Deskbridge › Guides › Samsung Flow for Mac
Samsung Flow for Mac: what works instead in 2026
There is no Samsung Flow for macOS. Samsung only makes it for Windows PCs and Galaxy tablets, and blog posts telling you to "download it from the Mac App Store" are wrong: there's no such listing. On a Mac, Galaxy owners piece together the same features from other apps. scrcpy (free) handles screen mirroring, KDE Connect (free) handles notifications and the clipboard, LocalSend (free) handles files, and Deskbridge ($12) brings Samsung DeX, app windows, calls and notifications together in one app.
What Samsung Flow does on Windows
Samsung Flow links a Galaxy phone to a Windows PC or Galaxy Tab. It shows the phone's notifications on the computer, shares files and the clipboard, mirrors the phone's screen ("Smart View"), and can unlock the PC with the phone. On Windows 11, Samsung now steers most people to Microsoft's Phone Link (sold as "Link to Windows" on Galaxy phones). Neither one has ever run on macOS.
Each Flow feature, on a Mac
| Samsung Flow feature | Free on Mac | With Deskbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Screen mirroring (Smart View) | scrcpy, with audio, controlled from the Mac keyboard and trackpad | Mirroring, plus the full Samsung DeX desktop in a resizable Mac window |
| Notifications on the computer | KDE Connect, over Wi-Fi | Sent to macOS Notification Center while the phone is connected |
| Calls | Not available | Call banner with Answer and Decline (the call stays on the phone) |
| File transfer | LocalSend or KDE Connect over Wi-Fi | Drag a file onto the window and it opens in the phone's share sheet |
| Shared clipboard | KDE Connect, or scrcpy while mirroring | Copy and paste between Mac and phone while connected |
| Unlock the computer with your phone | Use Touch ID or an Apple Watch instead | Works the other way round: unlock the phone from the Mac (⌥⌘U) |
The quickest free setup
- On the phone, open Settings › About phone › Software information and tap Build number seven times. Then turn on USB debugging under Settings › Developer options.
- On the Mac, install Homebrew, then run
brew install scrcpy. - Plug the phone in, allow the debugging prompt, and run
scrcpy. Your phone's screen appears in a window. - For notifications and files over Wi-Fi, install KDE Connect on both devices and pair them.
If you'd rather not use Terminal, or you want DeX as a desktop rather than a phone-shaped window, that's what Deskbridge is for. See Deskbridge vs. scrcpy for an honest comparison.
Why Samsung never made a Mac version
Samsung has never said publicly. It tried macOS once, with the DeX for PC app, and retired the Mac version in January 2022. That app never got an Apple silicon build. Samsung's own phone-to-computer features now run through its partnership with Microsoft, which keeps them on Windows.
FAQ
Is Samsung Flow available for Mac?
No. Samsung Flow runs only on Windows PCs and Galaxy tablets. There is no official macOS version and no listing in the Mac App Store.
Can I run Samsung Flow on a Mac with an emulator?
Some guides suggest running Flow's Android app inside an emulator such as BlueStacks. That runs the app in a window, but it doesn't link your real phone to your Mac, so it doesn't replace Flow.
How do I get Samsung notifications on my Mac?
KDE Connect is free and sends notifications over Wi-Fi. Deskbridge sends them to Notification Center while the phone is connected by cable or wireless debugging.
Does Samsung Smart View work with a Mac?
Smart View casts to TVs and Windows PCs, not to Macs. On a Mac, scrcpy or Deskbridge shows the phone's screen instead.
The Galaxy-to-Mac app Samsung didn't make
Deskbridge puts Samsung DeX, your phone's apps, calls and notifications on your Mac. Free for 7 days, then $12 once.