Use NTFS Removable Hard Drive on Mac

Find that you can only read files but not further batch files in NTFS drive on Mac? Have no idea how to deal with that? Don't worry. In this article, you'll figure out some easy ways.

With NTFS hard drives plugged into Windows computer, users can read and possess the files in it. NTFS, whose full name is New Technology File System, is designed for Windows. That's why Mac can only read files of NTFS. In order to handle files of this format on Mac, you’ll need to change the file format or the drive permission. Alternatively, use a third-party tool or move the files to the cloud.

Just follow the simple steps below and solve the annoying problem! Here we go!

1. Format to FAT32

FAT32 is a common format for both Windows and Mac. Therefore, changing the drive's file format system to FAT32 lets you make further operations to the file on Mac.

Step 1: Click on the spotlight icon at the upper right corner. Then enter Disk to launch Disk Utility.
Step 2: Connect the NTFS hard drive to your computer.
Step 3: Click on your drive's name on the left side of the screen.
Step 4: Hit the Erase button, choose FAT32 as the file format system and rename your drive.
Step 5: Click Erase to start reformatting. This will remove all of the existing data on your hard drive.

When the process is finished, you can edit files on Mac with the drive connected.

2. Enable NTFS write support in Terminal

As an experimental feature, enabling NFTS write support in Terminal may cause data loss. Make sure that you back up the drive's files before you get starting.


Step 1: Click on the spotlight icon at the upper right corner and enter Terminal.
Step 2: Connect the NTFS hard drive to your computer.
Step 3: Enter the command below.
sudo nano /etc/fstab
Step 4: Scroll to the end of the drive list by pressing the arrow key on your keyboard. Then add a new line and type the name of the drive into it.
Step 5: Enter the following command.
LABEL=NAME none ntfs rw,auto,nobrowse
Step 6: Press Ctrl + O to write the information to the file and then press Ctrl + X to close the file.
Step 7: Eject and plug the hard drive again.
Step 8: Open Finder and move to Go > Go to Folder.
Step 9: Type /Volumes/NAME and replace NAME with the name of your hard drive.
Step 10: Hit the Go button. All done!

3. Use Boot Camp

As a built-in app on Mac, Boot Camp is able to install Windows on your Mac, which means that you switch to and use Windows.
Step 1: Go to Applications > Utilities.
Step 2: Launch Boot Camp Assistant.
Step 3: Hit the Continuer button.
Step 4: Click and drag the slider in the partition section.
Step 5: Click Install.
Step 6: Enter your password and click OK. Now your Mac will restart immediately.

After making some personalization changes, Windows 10 will be fully booted.

4. Move to the Cloud

With a free allowance of 5 GB, iCloud Drive lets you sync, edit and share files. iCloud doesn’t limit the cross-system file format so that you can deal with NTFS files in it even if you are using a Mac.
Step 1: Log into your iCloud account.
Step 2: Open your Windows drive in Finder.
Step 3: Copy and paste the desired file to iCloud Drive.

Now you are free to edit the NTFS file. If you tend to recover the files from your hard drive, try FonePaw Data Recovery.