It’s no secret that file sharing between Android and macOS devices has always been a bit of a headache, often requiring third-party apps or websites like Snapdrop to make the process possible. However, developer Gregory K, also known as grishka, has created an open-source app named NearDrop, which makes the process much easier by reverse engineering Google’s nearby share and allowing macOS to receive files from an Android phone.
But there are some limitations, as NearDrop only works as a receiver, meaning you can’t use it to send files from your Mac to your phone (at least not yet). Also, file sharing only works when both devices are connected to the same network. Moreover, the sharing process is also slower since the app only uses Wi-Fi, unlike Nearby Share, which uses Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other standards.
While there are also concerns about downloading an app from the internet instead of an official source like the Mac app store, NearDrop does not need access to your Google account, nor does it take any unnecessary permissions.
How to share files with NearDrop?
To install NearDrop, head over to the GitHub page and download the latest ZIP file from the project’s Releases page and move it to your Mac’s applications folder. Since you downloaded the app from the internet, macOS will prevent it from running by default. Therefore, to get around this, right-click NearDrop in the folder and select Open from the context menu.
Once the app is up and running, ensure that your phone and the macOS device are on the same Wi-Fi network. Then select the file you want to share, tap the share button on your phone, and select the Nearby Share icon at the top of the share sheet. Now, wait for your macOS device to appear as a target on the Nearby Share screen. It might take up to a minute for your Mac to show up.