How to use NTFS for Mac free: the best apps to read/write hard drives with NTFS

Using NTFS external drives on a Mac has always been tricky. macOS can read NTFS, but to write or edit, you’ll need third-party software.

I’ll walk you through the easiest and safest ways to enable NTFS write support on your Mac.

But first, here’s a quick overview of what you can do with NTFS on your Mac and how to do it:

I want to	Do this
Read NTFS drives on Mac	Just plug in the drive; macOS will mount it in read-only mode.
Write to NTFS drives on Mac	Install a third-party NTFS driver like iBoysoft NTFS for Mac.
Format a drive for both Mac and Windows	Use Disk Utility > Erase > choose exFAT format.
Format a drive for Mac only	Use Disk Utility > Erase > choose APFS format.
Enable native NTFS write support (not recommended)	Use Terminal and edit /etc/fstab.
Use Boot Camp to access NTFS	On Intel Macs, install Windows with Boot Camp Assistant.

Can you read NTFS on Mac?

macOS will automatically mount an NTFS drive as soon as you plug it in, but only in read-only mode. You can browse folders, open files, and copy data off the disk without installing anything extra.

That said, you won’t be able to save, rename, or delete anything on that NTFS volume without help. NTFS is Microsoft’s proprietary format, and Apple never built full write support into macOS. Back in the day, there was a hidden Terminal workaround to enable writing, but it always felt brittle and could corrupt data.

So by default, you can read NTFS drives out of the box, but writing requires a third-party driver.

The easiest way to access, edit, and save NTFS on Mac

The safest and most efficient way for Mac users to read and write to NTFS drives today is to use an app like iBoysoft NTFS for Mac.

iBoysoft NTFS for Mac lets you work with any NTFS-formatted drive. Just connect an external NTFS drive and mount it with one click or set it to mount automatically.

You can reformat drives, view details, and add or delete data, all with full read/write access, and you don't need any extra tools. It offers near-internal drive speeds, is optimized for Apple Silicon, and integrates smoothly with Disk Utility for formatting and checks.

How to mount Microsoft NTFS drives on Mac

To mount Microsoft NTFS drives on your Mac:

Launch iBoysoft NTFS for Mac and install the required plugins.
Allow system extensions on Mac.
Connect your NTFS hard drive.
Click to Mount the hard drive (the button appears on the top toolbar) in iBoysoft NTFS for Mac.
Use the hard drive with Finder as usual.

iBoysoft NTFS for Mac mount process

How to connect NTFS in earlier macOS

If you haven’t yet upgraded to macOS Sequoia and are still using an earlier macOS, you have more options for reading and writing to NTFS drives.

You can format NTFS on Mac to FAT32 or another format, turn on NTFS support in Terminal, install Windows on your Mac with Boot Camp, and run your NTFS drives through there.

Check out the video tutorial on the best ways to use NTFS drives on Mac.

Format NTFS to FAT32

You can’t convert an NTFS drive to FAT32 directly on macOS, but you can reformat it using Disk Utility. Just keep in mind that this process will erase all data on the drive. FAT32 is a widely supported format that works well with both macOS and Windows, though it comes with some limitations.

To reformat an NTFS drive to FAT32 on macOS:

Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
Connect your external drive.
Select the drive in the sidebar.
Click Erase (note: this will delete all data).
Choose MS-DOS (FAT) as the format.
Click Erase to complete the process.

Enable NTFS in Terminal

If you're running an older version of macOS (like Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, or Catalina), you can enable basic, experimental NTFS write support using Terminal. Just note: this method is unofficial and can lead to system instability or file issues, so use it with caution and only for non-critical drives.

To enable NTFS in Terminal:

Connect your external drive.
Launch Terminal.
Type sudo nano /etc/fstab and press Return.
Scroll down the list and type LABEL=NAME none ntfs rw,auto,nobrowse, replacing NAME with the exact name of the external hard drive.
Open Finder, click Go in the menu bar > Go to Folder, and type /Volumes/NAME, replacing NAME with your drive.
View, edit, and add any files to the folder.

If you’re not a fan of Terminal, check out the comparison of 11 Terminal alternatives for Mac.

Install Windows via Boot Camp Assistant

Boot Camp Assistant is the native Mac utility that lets you partition your drive and install Windows alongside macOS. In that case, you’ll have no problem working with NTFS external drives.

To install Windows on an Intel Mac:

Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Boot Camp Assistant.
Insert an external drive that will be used to create a Windows partition.
Follow the onscreen instructions.
Choose the Boot Camp partition when asked where to install Windows.
Click Format to prepare the partition.

Restart your Mac and press Option during startup to switch between Mac and Windows.

Do NTFS drivers work on silicon Macs?

Boot Camp isn’t available on Apple silicon Macs, so you can’t simply load Windows to work around NTFS restrictions like you could on Intel-based Macs. By default, macOS lets you read from NTFS volumes but won’t let you write to them, and the unofficial Terminal trick for enabling write access is flaky and can cause data issues.

Instead, your safest route on newer Macs is a dedicated NTFS driver built for Apple Silicon, like iBoysoft NTFS for Mac. You can also try Tuxera NTFS for Mac, which is based on the open-source NTFS-3G project. It’s polished for Apple Silicon and free to use, though it may be slower than the paid alternatives.

Best alternatives to NTFS for Mac users

You can skip the NTFS headache by choosing more Mac-friendly formats like exFAT or APFS. exFAT works well for transferring large files between Mac and Windows on USB sticks, SSDs, and SD cards. It lacks journaling, so it isn’t ideal for backups or boot volumes.

APFS is made for Mac only. It offers top speed, reliability, and features like snapshots and crash

protection. It’s ideal for SSDs and Time Machine backups, but isn’t recognized by Windows.

Here's how to format a drive:

Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities).
Select your external drive.
Click Erase.
Choose:

exFAT for use with both Mac and Windows.
APFS for Mac-only use.

5. Click Erase to format the drive.

Disk utility erase drive

How to recover overwritten and lost files from NTFS on Mac

Formatting files, using Terminal, or installing a Windows partition can result in you accidentally overwriting some files. To recover them, it’s good to have a powerful recovery app handy, such as Disk Drill.

Get Backup Pro is a top-rated data recovery app that’s also very quick and easy to use. Launch Get Backup Pro and back up your files (everything or a separate folder if needed) before any formatting. In case you notice missing files, the app will help you bring them back.

Get backup pro backup process

What is NTFS?

NTFS (New Technology File System) is a file format system developed by Microsoft in 1993 for Windows NT and supported by newer Windows versions ever since.

The goal is to make it easy for users to read and work with files on external hard drives and USB drives without transferring them to their computers.

Final thoughts on how to use NTFS on Mac

While macOS can read NTFS drives, it won’t let you write to them without extra steps, and the old tricks don’t cut it on newer versions like Ventura and beyond. If you’re on an older macOS release, you can still reformat to FAT32, play around with Terminal’s hidden NTFS hack, or install Windows via Boot Camp (Intel Macs only). Just be aware that those methods can be cumbersome or risky.

For a smoother experience, iBoysoft NTFS for Mac handles everything in one go. It mounts NTFS drives with full read/write access, keeps performance snappy, and slots right into Disk Utility. And Get Backup Pro is your buddy for safe backups and data recovery.

Best of all, you can try both apps free for a week through Setapp, which gives you instant access to over 260 handpicked Mac and iOS apps. Discover powerful productivity tools, streamline your workflows, and get more done, all in one place.

FAQ

How do I enable NTFS on my Mac?

To enable NTFS on Mac, get a dedicated driver. Tools like iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, Paragon NTFS, or Tuxera NTFS are all great options. Install one of these, and your NTFS disks will behave like any other volume on your Mac.

Can NTFS format work on Mac?

Your Mac can only read NTFS-formatted disks. You won’t be able to save or modify anything on those drives. In other words, NTFS as a format “works” only in read-only mode; full read/write use demands extra software.

Can NTFS be opened on Mac?

You can open NTFS on a Mac. When you plug in an NTFS drive, macOS mounts it automatically, but only in read-only mode. You can browse folders, open images, documents, and videos, and drag files off the disk to your Mac.

Why can't I use NTFS on Mac?

NTFS is Microsoft’s proprietary filesystem, and Apple never licensed write access. As a result, macOS deliberately disables NTFS write support. Without a third-party driver, your Mac will refuse to save, rename, or delete files on any NTFS disk.

Why can’t I see NTFS on Mac?

You can’t see NTFS on Mac because macOS doesn’t include native NTFS formatting tools. The system can mount NTFS drives for reading, but it can’t create or format them.

How to format a hard drive in NTFS on Mac?

You can’t format a hard drive in NTFS on Mac with built-in tools. Disk Utility won’t list NTFS. Instead, install iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, connect your external drive, and use the app’s formatting function to convert the entire disk to NTFS.

How to format a partition to NTFS on Mac?

To format a partition to NTFS on Mac, install iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, launch it, and select the specific partition you want to change. Choose Format to NTFS for that slice, and the app will handle the rest. Just back up any data first, since formatting erases the partition.

How to format a microSD card on Mac to NTFS?

To format a microSD card on a Mac to NTFS, plug your microSD card into a reader and launch iBoysoft NTFS for Mac. Select the card as the target, pick NTFS as the format, and let the app reformat it. After a few moments, you’ll have a microSD card that Windows and other NTFS-aware devices can use fully.