How to Connect a Samsung Phone to a MacBook (2026)
Galaxy phones connect to a MacBook by cable or Wi-Fi, but the Mac has no Samsung features built in. Smart Switch, photos, DeX in a window and texts: what works and how.
A Samsung Galaxy phone connects to a MacBook with a USB-C cable or over Wi-Fi, but the Mac has no Samsung features built in. Samsung's own Mac apps are limited today: Smart Switch, for backing up the phone and moving to a new Galaxy, has a Mac version, but the DeX app for Mac ended in 2022. Microsoft's Phone Link is Windows-only. Here's what works on a MacBook, and how to set up each part.
What you can do with a Galaxy phone and a MacBook
| You want to… | How |
|---|---|
| Back up the phone, or move data to a new Galaxy | Samsung Smart Switch for Mac |
| Copy photos and files | A file browser app for the Mac, or a cloud service |
| Use your phone's screen on the Mac | A mirroring app |
| Use Samsung DeX on the MacBook | DeX in a window, with an app (Samsung's own Mac app has ended) |
| Read and send texts on the Mac | Google Messages for web, if Google Messages is your texting app |
| Phone Link, AirDrop, iMessage | No: Phone Link is for Windows PCs, AirDrop and iMessage are Apple-only |
Back up a Galaxy phone to your Mac: Smart Switch
Samsung's Smart Switch has a version for Mac as well as Windows, downloadable from Samsung's Smart Switch page. Samsung says it can back up your files to your Mac and transfer or sync your data onto a new Galaxy phone or tablet, including contacts, photos and messages (Samsung).
Smart Switch is for backups and moving to a new phone. For everyday copying of a few photos, the options below are quicker.
Copy photos and files from a Galaxy to a Mac
Plug a Galaxy phone into a MacBook and Finder doesn't open it the way it does an iPhone or a USB stick. Your options:
- Cloud: Google Photos, Google Drive or OneDrive on the phone, then open them in a browser on the Mac.
- A file browser app: PhoneDesk's Browse Files shows the phone's storage on your Mac with photo and video thumbnails, Quick Look and drag and drop to and from Finder, over USB or Wi-Fi.
- Send from the phone: with PhoneDesk, your Mac shows up as "Send to Mac" in the phone's share menu, and files land in Downloads.
Samsung DeX on a MacBook
DeX is Samsung's desktop mode: a taskbar, resizable app windows and mouse and keyboard support, built into most recent Galaxy S, Galaxy Z and Galaxy Tab S models (look for DeX in Settings or quick settings).
Samsung's DeX app for Mac ended in 2022, and a MacBook's USB-C ports don't take a video signal in, so plugging the phone in doesn't start DeX. To get DeX on the MacBook's screen, an app on the Mac has to start the DeX session on the phone and show it in a window.
PhoneDesk does that: click Desktop Mode in the menu bar and DeX opens as a normal Mac window you can resize or make full screen, over USB or Wi-Fi. It's tested on a Galaxy Z Fold 6. The full guide: Samsung DeX for Mac. There's also a free way in Terminal with scrcpy, covered in Samsung DeX on a Mac for free.
Mirror and control your Galaxy from the Mac
If you don't need DeX, mirroring shows your phone's normal screen in a window on your Mac, and you control it with the Mac's keyboard and trackpad. It works with any Galaxy phone with USB debugging on.
To turn on USB debugging: Settings › About phone › Software information, tap Build number seven times, then Settings › Developer options › USB debugging. Connect to the Mac with a cable and tap Allow on the phone. More in control your Android phone from your Mac.
Texts on your MacBook
If your Galaxy uses Google Messages for texts, Google Messages for web shows them in a browser on your Mac (Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge), paired with your phone (Google). If you text with Samsung Messages, check which app is set as the default on your phone first.
PhoneDesk for Galaxy owners
PhoneDesk is a Mac menu bar app we make. For a Galaxy phone and a MacBook, it covers:
- Samsung DeX in a Mac window (tested on the Galaxy Z Fold 6)
- Mirroring and keyboard and mouse control for any Galaxy with USB debugging on
- Browse Files: your phone's photos and files on your Mac
- Send files and text from the phone to the Mac
- Your phone as a second monitor for the MacBook (Android 9 or later)
USB or Wi-Fi, nothing else to install (it bundles adb and scrcpy), any Mac with macOS 13 or later. $25 once, no subscription, 14-day refund you request yourself. Not tested yet on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or One UI 9, so the refund is there if it doesn't work with your phone. See PhoneDesk, or for every Android phone, see using an Android phone with a Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect my Samsung phone to my MacBook?
Yes, with a USB-C cable or over Wi-Fi. The Mac has no Samsung features built in, so you use an app for each job: Smart Switch for backups, a file browser or cloud for photos, a mirroring app for the screen.
Is there Smart Switch for Mac?
Yes. Samsung offers a Mac download of Smart Switch for backing up a Galaxy phone and moving data to a new Galaxy.
Can I use Samsung DeX on a MacBook?
Not with a Samsung app: the DeX app for Mac ended in 2022. An app like PhoneDesk, or scrcpy in Terminal, can show your phone's DeX in a window on the Mac.
Does Phone Link work on a Mac?
No. Microsoft's Phone Link needs a Windows PC (Microsoft).
Why doesn't my Galaxy show up in Finder?
Finder doesn't show Android phones the way it shows iPhones. Use a file browser app or a cloud service. If an app needs adb, check that USB debugging is on and that you tapped Allow on the phone.