Getting Switch screenshots onto your Mac?
The Nintendo Switch will happily copy your screenshots and clips to a computer over USB. It just does it over MTP, and macOS doesn't read MTP, so you plug the Switch in and nothing appears. Nintendo's own advice for Mac owners is to find third-party software.
What's going on
The Switch sends its captures over MTP, the same protocol Android phones use. Windows handles it without help; macOS doesn't, so Finder never lists the Switch. The usual workaround was Android File Transfer, which Google has since abandoned and which fails on current Macs anyway.
Mount it in Finder instead
Comprador shows the Switch in Finder, so you can drag your screenshots and clips straight off. It's free and open source, with nothing to pay and nothing to install on the console.
- On the Switch, open System Settings, then Data Management, then Manage Screenshots and Videos, then "Copy to a Computer via USB Connection." This puts it in transfer mode.
- Plug the Switch into your Mac with a USB-C cable that carries data.
- The Switch appears in Finder's sidebar under Locations. Copy your screenshots and clips off, then eject it before you unplug.
How it compares
| Comprador | Android File Transfer | OpenMTP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free & open source | Yes | Free, closed | Yes |
| Shows up in Finder, like a drive | Yes | No | No |
| Still maintained | Yes | Abandoned | Yes |
| Works with any MTP device | Yes | Most | Most |
The Switch only shares its screenshots and clips over USB, so that's what you'll see once it mounts, not the full storage or your saves.
Questions
Why won't my Switch show up on my Mac?
It transfers captures over MTP, and macOS has no built-in MTP support. The Switch connects but Finder never lists it until something on the Mac translates MTP.
What can I copy off?
Screenshots and video clips from the album. The Switch doesn't expose its full storage or game saves over USB.
Do I need Android File Transfer?
No. Comprador mounts the Switch in Finder. Android File Transfer was the old answer, but it's abandoned and breaks on recent macOS.
Does it work on Apple Silicon and the Switch 2?
Both. It's a native app, signed and notarized by Apple, for macOS 13 or later, and the Switch 2 uses the same capture transfer.
Is it safe?
Free and open source, no telemetry. It talks to the Switch over USB and serves the files to Finder over a loopback connection the network can't reach. Nothing leaves your Mac.