An NTFS, which is short for an NT file system (also known as New Technology File System) is the file system used on the Windows NT operating system. Windows NT (New Technology) was released in 1993, with the latest update in July 2018, with two versions available, one for Servers and the other for Workstations.
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Comparable to other file systems, NTFS stores and retrieves files on hard disks. NTFS is the NT equivalent of the Windows 95 file allocation table (FAT) and the improved, OS/2 High Performance File System (HPFS). In Apple terms, NTFS is the NT equivalent of the Apple File System (AFS) for macOS and most of the recent iOS updates.
There are dozens of other file storage and retrieval systems; those are simply some of the most popular, and in this case, although macOS can read from NTFS drives, it can't write directly to a drive without some extra work and customization. NTFS drives can prove to be invaluable storage systems, making it especially useful for those with large files and Mac devices to connect them together with read and write functions.
Advantages of an NTFS for Mac
- Support to store very large files, up to 16 billion bytes in size (up to 2 to the 64th power). Wow!
- Information about a file's cluster is stored in each cluster, instead of that staying centralized, as is the case with the FAT file format.
- NTFS drives use a b-tree directory that keeps an accurate record of file clusters.
- An access control list (ACL) that keeps close and accurate record of who can access which files, with the ability to place restrictions on access as needed.
- Integrated and secure file compression.
- Support for file names based on Unicode formats.
- Support in place for much longer - and more secure - file names, including those based on the '8 by 3' name format.
- Data security in place on fixed and removable and remote disks, including those it connects to, such as those on a macOS device.
For anyone running out of space on a Mac, an NTFS drive sounds like an ideal solution. Or if you regularly use a Mac and NTFS drives, you are going to need an easy and effective way to connect both and use read and write functions.
Before or after connecting the two, you might want to make sure that you aren't storing more than you actually need. Storage space on any device or driver costs money. Even though an NTFS drive can store huge volumes, there is no sense passing junk, duplicate folders and things you don't need from one to another. To avoid doing that, try downloading CleanMyMac X. Designed to clear out tonnes of junk and unnecessary files and folders, this app makes your Mac as good as new.
CleanMyMac X can also scan and clear out unwanted junk in external hard drives, so running a scan when connected to an NTFS drive could save you a huge amount of space.
Before connecting and implementing write functions from macOS, let's take a glance at how an NTFS drive works.
How an NTFS drive for Mac works?
An NTFS drive automatically partitions and divides the physical space within a hard drive once its initialized. Windows NT creates automatic and pre-defined cluster format file sizes, depending on the overall space available, with recommended defaults pre-programmed into the operating system.
Cluster sizes within the NT operating system range from the smallest, at 512 bytes, up to 64 kilobytes. Windows NT puts in place default cluster sizes for hard drives of any given size. For example, a 4 GB drive will have a cluster size of 4 KB. How the system creates clusters depends on what someone is uploading to an NTFS drive.
Windows NT prefers to make a trade-off between accommodating large files and reducing the work it would take to access those files. Breaking a large file down into a smaller selection of clusters would improve performance, although this reduce space efficiency.
When a file is created or uploaded, a record is kept within the Master File Table (MFT) of the cluster locations within an NTFS drive. Again, in an attempt to ensure efficiency, Windows NT always attempts to allocate contiguous storage space that will hold as much of the file as possible, thereby keeping each cluster near one another in the record and file cluster format.
Assuming an NTFS drive connected to a Mac is a useful solution for your storage needs, there are three possible ways to connect read and write formats.
How to read and format NTFS on a Mac
#1: Third-party drivers (paid)
Read And Write Ntfs Mac
One of the quickest and easiest ways is to download a paid NFTS third-party driver solution that can support read and write functions.
Compared to other potential solutions for this problem, this is the quickest and safest way, and it involves an easier setup process. Many of them work well and have been tried-and-tested on thousands of Mac devices across the world.
Some solutions worth considering:
- Paragon NTFS for Mac. It costs $19.95 with a ten-day free trial and according to reviews, 'just works', so is considered worth the investment. As it says on the tin, it comes with read and write functions and effectively bridges the gap between macOS and Windows NT.
- Another way to get Paragon NTFS for Mac is to buy an NTFS Seagate drive, which comes with a free download of Paragon.
- Tuxera NTFS for Mac is another way of bridging the gap between macOS and Windows NT, although it costs $31.00, with a 14-day free trial. Similar to Paragon, just a little more expensive.
#2: Third-party drivers (free)
Another way to have read-write functions when connected to an NTFS drive is to download a free driver, known as FUSE. It isn't as quick or easy as the above option, and there are some security concerns related to this approach, but it should be mentioned in this list.
Here is how you download a free third-party driver (familiarity with Terminal is essential):
- Make sure you've downloaded and installed Apple's command line developer tools in Terminal before continuing. Input this in Terminal to install them:
xcode-select - - install
- Click Install when prompted to ensure they are installed.
- Next, download Homebrew. Homebrew is a 'package manager' for Mac OS X and macOS and is pretty useful when using third-party tools such as FUSE.
- Once downloaded, copy and paste the following in Terminal:
/usr/bin/ruby -e '$(curl -fsSLhttps://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)'
- Enter and input your password when prompted.
- With all of that done, you can enter the following command - again, in Terminal - to install FUSE:
brew install ntfs-3g
.
Now you can manually run and mount read-write disk permissions between macOS and an NTFS drive. Terminal is the primary mechanism through which you can control these permissions and run or divide volumes and clusters.
Once you've connected a drive, you need to input the following command in Terminal once, to create a mount point at /Volumes/NTFS:
sudo mkdir /Volumes/NTFS
To get a list of the petitions, put this into Terminal:
diskutil list
Now every partition within the mounted drive should write and read the same way as any other external drive or device.
#3: MacOS experimental NTFS-Write support
Another way - although one that isn't recommended because as of macOS 10.12 Sierra, it wasn't stable - and may never be stable, or secure, is to attempt an experimental NTFS-write support within macOS.
Before connecting the drive, make sure it has a convenient single word label.
Next, launch Terminal and enter the following command:
sudo nano /etc/fstab
Now add the following line to nano, replacing the placeholder 'NAME' used here with the name of your NTFS drive:
LABEL=NAME none ntfs rw,auto,nobrowse
Press Ctrl+O after entering that and then Ctrl+X to close nano.
With that done, connect the drive to your Mac and it should show up under /Volumes in a Finder window. It should appear, although with this being an experimental approach and one that isn't considered secure or stable, that can't be guaranteed.
Of the three approaches mentioned in this article, the safest and most secure approach is to download a paid third-party application. It is the easiest way to guarantee read and write access to an NTFS file.
NTFS for Mac is macOS Big Sur compatible and already available for Apple Silicon
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A no-brainer upgrade for those installing macOS 10.14 Mojave, Paragon NTFS for Mac remains the best cross-platform utility money can buy, especially now that it plays nice with Apple's new dark mode.
MacWorld US, Editors' Choice 2018
www.macworld.comWhether you're a hardcore Boot Camp user or just need to occasionally write to Windows-formatted media, this update keeps things working at peak performance…
MacWorld US, Editors' Choice 2018
www.macworld.comRunning a Mac and having NTFS formatted external disks, you definitely need NTFS for Mac. It is well priced <…> and enables read and write access to your NTFs drives no matter what size. The speed at which you can read and write the data on these drives is the best of any competitor if there really is one. Anyone who needs to use Mac and Windows computers, needs this app for easy data transfer. The interface is best of any application found, and the application itself offers additional drive tools for taking full control. The latest version also supports Mojave and APFS format to complete a perfect application. It is without real competition and deserves a full 5 star award. This utility makes your external storage usable on any computer system Windows or Mac. So your data remains interchangeable and is fully adapted for macOS MOJAVE.
MacSoftReview
www.macsoftreview.com
September 2018Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is a great upgrade to an exceptional cross-platform utility that's easily worth the money, especially if you own the previous version 14, in which case this one's free.
The user interface is tastefully designed, with buttons for mounting, unmounting, verifying, or erasing the selected volume. Dual-boot users also have the option to reboot into a compatible mounted Mac or Windows startup volume. There's even a lovely color-coded space indicator like the one introduced with Mac OS X El Capitan, displaying content by Audio, Video, Apps, Images, and Other categories.MacWorld, USA, August 2017,
macworld.comMicrosoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software, the excellent third-party file system driver that enables writing to Windows-formatted volumes at native speeds.
MacWorld, USA, June 2017,
macworld.comMicrosoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is the best such software solution: reliable, fast, and now affordable as well…
Fast, seamless, and easy to use, Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is required for those who need to write to Windows volumes. And now it's more affordable than ever.MacWorld, USA 2016,
macworld.comRevit architecture for mac free download. A very specialized product that does its job in a very unobtrusive way. You just install it and it works. When you plug an NTFS disk into your Mac, it just mounts on the desktop like any other disk, and when you copy a file to it, it just works, no muss, no fuss. This utility is also invaluable if you find yourself in a situation where you need to format a disk as NTFS, and it performs this task with an equal lack of drama
Apple Press, DVMUG
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is an essential installation for anyone working with Macs and PCs, as it helps to break down the barriers that exist between the two operating systems
Mac World UK,
macworld.comIt'll install cleanly and easily on macOS 10.12 Sierra and 'just work', so it's a good option
How-to-Geek
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software does exactly what we expect from it, by offering a seamless NTFS disk management. It's good performances even allow working directly on the Windows partition, including for heavy applications such as video or photo processing.
mac4ever.com
WOW….Ive been struggling with the whole MAC/Windows NTFS issue for some time and have a number of external drives that I need to swap between Mac/PC all the time. I've always had a headache with NTFS drivers etc. I bought and downloaded your Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software today and WOW. Amazing. Everything just works. Brilliant product. Worth every penny. Thank you.
Robinson Philip
It is pretty fast with NTFS transfers (slightly slower than OSX extended partitions obviously) and I've never had any problems mid-transfer or anything. For me, it's always done what it said on the box, and now with V14 it's got El Capitan compatibility, so no complaints here. If you're looking for a way to have plug-and-play NTFS drives on your mac, there really isn't a better alternative to Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software. Highly recommended for all Mac users!
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If you have a Mac and you need to access volumes that are formatted NTFS, this is the best solution out there. Why Apple hasn't just baked in support for NTFS after all these years still remains a mystery. I've been using Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software for several years now and have never had any problems with it.
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Blazing Fast
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is up to six times faster than any of its closest commercial competitors!
Fully Compatible
Supports macOS Big Sur
and older macOS
See Specifications
Powerful Features
Safe data transfer, hassle-free work, easy to use, seamless user experience
How it Works
Simple as 1-2-3
Install
Download and install Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software onto your Mac.
Done!
Microsoft NTFS volumes connected to your Mac are available in the Finder.
All operations just a click away!
If you need more than just a blazing fast and reliable Microsoft NTFS driver, our lightweight menubar and full-featured Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software apps are always at your service.
Access all of your Microsoft NTFS drives and perform the most common volume operations like mount, unmount and verify.
Quickly restart your Mac in Windows from the menubar (assuming it's installed on your mounted Microsoft NTFS drive).
Seamless User Experience
If you've ever used Apple's Disk Utility, you already know how to use Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software. If you haven't, it will only take a few moments to get acquainted.
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software takes the best of Apple's Disk Utility and moves it to the next level, augmenting Microsoft NTFS volume operations and advanced mount options.
Mounting is entirely under your control with advanced options
Mount in Read-Only: select this option if you need to access sensitive data without modifying any files.
Do not mount automatically: select this option if you want to manually control access to a volume.
Outstanding performance at blazing fast speed
is the fastest file system driver on the market:
6x times faster*
*Tested on 2016 MacBook Pro with SSD drive, view benchmarks here.
Fresh review: check out the video review by European Motion Picture Association.
Latest award: 5-star review of the Mojave-ready edition.
Features
Ntfs For Mac Os Sierra
Features | Benefits |
---|---|
Supported Operating Systems |
|
Supported File Systems | All Microsoft NTFS versions are supported (from Windows NT 3.1 to Windows 10). |
Write Access | When a volume is mounted in write mode, you can do everything with the files and folders it contains: read, edit, delete, rename, create new. |
Automount | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software mounts supported volumes automatically at startup, so you don't need to worry each time you restart the operating system or power your computer on. However, this feature can be disabled at any time in the program interface. |
Volume Management | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software easily formats, checks integrity and repairs corrupted volumes. |
Internationalization | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software supports all alphabets supported by your operating systems, including those that use non-Roman and non-Latin characters, so you will never face the problem of not getting access to file names on volumes mounted in non-native OS. |
Compatible with Apple Boot Camp | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is fully compatible with Apple Boot Camp software and provides direct read and write access to Mac partitions from Windows installed on Boot Camp. |
Compatible with 3rd party software | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is compatible with popular virtualization and encryption applications including VMware Fusion and Workstation, Parallels Desktop, TrueCrypt and its forks. |
Paragon Technology Center
Want to learn more about the technology behind Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software? Check out the Paragon Technology Portal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Could I try your product for free before buying? | |
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I'm a user of a Seagate or Western Digital device with pre-installed NTFS for Mac. How can I get my update? | |
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Does it work with macOS 11.0 Big Sur? | |
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How can I get the update if I have bought the previous version of Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software? | |
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What operations do you mean saying 'Full read/write access'? | |
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What data transfer rate I will get using Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software? | |
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What versions and features of the Microsoft NTFS file system are supported? | |
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Is BootCamp supported? | |
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What should I do if I have OS X 10.9 but Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software doesn't support OS older than 10.10? | |
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Can I re-activate my license on another Mac? | |
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How many times can I re-activate my license? | |
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It doesn't work! My Microsoft NTFS drive is not recognized by macOS, even after installing Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software. | |
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I frequently work with NTFS, HFS+, APFS-formatted partitions on my Mac and Windows PC. Can I get a discount, if I buy all drivers at once? | |
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Ensure multi-platform access - activate required file system drivers based on your IT park, regardless of OS, in any proportion.
Resources
Current Version | Download Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software |
Product Documentation | Download Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software One Pager |
Need help? | Contact Support or file a support ticket |
Latest review | European Motion Picture Association (EURMPA) reviews Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software. Watch the videos! |
NTFS for Mac build for Apple Silicon
Apple has announced a two-year transition to ARM-based processors known as 'Apple Silicon.' Since the new Apple Silicon-based Mac computers are just around the corner, we proactively took on this project. We are delighted to offer Mac users our new NTFS for Mac build for Apple Silicon, which is available for download below.
Ntfs For Mac Download
This offer may be of particular interest for Developer Transition Kit users. If you currently participate in the Universal App Quick Start Program or are just planning to enroll, right now you can download and begin using the new NTFS for Mac build for Apple Silicon on your DTKs.
Mac Ntfs
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