How To Bluetooth Files From Android To Iphone

How to Transfer Files Between Mac and Android Using Bluetooth

Ditch your USB cables and follow this easy guide to use Bluetooth to transfer files from Android to Mac instead, or vice versa.

While you can easily send files between Apple devices using AirDrop, not everyone is brand exclusive, and sometimes we require other solutions. Bluetooth is one viable option when it comes to wirelessly transferring data between Mac and Android.

Here, we'll discuss how to quickly and easily set up Bluetooth sharing, with no additional software, and start wirelessly sending files between your Android device and your Mac immediately.

How to Pair Your Mac With Your Android Device

The first step to wirelessly transferring data is to pair your Bluetooth devices. You'll only need to complete this process once; after that, your devices will remain paired until you decide to unlink them.

Follow these steps to pair Mac and Android:

Enable Bluetooth on your Mac from the menu bar or in System Preferences > Bluetooth.
Enable Bluetooth on your Android device in Settings > Bluetooth.
Enable Bluetooth Sharing on your Mac by ticking the option in System Preferences > Sharing. From here, you can select a location for received items and choose what happens when a file transfer request comes in.
On your Android device, select your Mac in Settings > Bluetooth, and a passcode will appear on each screen.
If the passcodes match, which they should, click Connect on your Mac to complete the pairing.

That's it. You've now configured your devices to send and receive files over Bluetooth.

How to Send Files From Android to Mac

On your Android device, you can send files over Bluetooth using the share menu. You'll find this feature in many applications, including your photo gallery and files app.

To send files to your Mac, follow these steps:

Locate and select the file you want to send.
Tap the share icon.
Choose Bluetooth as the transfer method.
Select the device you want to send to.
Accept the transfer on your Mac when prompted.

Received files will land in the location you specified in System Preferences > Sharing > Bluetooth Sharing. By default, this will be your Downloads folder. Naturally, sharing goes both ways, so let's take a look at how to send files to your Android device.

How to Send Files From Mac to Android

The process for Bluetooth file sharing is a little different on your Mac. While macOS does have a share menu similar to Android, Bluetooth isn't included in the list of available transfer methods. Thankfully, a built-in app called Bluetooth File Exchange can get the job done.

Follow these steps to transfer files to your Android device:

Open the Bluetooth File Exchange app within Applications > Utilities.
Locate and select the file you want to send.
Click Send.
Select the paired Android device you want to send to.
Click Send again.
Accept the incoming transfer on your Android device.

Received items will appear in the relevant section of your default files app and in other related areas. For example, images should also show up in your photo application.

Bluetooth is a viable wireless transfer solution for Mac and Android devices. The pairing process is quick and sending data is simple and intuitive.

Once paired, you can use the share menu in multiple apps across your Android device to transfer items. On your Mac, with Bluetooth Sharing enabled, the Bluetooth File Exchange application allows you to send files to Android with minimal effort.

Bluetooth, however, does have some limitations. With a maximum transfer rate of 50Mbps, even the newest version of the protocol will seem sluggish compared to other options. Bluetooth is also prone to interference and dropouts, so you'll want to make sure you've got a stable connection before starting any large data transfers.

Overall, Bluetooth is still a convenient solution for quick and simple file exchanges.

7 Exciting Ways to Get More Out of Bluetooth on Android

Bluetooth isn't only for connecting accessories to your phone. Here are some other cool uses for Bluetooth on Android.