This App Makes It Easy for Androids and Macs to Talk to Each Other
I’m a former Android-Mac hybrid user. Laugh as much as you want, we exist.
I like having a polished OS on my computer and an infinitely hackable OS on my phone, and the combination of Mac and Android gave me just that. I stopped using Android with my Mac only a few years ago, mainly because an iPhone SE was cheaper than most mid-range Android options at the time.
However, when I think about going back, I realize how much I will miss the integrations. Using a Mac and an iPhone gives you access to all sorts of tricks. Some of the ones I use most include Shared Notifications, Sync Clipboard, and Easy Ways to Sync Files. There is also the option to control your iPhone from your Mac. Android users can’t do any of this on a Mac.
That’s where AirSync comes in. The open-source app, created by Sri Lanka-based developer Sameera Sandakelum, integrates Android devices with macOS in all sorts of ways. Android notifications appear on your Mac. You can sync your clipboard. It’s also easy to send files from Android to your Mac’s Downloads folder, or vice versa. And with a little setup, you can even take control of your Android device from the comfort of your Mac.
Credit: Justin Pot
Getting started is simple. You need to download the app for Android and macOS and install them. You will be prompted on both devices to enable certain permissions, after which you can connect your devices to each other by scanning a QR code. (It should be noted that you can only connect devices that are on the same Wi-Fi network.)
After that, you should start seeing Android notifications on your Mac: they will appear in the Mac’s native notifications, or you can view existing ones in the app itself. You can even trigger buttons, allowing you to do things like reply to text messages from notifications on your Mac. Items copied to your clipboard on one device will be synced to the other. And you will see the controls of the media playing on your Mac on the lock screen of your Android device.
What do you think of it so far?
It has a lot of nice touches, and you can go a little further by paying for AirSync+, which costs either $2.49/month or $50 one time. This paid version of the app allows you to take control of your Android device, similar to iPhone Mirroring. I tried this feature and liked it, although you can configure it yourself using Scrcpy for free.
Credit: Justin Pot
Other features in the paid version include controlling your Android’s music from your Mac, opening websites open on one device from another, and custom app icons.
Even without these paid features, Airsync makes life a little easier for a Mac/Android person. Not missing notifications, sharing files more easily, and syncing the clipboard are all major quality of life improvements, so check out this app if you’re tired of macOS and Android not working well together.
