New MacBook Pro won't allow read/write permissions on my NTFS external drive

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Level 1

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New MacBook Pro won't allow read/write permissions on my NTFS external drive

I have an external drive that I have previously only used with my previous Mac, a MacBook Air. It is however formatted in NTFS. I now come to use it for my new MacBook Pro, and it says - no - it is read only. I cannot change the permissions as it is all greyed out. I have only used it with a Mac, and it was fine with the old Air, so why does it not work with the new MacBook Pro? Very frustrating!!

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Feb 15, 2021 9:35 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Level 9

69,722 points

Feb 15, 2021 6:02 PM in response to davidparrock

macOS has never had native write support for NTFS volumes. You must have used some sort of third party software either from Seagate or the drivers mentioned by @BobTheFisherman mentioned.

Personally I feel it is best to have macOS manage the external drives by using Disk Utility to erase the drive as GUID partition and exFAT if you need to share the drive with Windows. If you only use the drive with macOS, then erase the drive as GUID partition and MacOS Extended (Journaled). You will need to temporarily move the data to another location when you erase the drive.

You should always have frequent & regular backups of your boot drive and any external media which contains important and unique information.

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Answer 2

Feb 15, 2021 9:50 AM in response to davidparrock

MacOS has never been able to write to NTFS formatted drives. If you could do it previously you installed a third party app like Paragon or Tuxera that provided the write access. Did you install this third party app when you got your new Mac?

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Answer 3

davidparrock Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2021 10:20 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

I have never installed any third party app. It is a Seagate drive purchased from an Apple store, and it has only ever been used by or with Macs. I don't understand how my previous MacBook Air could do something my shiny new MacBook Pro seemingly cannot.

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New MacBook Pro won't allow read/write permissions on my NTFS external drive

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