Is there a native way to do this, or do I need a separate Mac app? I came across recommendations for using a USB cable with something like MacDroid. Has anyone tried this setup with the Note Air 4 C? I mainly want a simple way to browse and copy files from the Boox.
The easiest option is probably BooxDrop. Open it on the Boox, then enter the address it shows into any modern browser on your MacBook. Both devices need to be on the same local network, and client isolation can’t be enabled. The files stay on your network during the transfer.
Snapdrop is another browser-based option if you’d rather use that.
For a wired connection, MacDroid may also work. It supports MTP devices and can mount them for file access in macOS. I haven’t tested it with the Note Air 4 C specifically, so I can’t confirm it, but in theory you should be able to connect the Boox over USB and browse its files.
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Don’t expect the Boox to appear like a normal USB drive in Finder. Use a data-capable cable, unlock the Boox, select “File Transfer” in its USB notification, then browse it through an MTP app such as MacDroid.
PDFs and downloads are straightforward to copy, while handwritten BOOX notebooks may need to be exported first. If you want to read or archive those notes on the Mac, export them as PDF from the Notes app before transferring them. Copying the notebook’s internal files may not give you anything useful outside the BOOX ecosystem.
For occasional transfers, BooxDrop is probably the least frustrating choice. For a large folder or repeated backups, USB through MacDroid should be faster and more reliable, provided the cable supports data and the BOOX is set to File Transfer mode. Keep the screen unlocked when connecting, since macOS will not show an MTP device in Finder like an external drive.
Whichever method you use, copy files rather than moving them at first. Open a few PDFs and exported notes on the Mac before deleting anything from the tablet.
The hidden catch with MacDroid is that it adds another app just to compensate for Finder lacking MTP support. For simple transfers, I’d stick with BooxDrop and only install MacDroid if you regularly copy large folders over USB.
A fully native Finder-style USB connection is unlikely because the BOOX uses MTP, which macOS does not handle directly. MacDroid fills that gap, but it is mainly worthwhile for frequent bulk transfers.
A useful middle option is an SMB shared folder on the Mac. Enable File Sharing in macOS, then access that folder from an Android file manager on the BOOX. Compared with BooxDrop, setup takes longer, but afterward you can copy whole folders over Wi-Fi without opening a browser or installing anything extra on the Mac.
For occasional PDFs, BooxDrop wins on effort. For large transfers, MacDroid wins on speed. For repeated wireless copying, SMB is probably the cleaner long-term setup.
Try OpenMTP before paying for MacDroid. BOOX specifically lists it for wired Mac transfers, and it supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
Connect with a data-capable cable, unlock the tablet, choose File Transfer, then refresh OpenMTP. Quit MacDroid or any other MTP utility first, since two transfer apps can fight over the same device.
So no, wired access is not native to Finder, but MacDroid is not mandatory either. For basic copying, the free route is worth trying first.
If your PDFs already live in a cloud account you use anyway, half this thread stops mattering. The Note Air 4 C runs Android with Play Store access, so Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive installed on the tablet will sync straight to the Mac with zero MTP drama. Not great for huge handwriting archives, but for a steady trickle of documents it beats plugging in every time.
On the wired side, @dr_signal is right to point at OpenMTP first. MacDroid does the same job and has a friendlier interface, but the free tool covers basic copying fine, so no reason to pay before you know you need to. The thing nobody flagged clearly: the most common failure here is the cable, not the software. A lot of USB-C cables in the drawer are charge-only, and when the Boox never offers the File Transfer prompt, people blame the app. Test with a cable you know carries data before assuming the setup is broken.
One more real annoyance with MTP on macOS generally. It tends to choke on very large or deeply nested folders, and transfers can stall partway with no clear error. If you’re backing up a big notebook library, do it in smaller batches rather than one giant drag, and like @falconking said, export handwriting to PDF first or you’ll end up copying files that mean nothing off the device.
Expect USB transfer to behave like file copying, not a full BOOX backup. An MTP app can reach normal shared folders such as Download, Books, and Documents, but it will not necessarily expose app-private data. Dragging everything visible onto the Mac does not guarantee you can restore the tablet later.
For ordinary PDFs, EPUBs, and exported notes, the wired routine is simple enough: use a known data cable, unlock the BOOX, select File Transfer, then open it in OpenMTP or MacDroid. Finder will not handle the device by itself. The File Transfer setting may revert to charging after reconnecting, so check that before blaming the Mac app.
I would try OpenMTP before paying for anything. MacDroid may be nicer if you do this often, but it does not make the underlying MTP connection more “native.” It is still another program sitting between Finder and the tablet.
BooxDrop is less ceremony for a few documents. USB makes more sense for a pile of files, but copy them in sensible batches. For handwritten notebooks, export to PDF first. If your actual goal is disaster recovery rather than readable copies, use BOOX’s own sync or backup options as well. A folder copied over MTP is not the same thing.
If your goal is zero extra software on the Mac, direct USB is the wrong route. The BOOX uses MTP, and Finder does not speak MTP. MacDroid can bridge that gap, but it is not required. OpenMTP should be the first wired option to try.
There is a simpler no-app workaround that nobody has mentioned: use a USB-C flash drive. Format it as exFAT, connect it to the BOOX, copy your PDFs or exported notes onto it with the tablet’s file manager, then plug the drive into the Mac. Finder handles the drive normally. It is clunky compared with a direct cable, but it avoids MTP software, Wi-Fi setup, and transfer-app conflicts. Do not format the drive as APFS, since the BOOX is unlikely to read that.
For direct USB, the routine is cable, unlocked tablet, File Transfer mode, then OpenMTP or MacDroid. If the device does not appear, try another cable before wasting time changing settings. A charging icon proves almost nothing because plenty of cables carry power but no data.
MacDroid only makes sense if you prefer its interface or transfer files often enough to pay for convenience. For a few PDFs, BooxDrop is less hassle. For completely offline copying without installing a Mac app, the flash-drive method is the blunt but dependable choice.