With so many different file formats out there, it becomes hard to share files from an operating system to a different operating system with different file formats. This especially stands true for mac users.
As we know that most of the systems worldwide are supported by windows operating systems. When a user of the Windows operating system shares a file or a folder that is formatted by the NTFS file system (Standard version of the file system in Windows), it is not supported in your Mac operating system.
A ntfs tool free for mac. A free software that provides NTFS read and write support for Apple computers. 🎉 View NTFS Tool features. It’s free and open source, Welcome fork or PR. Ntfs for mac free. download full version - What is NTFS? NTFS for Mac OS is a software that detects one of the primary Windows file systems NTFS and allows you to read or write files from HDD, SSD or a flash drive (formatted under Windows) on a Mac OS. It is possible to modify, erase.
Although you might be able to read or open the file, you cannot write or make any changes. This poses a problem when you share files among colleagues for a project you all are working on.
Seeing how the mac operating system does not support the NTFS file system, our readers have approached us with several mains asking whether there are freeways in which they can access NTFS formatted files in their mac operating system.
Fortunately, there are free NTFS for Mac or saying their methods will be more precise.
NTFS For Mac Free
There are a few things you can do or a few methods that you can follow to access NTFS formatted files or folders on your Mac operating system. First, you can change the file type or simply install a new file system on your mac; second, you can take the help of the terminal to access the NTFS formatted files.
Below are the methods we currently know that can get the job done for you for free.
1. Format to FAT32
Every mac has a Disc Utility feature that can help the users reformat the whole shared file into FAT32. To be frank about the performance of the FAT32, it is not as efficient as the NTFS file system.
FAT follows the principle of saving data in the form of large clusters, which is always prone to data loss. Despite its downfalls, it offers mac users an opportunity to access NTFS formatted files.
2. Use Third-Party Software
FAT32 might not be the safest best to put on when you are dealing with sensitive information. We believe that using NTFS for mac is always a better option to choose.
NTFS for mac allows the users to access NTFS formatted files and folders easily and smoothly. In fact, you would never know that you are accessing an NTFS file forty times.
If you are an employee of an IT industry and often need to access different file formats, having an NTFS for mac software offers convenience with your work.
3. Enable NTFS Write Support
By now, you know that terminal is the only way to customize your mac according to your needs. However, once something changes on the terminal, it becomes very hard to reverse the whole process.
If you are willing to take the risk, here is how to do it.
- Open Terminal.
- Now connect the NTFS formatted files.
- Enter the following command – sudo nano /etc/fstab.
- Scroll to the end of the list.
- Enter the following command: LABEL=NAME none NTFS rw, auto, nobrowse.
- Now open the finder on your mac.
- Select “Go to Folder” from the menu bar.
- And select GO.
These steps will allow you full access to the NTFS formatted files and folders.
Conclusion
Despite NTFS being in the market for over two decades, it is still a niche file type. It is still limited to Windows operating systems. Hence, it makes accessing NTFS formatted data problematic for the other operating system users.
All the methods that we have talked about in this article follow a complex procedure. One simple mistake and you can worsen up your situation. However, there is nothing to worry about when you are using a third-party application like iBoysoft NTFS for mac.
Using this software, you can easily access the NTFS formatted file on your mac, and in the worst-case scenario where you have lost all your data, you can use the same software to recover them all.
A hard drive formatted NTFS and that has Windows on it will never boot on a Mac computer. Apple has made sure of that. To get Windows on a Mac you must use Boot Camp Assistant program, included with Mac computers located in the Utility folder, to Partition the Mac internal drive and then Install Windows on that partition. NTFS is the most stable file system for windows and with drivers like NTFS-3g you can get it work easily on MAC. However, if you work with multiple MAC computers then it’s not a good idea to install NTFS-3g on your friends computer.
May 06,2020 • Filed to: Mac Recovery • Proven solutions
'Is it possible to format FAT32 and NTFS drives on Mac by myself?' A user asked us about this question.
Certainly you can format the drives yourself by directly setting in the 'Application' on Mac. Many people think it is hard to format the windows drive on Macintosh. No worry, actually it is not impossible to realize it no matter you use an external or internal drive of your windows system. We here will show you the full guides on how to format FAT32 and NTFS drives on Mac as an example.
Part 1: Format FAT32 Drive on Mac
First, let us look on how to format FAT32 drive on Mac (macOS Sierra). You could be wondering what FAT32 is. It is a file system in Windows 95, 98, and windows Millennium Edition.
One major advantage about this file system is that nearly all the operating systems can read and write from it. On the contrary, it just accommodates files less than 4GB. So if you have a drive that you want to format ensure it is smaller size. Nevertheless, if you have a drive that is more than 4GB, you can download software known as Swissknife. After installing it, it will be much easier to format large files.
How to format FAT32 drive on Mac
Step 1. Now here is how to format your FAT32 external drive on Mac. Go finder window on you Mac then click on Applications the image right.
Step 2. From there, you need to open disk utility. Therefore, scroll down until you see a folder Utilities Double click on it.
Step 3. What you have to do is scroll down through the icons until you find an icon labelled Disk Utility again double click on it.
Step 4. When it opens at the centre, it will command you to select a disk, volume, image that you want to format.
Step 5. From there, you need to open disk utility. Therefore, scroll down until you see a folder Utilities Double click on it.
Step 6. Move the cursor to the top left and choose the disk you want to format. To achieve this you have to double click on your external drive and click the Erase icon, which is at the top of your Mac screen. After doing so, a command dialog box will be displayed that give you options of formatting your drive.
Step 7. Your problem is almost getting a solution if you still keeping track to these steps. Next, go to Format at the centre of the screen and select MS-DOS (Fat) file format system that allows compatibility with your windows drive.
Below that, you will see Name this allows you to change the name of your external drive if you wish to. From there, click Erase at the bottom of the screen. Immediately you will get a warning but go ahead and click, Erase.
When you here just relax and wait until the process is over before you remove the drive. When reformatting process is over your drive will beFAT32 and you can now use it.
Part 2: Format NTFS Drive on Mac
The second task is how to format NTFS drive on Mac. NTFS is built for windows operating system therefore it is not supported by Mac. For this case, it is advisable to install programs called NTFS 3G, which works in, handy with MacFuse. Both of these are first installed in the computer. It is easier and faster to install despite having using some cash to purchase these NTFS apps such as Tuxera or Paragon NTFS. When both are installed to the PC, they will enable the user to read and write on the drive that is after following these steps.
How to format NTFS drive on Mac
Step 1. Follow the similar procedure that is used in formatting the FAT32 above. Go to finder window in your Mac, and then click on Applications at the left hand side of your screen.
Step 2. Then double click on Utilities icon, which will appear at the screen along other applications you have installed in your computer.
Next, click on Disk Utility. As the NTFS 3G is free program most users have noted bugs despite of its success. Since you had inserted your external drive, hence it will pop up at the top right of your screen. Select that drive you want to format by first choosing the NTFS 3G format that will be displayed. You can also opt to rename your drive if you wish. Once again at the bottom of your screen to the right you will see Erase option. Click it. A warning will be displayed to you that require you simply click Erase .Be patient as the drive is formatted when it is done you are good to go. You can now read and copy paste items on your drive. Another alternative to Tuxera is Paragon NTFS. This program gives a user a room for modification and deletion of items on windows NTFS. As you have seen the NTFS formatted drives should not worry since you have a way out.
You may have encountered a case where you insert an external drive in your Mac and you cannot copy items on your Mac but you can read them. It is because your drive is using the NTFS windows system. Therefore, this leads to our third point of discussion on how to format any drive on your Mac. Disk utility is the vital application in Apple product. It makes the Mac world to be easy and interesting to use as it removes the obstacles between NTFS and HFS+. As usual, insert the drive let us say the hard disk or USB drive.
Step 3. In the finder window click Applications, go to Utilities, scroll down the screen and double click on Disk Utility. Click on the drive that you want to format. At the centre, you click on the icon Erase. A dialog box will be seen at the bottom of it with a round four commands. Select an option in which you want to format your drive. For instance, if you select an option MS DOS FAT, it will well suit with windows as well as Mac. On the other hand, if you choose MAC OS Extended (Journaled) your drive will only harmonize with Mac.
Anyway, that is not the case since everyone has his or her own preferences. Whichever option you want to choose you will still format your drive to suit your desires. From there, you click Erase and upon completion of that process, your drive will be formatted successfully.
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Utilities • Sept.15, 2020
Most of the time, people don’t like to combine Microsoft and Apple products. Even though these two companies have been rivals from decades ago – they’re still on the top, and the choice is a hard one to make.
But many people try to juggle between these two choices and get the best of both worlds. And if that’s you, you’ve probably needed to write files on Microsoft’s NTFS drive.
But is that even possible?
Well, truth to be told – it takes a bit of patience and research. However, it’s very much possible.
In the post down below, you’ll be able to find out everything you need to know about NTFS format, how to use it properly, and even what apps could you use on Mac to write files directly to the NTFS’s drive.
What is Microsoft NTFS for Mac?
NTFS stands for an NT File System which is a file system developed by Microsoft. If you have used the Windows operating system by any chance, you could notice that NTFS is a default file system in Windows.
But why is this important for Mac?
As we have mentioned earlier – if you have been trying to get the best of both worlds (Microsoft and Apple), you would come across the time when you’d want to transfer some files from Mac to a hard drive that’s using Microsoft’s NTFS format. It’s also great when transferring files from Windows to Mac directly.
Microsoft NTFS for Mac is a term for apps that make this possible, and without them – it would be impossible to read & write information from the Mac system to a hard drive that uses Windows format.
And if you’d like to do this type of a file transfer – you would need one of these apps that will help you transfer files from a Mac system to an external hard drive that’s formatted by NTFS file system. Even though the transfer is the time when you occur this problem the most – you can also come across this problem when you’re copying, moving, or deleting files on Microsoft NTFS volumes directly from Mac.
Who Should Get an NTFS for Mac?
If you’ve ever tried transferring files from your Mac to an external drive – you’d know that you’ve come across a problem when the data couldn’t be written to the disk.
Even if you didn’t realize it yet – you’re someone who should get an NTFS for Mac app that will help make this file transfer possible if you’re a Mac user. Therefore, this app is aimed at Mac users because the Mac operating system doesn’t use the NTFS system.
You might not even be a fan of Windows OS, and yet if someone hands you an external drive for you to transfer some files on there – you’d still need an NTFS for Mac app to make this happen.
Therefore, this type of app is suitable for almost everyone who uses a Mac and often shares files “offline”, by connecting external hard drives or USB sticks.
How We Tested and Picked the Microsoft NTFS for Mac?
The winners have to include all three aspects of the criteria:
Ease of Use
It’s important that you can quickly drag and drop files so an app that is easy to use and has a simple-to-understand interface is a must.
Efficiency
Snappy results in just seconds is important so the efficiency of the apps includes the installation process, loading speeds, and its size in general.
Compatibility
Most of these apps also support other file systems and if you’ve experienced a problem with NTFS files transfer on your Mac – you never know when you might experience issues with different formats in the future.
Therefore, we look for apps that can help you handle other formats that you might come across, such as exFAT. However, we also pay attention that these apps can handle both NTFS and Mac-specific formats such as APFS (Apple File System).
Microsoft NTFS for Mac We Recommend
We did our research based on the factors we’ve previously mentioned and explained, but we also went a bit further to give these apps a thorough try, so we were able to narrow our choice down to top 3 of them.
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This way, you know you’ll be using the best possible apps that are made to deal with this type of a problem and solve it for you in no time. We are pretty sure that at least one app will fit your needs.
Disclosure: We sometimes use affiliate links which means that, at zero cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy something through our links.
1. Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software (our top pick)
Paragon Software has one of the most efficient and easiest to use apps when it comes down to Microsoft NTFS for Mac. It’s an app that makes life easier for Mac users that need help with transferring files or directly managing Windows files on Mac without getting the writing/reading file error.
The truth is that Apple has limited support for Windows files – and sometimes, you can’t avoid having these two worlds collide. However, Paragon Software serves as a bridge between these two types of files (and companies).
It’s very simple to install and use, and yet all the most important functions are just a couple of clicks away.
The unlimited read/write support works with all types of external drives, and it even works with SSD drives. Paragon Software knows the struggle of Mac users when it comes down to this problem – so they ensured that Mac users never have any similar conflict that’s related to this issue.
They offer unlimited support for a couple of Mac OS releases and once you install the app, restart your Mac, and connect the external drive – you’re ready to go.
In the simple and yet very efficient drop-down menu, Paragon Software shows all connected drives and gives you more information about them. Once you open the drive – you just have to transfer the files by dragging and dropping them in (just like you would usually do).
In the background, Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software does everything for you. So as long as you keep the app running and you access the drive through Paragon Software – you won’t have to think about any other thing.
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software costs $22.34 USD (one-time payment), but it also has a free trial version.
Pros
- Unlimited support
- Quick and simple interface
- Fast read/write speeds
Cons
- Works only with OSX 10.8 and later
2. Microsoft NTFS for Mac by iBoySoft
iBoySoft is a pretty lightweight NTFS program for Mac that can be easily downloaded and it runs every time you start your Mac. Since it’s a lightweight app, it runs in the background easily, and this comes with perks.
Every time you connect an NTFS external drive to your Mac, iBoySoft app recognizes it, and it mounts it automatically through the app. This way, you won’t have to encounter this problem ever again, and yet you won’t have to think twice before dragging & dropping files to an attached drive either.
This Microsoft NTFS for Mac app does it all for you – which is just one more reason why it is one of only 3 of the best apps for this post. Even if you had no idea why such a problem occurs, all you would need to do is install iBoySoft – and the app would take it from there.
Another thing that is great about iBoySoft is that it can manage NTFS drives and partitions, as well as write and read files – which is as important.
It’s free to use for the first seven days, which is more than enough time to try this app out and see if it solves all of your issues.
However, Microsoft NTFS for Mac by iBoySoft will cost you $19.95 (one-time payment) and it’s also available on Setapp as well.
Pros
- Simple user interface
- Customizable preferences
- The ability to work as a disk manager
Cons
- Support could be improved
3. Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Tuxera
Tuxera is one of the quickest Microsoft NTFS for Mac apps and yet it’s also as reliable as the other two options above. It’s an app that is, like the other two apps, very light which allows it to run in the background effortlessly.
What we like is that it fits both beginners who have no idea about NTFS files or file transfers. But it’s also suitable for advanced users since it comes with advanced features such as extended NTFS attributes, ability to format NTFS drives, and even repair NTFS drives and partitions.
Most users will notice the quick execution by Tuxera, and with the increased security – there’s also one more thing where Tuxera excels. It’s the ability to help and prevent file loss even before the error happens. It can preserve files in various cases such as power cut without damaging the drive itself.
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Therefore, Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Tuxera does the job brilliantly. Still, it is as good as dealing with the information, preventing the file loss, or drive damage as well which makes it a great all-in-one app for users who just want to solve the issue or improve the way they transfer files and use external hard drives.
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Tuxera costs $17 (one-time payment).
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Decent read/write speeds
- Easy installation
Cons
- Bulk transfers are done at lower speeds and take a bit longer
Other Candidates
Fuse for Mac
Fuse for Mac is the best app if you’re dealing with endless issues, even if you’ve tried some of the apps listed above.
The reason for this is that Fuse (also known as OSXFuse) has the ability to extend the system file capabilities in order to allow you to freely use third party files (such as Windows’ NTFS type).
And if you’ve already been using the similar version known as MacFUSE – you should know that this is the maintained and newer version while MacFUSE is no longer receiving the system support so it won’t work with newer Mac OS’s.
Fuse for Mac is a very light app that’s easy to download online and it only takes seconds to install. It’s constantly updated so it’s always working with the latest Mac OS software and once you turn on your Mac, you’ll automatically be able to work with third-party file types.
It’s a pretty convenient app which doesn’t require you to do anything after the installation. Therefore, we highly recommend it to people who aren’t the most technical people when it comes down to the Mac OS and file systems.
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There isn’t even any interface yet it’s an app that only works in the background and helps you get work done.
Fuse for Mac is free to download since it’s based on an open-library type of code.
Pros
- Very stable app
- Is free
- Runs in the background the whole time
Cons
- Doesn’t have an interface
NTFS Assistant Pro
NTFS Assistant Pro is an effective app that can display all external NTFS drives in one list so you can have a clear look on the drives and their types.
This way, you can quickly see the type of each drive, but this app also adds the ability to fully write/read the files between the Mac OS and the drive.
The installation process is very simple as it’s a fairly lightweight app, and yet the interface is very interactive and simple.
You can see the NTFS Assistant Pro icon at the top task bar for quick access, and what we like the most is that you can run or close the app per needs so it’s not running in the background when you don’t use it at all. Microsoft mini displayport to hdmi.
However, you can also set the app to run with your Mac so you’ll always be ready to work with NTFS files – the choice is up to you.
There is also a free NTFS Assistant version, and the main difference between the free and paid Pro version is the faster file processing speed.
NTFS Assistant Pro costs $9.99.
Pros
- Easy to use
- The cheapest choice on the market
- Simple and interactive interface
Cons
- NTFS Assistant Helper requires additional installation after the app is already installed
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NTFS work on Mac?
NTFS is a format that isn’t supported by Mac since it’s a format type that is made by Microsoft and is used in its Windows operating system. However, even when you want to transfer files to an external hard drive that has been formatted on a Windows computer – the issues will occur as Mac can’t write on a format type that they don’t support.
However, with these apps, you can easily bridge these two operating systems and efficiently use an external drive on both operating systems.
In the upcoming Mac OS Big Sur, there will be a feature integrated into the system that will allow easier read-write capability. This will eliminate the need for these apps as it will provide a less riskier option to transfer NTFS data to Mac without having to manually convert the files.
On the other hand, these apps are still very valuable, especially for people who aren’t thinking of upgrading to Big Sur OS as soon as it hits the market.
Ntfs Driver For Mac
What is an NTFS driver for Mac?
NTFS driver for Mac is a driver that helps the Mac system recognize the NTFS format and efficiently work with it. By default, Mac can only read NTFS files, but it can’t change NTFS files (write or rewrite files NTFS files).
Therefore, it’s something these apps consist of so you don’t have to install a driver manually. It allows users to quickly establish a lightweight Microsoft NTFS for Mac app and continue transferring files with the app (driver) working in the background.
Do I need NTFS for Mac?
Mac can read NTFS formatted files, so you don’t need the NTFS app to read the data. But if you wish to make changes to NTFS files or drives that are formatted with NTFS format – you would need an app on Mac that will help your Mac “learn” how to write NTFS files (transfer them and manage them).
What is better – an exFAT, NTFS or APFS format?
The exFAT format is supported by more devices than NTFS is and when it comes down to Mac – exFAT is always a better option. exFAT is one of the formats available within Mac’s Disk Utility so you won’t have problems reading & writing files as you do have with NTFS.
Formatting drives on Windows using exFAT format is another great way to save yourself from trouble when using the same drive on a Mac computer.
And if you’re a Mac user with a High Sierra or higher version, you’d notice that your Mac has APFS format. This type of format is Apple’s format deployed and is best compared to Windows’ NTFS format.
The reason Apple introduced this file type is probably connected with the later introduction of a feature in the Big Sur OS that helps automate the conversion between Windows and Mac files. So if you’re a Mac user, APFS format is the best format to use.
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Conclusion
NTFS can confuse many people, especially Mac users who don’t usually have the chance to come across this format type. However, it’s just another format type that’s often used by Windows since it’s a format created by Microsoft.
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Ntfs For Mac Freeware
As you automatically format any external drive using Windows, most of the time, NTFS will be the recommended format for this. But when you connect this drive to a Mac or any other computer that doesn’t have the driver (the ability) to work with this type of a format – you will come across a problem.
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However, with a simple app such as one of the three choices we’ve reviewed in this post – you won’t encounter this problem ever again. On the bright side, there aren’t any bigger problems associated with formats, so you have nothing to worry about!