfer via USB. If a Mac says it cannot see the phone, read Android phone not showing up on Mac.

OpenMTP also says macOS 10.13 and earlier have limited support and need OpenMTP v3.1.15 with Legacy MTP mode. If your Mac is old as well as your phone, read that page before you download anything.

What about an older Mac?

The Mac matters as much as the phone. LocalSend lists macOS 11 Big Sur and notes that older Macs can use OpenCore Legacy Patcher 2.0.2, which is a third-party route we have not tested. The Relay needs macOS 13 Ventura. OpenMTP goes back to 10.14. Google Messages for web only needs a supported browser.

What if the phone is too old for everything?

Then move files with a cable and keep the rest simple. If it is a spare phone you are retiring, using an old phone as a Mac webcam is a different, useful second life, and backing up an Android phone to a Mac is the careful way to say goodbye to it.

Where does The Relay fit?

If your phone runs Android 8.0 or later and your Mac runs macOS 13 Ventura or later, The Relay covers the clipboard, notifications, files, calls, texts and login codes, links, and the phone as a webcam in one Mac app, over your own Wi-Fi network with Bluetooth as a fallback. Below those numbers it is not supported, so use the free tools above.

It does not mirror the screen, send texts from the Mac, or work over USB. The Relay is one subscription through Google Play that covers your phone and your Mac, with a 7-day free trial, so you can check on your own phone before paying. Start at /download.

Questions people ask

Does Google Messages for web work on an old Android phone?

Google's page says Android 5.0 or higher and the latest version of Google Messages. Check which Google Messages version your phone can install.

What is the oldest Android version The Relay supports?

Android 8.0, with macOS 13 Ventura or later on the Mac.

Can an old Android phone AirDrop to a Mac?

Only if the model is on Google's compatible-device list. Otherwise Quick Share uses its QR code fallback, which goes through the internet. See AirDrop from Android to a Mac.

Should I update my phone's Android version?

Only if the maker offers an update. Menu names differ, so look for a software update entry in Settings. We have not checked update policies for any brand.