How to Sync HTC to Mac OS X (Lion included)

How to Sync HTC to Mac OS X

2012-04-09 02:01:56 / Posted by Adam Cash to Mobile Fun
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Can't connect your HTC Sensation (or other HTC phones) to Mac? Well, connecting HTC devices to Windows computers is quite simple, and to connect HTC to Mac, things turn to be a little tricky. This article will show you how to sync HTC to Mac (Lion included) step by step. In addition, it can be done without any third-party applications.

To hook up HTC Evo, HTC Sensation, HTC Flyer, HTC Vivid, HTC Desire etc. or other Android devices with your Mac, multiple steps are required:

Note: To connect HTC to Mac (Snow Leopard, Lion included), you only can mount your HTC as a disk drive and the article here would help you to manage files such as music, movies, photos, etc. between your HTC and Mac including HTC to iTunes, HTC to QuickTime.

Go to "Setting" and choose "Applications"

Click the "Development"

Here you need to tick the three items: USB debugging, Stay awake, Allow mock location, or you will be unable to copy your files on the SD card to Mac (Snow Leopard included).

Click "USB connected", and select the "USB debugging connected:" and then click "Mount"

Note: Some HTC phones like HTC Sensation here may present you a notice like this:

"Allow USB debugging?

USB debugging is intended for development purposes only. It can be used to copy data between your computer and your device, install applications on your device without notification, and read log data."

Click "OK".

Then you connect your HTC to the Mac, the phone will be showed "USB connected" on the top. BTW, some types of HTC may work in other ways, for example, once you connected your HTC Sensation to Mac, you will be asked to choose your connection type between "Charge only" or "Disk Drive". Here Disk Drive is recommended.

Now the HTC phone is successfully connected to Mac and you can freely manage your files on HTC Evo, HTC Sensation, HTC Flyer, HTC Vivid, HTC Desire etc. on Mac (also on MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac).

Besides, you can go to HTC to iTunes, HTC to QuickTime for more information about playing the files on Mac.

Note: Once you connected your HTC to Mac, please make sure the "USB Storage" is on. If not, slide down the notification panel and turn on it.

Mouseanony 2012-05-28 18:13
Doesn't work at all on the Fido HTC One S. Menu is completely different and there's no such option...
Funnymom143 2012-05-28 15:44
not showing up anywhere on my mac pro. even in finder. I've rebooted both phone and mac. getting really frustrated. i don't even get the "mount" option at the top. this phone sucks. spent an hour following 4 dif sure-fire ways to connect and they are still not speaking to each other. I tried bluetooth, my wireless, and am getting NOWHERE! Help!
S_moranda 2012-05-20 12:57
Thanks! Huge help
jake 2012-05-13 21:49
did this with my HTC desire Z and whilst USB debugging connected' shows i canont see the USB storage thing, or any other indication that my phone knows it is connected to a computer. The mac (21" iMac) can't seem to see the phone. (the phone does charge)
ShaIIII 2012-05-13 06:47
how do u do it on just a simple android pnoee?
Employee 2012-05-10 11:02
Is your husband's phone also an Android phone? Reboot usually works. Make sure to mount your phone to computer by choose "Drive" or "USB Storage" option from the notification bar.
Keifers914 2012-05-08 23:52
I did this with my phone and works great. I wanted to do my husbands and it is not even showing on my mac. Is there another way to do this?
Sam 2012-05-03 01:36
This case, you can unplug your phone and reconnect. Normally, a USB symbol will appear in the notification bar, from which you can choose Charge Only, HTC Sync, Disk Drive (USB storage, drive, or something like that).
td1 2012-05-02 13:10
I'm having the same issue, but cannot find anything on my phone that says "usb storage"
LunaQue 2012-04-26 01:42
You'll need extra apps or services to sync contacts. For example, you can sync contacts to from Android to Gmail and export to a CSV file from Gmail. If you're using Windows, Wondershare MobileGo lets you easily export and import contacts between Android and computer.
twitter-125097760 2012-04-26 00:03
What about the contact list?
Employee 2012-04-23 02:08
Reboot your phone and try again. Also contact the HTC technical support for help.
Ksenske 2012-04-21 14:41
this doesn't work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the MOUNT never came up so it's not working - still a piece of shit!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE THIS PHONE can't wait for my contract to be up iPhone here I come!!!
LunaQue 2012-04-20 09:18
Glad to hear that!
Floreale 2012-04-19 15:03
problem solved)
Floreale 2012-04-19 13:53
Hello, I have HTC Tatoo and once I connected HTC to Mac, I don't see "USB Storage" on notification panel at all. and when I click "Usb connected" and select "USB debugging connected:" it sends me to "development menu" instead of showing option to Mount. What should I do?
Employee 2012-04-19 08:01
I don't know what's the music app on your HTC Sensation. If the songs doesn't show up, maybe the format is not supported, or you need manually import them to the music app.
whiteshadowdarklight 2012-04-19 01:33
How do you add music to the phone through this method. I have a successful connection but if I copy songs to the music folder it won't show up in the music app. BTW I am using a HTC Sensation XL
Employee 2012-04-18 02:33
Since it's being used as USB Storage, you should find it on your Mac desktop as a drive icon.
Ruffers 2012-04-18 02:09
This says that my SC card is unavailable because it's being used as USB storage and I can't find anywhere on my phone that mentions USB storage options...
Simndsf 2012-04-11 01:39
Copy your video files from your HTC to the Mac, then drag and drop them to the converter, check this: HTC to iTunes
Guest 2012-04-10 17:15
I use a HTC One X by the way
guest 2012-04-10 17:14
This does not work? Both download files install iSkysoft Video Converter onto my Mac,
Alexlick27 2012-04-10 05:50
how about the HTC one X is work the same .
Swbay 2012-04-09 19:13
Thankyou, thankyou! Still can't 'connect' bluetooth but at least I can copy over music this way.
google-4f25d97689c8d97b205eae6 2012-04-02 23:05
thanks, works with reboot the phone.
Owen 2012-03-30 01:18
Yeah, if you saw the disk drive and USB debugging connected, you then have already connected your phone to Mac. You can only use it as a disk drive, neither iTunes nor iPhoto will recognize the phone.
Mars 2012-03-30 01:14
Try this: reinsert your SD card into your phone and restart your phone, then follow the instructions above.
aniela 2012-03-30 01:02
i have the same issue as you, i dont have the USB connected notification- the only notifications i have are disk drive and USB debugging connected- (htc desire s and mac os x)
Jan Douglas 2012-03-29 15:06
Have followed the instructions above and phone will not find my MacPro laptop. this is after the 20th time of trying ... any suggestions welcome.
CoComan 2012-03-29 06:36
Restart your phone and try again.
Marktown 2012-03-29 06:32
That's weird, mine works. HTC Desire, Android 2.3.
Maroon Shauna 2012-03-28 16:44
i tried but it diddnt have number 3 -"usb connected. i have htc desire s. and a mac OS X :(
GoodDavid 2012-03-27 08:11
What about your SD card? Is it fine?
Alex 2012-03-27 04:57
I have an HTC Flyer, not EVO. Tried 2 different laptops and a Mac but still can't connect
Roman 2012-03-27 02:05
Have you plugged your phone into the computer?
Alex 2012-03-27 01:33
i have the same issues. I see "usb debugging connected" message but no option to mount the drive
Twishajain7 2012-03-21 15:42
ty.... it jus perfectly worked :D
Ryan 2012-03-19 01:25
If you find the solution, tell me, I want my Desire ebooks on my new Kindle Fire.
Bigguy 2012-03-19 01:22
Does your HTC Evo run the official system? If not, there might be a bit difference.
Jlynne900 2012-03-18 03:48
after following above instructions I get stopped at step #3 no connection notice except icon at top thus no way to check disk drive ever shows up
Jlynne900 2012-03-18 03:27
I have several e-books on my HTC EVO and want to transfer them to my Kindle Fire. How can I do this so all my e-books are on one device(kindle fire)?
Ben 2012-03-09 17:11
Thanks, this worked perfectly. I see everything on my phone and it's just a matter of drag and drop. Much better than having to open Parallels, windows 7, then HTC sync which is buggy as hell.
Fahadbandial 2012-03-04 21:20
how do i use the internet passthrough feature on my iMac? fahadbandial@me.com
Aehdsjka 2012-02-27 01:29
As what Dhsfsdjkfh have mentioned, "If you have finished the step 2, you can also directly plug your HTC into Mac, and then slide down your screen to go to the information section, turn on "Disk drive" then you can use your HTC as a disk drive. No third party app is needed."
Antifired09 2012-02-26 11:35
I have a Htc Sensation Xl and trying to connect to a Macbook pro 2010. I can't seem to see the choose a connection type window popup on my phone. any ideas?
Tronjheim79 2012-02-26 02:19
Excellent!
Joshfera 2012-02-18 05:06
When you plug your phone into the Mac, it will automatically give you the usb options.
Dhsfsdjkfh 2012-02-06 01:15
If you have finished the step 2, you can also directly plug your HTC into Mac, and then slide down your screen to go to the information section, turn on "Disk drive" then you can use your HTC as a disk drive. No third party app is needed.
Liselot 2012-02-04 15:05
I have the wildfire S, but after doing step2 , dont know how you come in the display of "ongoing" ...! It does not work. My phone leave the message: I have to download the software on your PC, but then it sais, only if you are using windows
Gracekasehd 2012-02-01 02:24
I use HTC Evo 3D, and it works well, just as what the article mentioned, you can slide down the notification panel and turn on "Disk drive"
Bluemajic1121 2012-01-31 21:22
I have the htc evo, i checked the 3 boxes, but I don't know where to find the USB storage to turn it on
Robin Walter 2012-01-30 18:17
Just followed the instructions, worked like a dream thank you. HTC Desire HD - 2011 MacBook Pro.
Anders Brinckmeyer 2012-01-30 16:11
Worked perfectly here as well. Macbook Pro + Desire S. Thanks for the tip!
JP 2012-01-25 21:42
Worked perfectly! Thanks for the instructions.
lohklsdh 2012-01-06 02:19
Did you turn on "Disk drive" or not? If not, slide down the notification panel and turn on it.
mlkfkh 2012-01-06 01:32
Would you please show this in detail?
Carmenjr 2012-01-05 19:03
I can't get them to connect. It says paired but not connected.
Pacino 2012-01-03 19:43
I am trying to connect my HTC HD desire to my Macbook air (Lion Osx) followed the instruction and no result :( any other idea?
Hamidzaade 2012-01-03 11:05
HTC sync now present for MAC, see http://mac.eltima.com/htc_sync.html
Gwwoods 2012-01-03 03:59
I found an easy way to transfer photos from my HTC evo to my iMac is to use the Bluetooth interface. Pair the cell phone with the iMac. select your photo then share as bluetooth.
google-1404de53bcb48573edcf4de 2011-12-29 12:49
HTC Inspire, v2.3.3 does not present the "ongoing" options. After selecting the 3 options in "Development" there is nowhere to go. Any suggestions appreciated.
iSkysoft Employee 2011-12-28 03:06
The notification from some HTC phones including Sensation is a little different. After you finished step 2, you will get a notification like this: "Allow USB debugging? USB debugging is intended for development purposes only. It can be used to copy data between your computer and your device, install applications on your device without notification, and read log data." Click "OK". Once you connect your Sensation to your Mac, choose "Disk drive" in the information section. Have fun!
Nick 2011-12-28 01:30
Have you turn on "USB Storage" in the information section? If not, slide down to go to the information section, turn on "USB Storage" then you can use the device as a disk drive.
Moritz 2011-12-27 21:41
I got a desire and followed your instructions, but no other result.. any other idea? htc desire and macbook pro 2011
Sultan Khan 2011-12-27 09:12
I am trying to sync Sensation XE with my Mac. I have gone through Steps 1 to 2 as listed in the article. However, I do not get the "mount" option in Step 3.(I am (again) presented with the three options as listed under Step 2. Please advise on any specific issues/steps related to connecting Sensation XE with Mac.
lucylucy 2011-12-12 01:19
Actually, once you connected your HTC to Mac, you can slide down to go to the information section where you can find "USB Storage", turn on it then you can use the device as a disk drive.
Lulu4192 2011-12-09 11:14
I dont have an option for disk drive. All my phone says is Charge, HTC Sync, Internet Connection, Media, and Internet passthrough
Shrew12 2011-12-05 18:32
If you click the connection type (Default I think is "Charge Only") You can then change this to "Disk Drive", which is equivalent to mounting. Hope this helps!
Jgloe 2011-12-05 01:29
plug your HTC into the Mac and slide down to go to the information section where you can find "USB Storage"
Merivil 2011-12-04 19:27
Hi,where can i find the "usb storage" to turn it on?
Merivil 2011-12-03 09:30
Hi,where i can find the "usb storage" to turn it on?
Jgloe 2011-11-30 01:17
When you connect your HTC to Mac, check notification panel and turn on "US Storage" because it's turned off by default.
Jgloe 2011-11-30 01:13
Hi, did you turn on "USB storage"? This is required.
Cal_1062 2011-11-29 15:52
Hello, can someone help? I can't connect my HTC Desire to my new iMac. Simply by plugging, I don't see the drive. By using the above method, I do not get the message saying a computer is connected under "USB debugging connected". It just says, "select to disable USB debugging". Also the link to download indicated on top of the page is not accessible. Can someone help?

HTC to Mac