If you recently purchased a Google Nexus 7 you likely will think, like I did, that you will plug it into your Mac and it will mount automatically so you can browse the disk. Unfortunately that is not the case and it takes installing the Android File Transfer app. The reason for this is the fact that Android uses the MTP or Media Transfer Protocol to talk to OSX Mountain Lion. Follow the directions below to enable communication between your Mac and Google Nexus 7 running Android.

Enable Google Nexus 7 File Browsing On Max OSX:

First visit the Android web site and download the Android File Transfer application from the web page displayed in the example image below.

Android Web Site: Android File Transfer

Android File Transfer Application Download: click here

Requirements: Android 3.0+

The file downloaded from android.com will be named androidfiletransfer.dmg. Double click on this file to unpack the file transfer app which will automatically open the below window.

Install Android File Transfer App On Mac OSX Mountain Lion:

With the above window active drag the Android icon over to the Applications folder also located in the window. This will install the Android File Transfer application on your Mac computer. The installation should be almost immediate so once completed navigate to the Applications folder and double click on the “Android File Transfer.app” file to launch the MTP file browser window as shown below depending on if a Android device is plugged in or not.

Android File Transfer On Mac OSX: No Android Device

Android File Transfer On Mac OSX: Google Nexus 7 Connected

Now you can move files on the Nexus 7 to and from your Mac OSX computer running Mountain Lion!