How to Share Files Between Android and Mac with NearDrop 2024

How to Share Files Between Android and Mac with NearDrop

If you own an Android phone and a Mac computer, you might have wondered how to transfer files between them without using cables, cloud services, or third-party apps. Apple has its own solution called AirDrop, but it only works with iOS and macOS devices. Google has a similar feature called Nearby Share, but it only supports Android, ChromeOS, and Windows.

What if you could use Nearby Share on your Mac and send files from your Android phone to your Mac wirelessly and effortlessly? Well, thanks to a developer named Gregory K, you can do just that with a free app called NearDrop.

What is NearDrop?

NearDrop is an open-source app that implements Google’s Nearby Share protocol for macOS. It allows you to receive files from your Android phone to your Mac over a local Wi-Fi network, just like AirDrop. All you need is to install the app on your Mac and enable Nearby Share on your Android phone.

How to Install NearDrop on Mac?

To install NearDrop on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Go to the GitHub page of NearDrop and download the latest release.
2. Unzip the file and move the NearDrop.app to your Applications folder.
3. Right-click the app and select Open, then confirm running an app from an unidentified developer.
4. If you want the app to start on boot, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items and add NearDrop to the list.

How to Use NearDrop on Mac?

To use NearDrop on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Make sure your Android phone and your Mac are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Run the NearDrop app on your Mac and click the icon in the menu bar. You should see a message saying “NearDrop is running”.
3. On your Android phone, open the file you want to send and tap the Share icon. Select Nearby Share from the list of options.
4. Wait for your Mac to appear in the list of nearby devices and tap it. You may need to open the Google Files app and tap Receive on the Nearby Share tab if your Mac doesn’t show up.
5. On your Mac, you should see a notification asking you to accept the incoming file. Click Accept and wait for the file to be transferred.
6. The file will be saved in your Downloads folder on your Mac. You can open it with the default app or choose another app from the notification.

What are the Limitations of NearDrop?

NearDrop is a great app that makes file sharing between Android and Mac much easier, but it also has some limitations that you should be aware of:

You can only receive files on your Mac, not send them to your Android phone. This is due to the encryption used by Google that hasn’t been cracked yet.

You can only use NearDrop over a Wi-Fi LAN network, not Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, or other mediums supported by Nearby Share.

Your Mac will be visible to everyone on your network at all times while the app is running since limiting visibility to specific contacts would require interacting with Google’s servers.

Website Download Link

• NearDrop Official Link: Here

Conclusion

NearDrop is a handy app that lets you use Nearby Share on your Mac and receive files from your Android phone wirelessly. It is free, open-source, and easy to use. If you are looking for a simple and fast way to transfer files between Android and Mac, you should give NearDrop a try.

I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions or feedback, please let me know in the comments. And if you want to learn how to use AirDrop on your Android phone, stay tuned for my next article. 😉