Deskbridge › Guides › Notifications & calls on Mac
Get Android (Samsung) notifications and calls on your Mac
Deskbridge sends your Galaxy's notifications to macOS Notification Center and shows a Mac banner when your phone rings — regular calls and, if you turn it on, WhatsApp and other app calls — with Answer and Decline. Everything travels directly from your phone to your Mac over USB or your own Wi-Fi. The call itself stays on your phone.
What you get
- Notifications in Notification Center. Messages, mail, reminders — with the app name, title and text. When you dismiss one on the phone it disappears on the Mac too. Click one and that app opens in its own Mac window.
- An incoming-call banner. Caller name (looked up in your phone's contacts), which app is ringing, and Answer / Decline buttons.
- Quiet while you work. Optionally, your phone switches to Do Not Disturb (priority only) while DeX is open — and back when you close DeX or even just unplug.
Turn it on
- Connect your phone with USB debugging on (see the setup steps). DeX doesn't need to be open.
- In the Deskbridge menu, turn on Show Phone Notifications on Mac. Allow notifications when macOS asks.
- Show Incoming Calls on Mac is on by default for regular phone calls. For WhatsApp and other app calls, also turn on Include WhatsApp & Other App Calls.
- Optional: turn on Silence Phone While DeX Is Open.
How calls work — honestly
When a call comes in, the calling app (the Phone app, WhatsApp, and most others) shows its own incoming-call notification with Answer and Decline buttons. Deskbridge's small helper on your phone sees that notification and shows the Mac banner. When you click Answer or Decline on the Mac, the helper presses the matching button on the phone. That's why it works across apps.
| Supported | |
|---|---|
| See who's calling on your Mac | Yes — phone calls by default, app calls when enabled |
| Answer or decline from your Mac | Yes |
| Talk through your Mac's microphone | No — the call stays on your phone (speaker or earbuds) |
What it needs on your phone
Deskbridge installs a tiny helper app over the cable. For notifications, app calls and Do Not Disturb, the helper needs Android's notification access — and it only gets it when you switch one of those features on. It has no internet access. You can revoke notification access any time in your phone's Settings. Regular-call alerts don't need it: they use Android's standard call state.
Privacy
- Notifications go phone → Mac directly over the cable or your local Wi-Fi. No server, no account, no cloud.
- Nothing is logged or stored by Deskbridge; macOS keeps them in Notification Center like any other app's.
- Caller names are looked up in your phone's own contacts, on the phone.
FAQ
Can I get Android notifications on my Mac?
Yes. Deskbridge forwards your phone's notifications to macOS Notification Center over USB or Wi-Fi. Clicking one opens that app in its own Mac window.
Can I answer Android calls on a Mac?
You can answer or decline from a Mac banner, for regular phone calls and, if you turn it on, WhatsApp and other app calls. The conversation itself stays on your phone — use its speaker or your earbuds; the Mac isn't the microphone.
Does it work with WhatsApp calls?
Yes, with Include WhatsApp & Other App Calls turned on. Deskbridge sees the app's incoming-call notification and presses its Answer or Decline button for you.
Are my notifications sent to a server?
No. They travel directly from your phone to your Mac over the cable or your own Wi-Fi and go straight into Notification Center. Nothing is stored or uploaded.
Do I need Samsung DeX for this?
No. Notifications and calls work with any phone Deskbridge connects to, whether or not DeX is open.
Leave your phone face-down
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