Can't move files to external drive

This generally means that the volume is formatted as NTFS, in which case it either needs to be reformatted or software capable of writing to it installed onto the Mac. To check, select the volume in the Finder, choose Get Info, and look at the format.

In the event that this occurs for a FAT32 or exFAT volume, choose Utilities from the Finder's Go menu, open the Disk Utility, and try repairing it. If that isn't an option, the drive may have sensed that it's about to fail.

(223932)

Is the External Drive Formatted into the Microsoft Windows Native Format NTFS ?

This is not a native Apple Drive Format.

Apple Can Read and see the files on this drive but can not Write to this Drive format

To achieve this would require Special Third Party Software to be installed on the Apple Computer

Or, if you will be moving back and forth between MS Windows and Apple macOS - the drive will need to be reformatted ( everything will be lost ) into format that Both MS Windows and Apple macOS both understand

If going this route - it would be best to format the drive into exFat which is better than the Fat 32 and gives better performances to move Larger Files to the External Drive.

Thanks for showing me where to check! It's indeed formatted as NTFS.

Any recommendations for third-party software?

I wouldn't use any software. Just format it for a Mac and use it normally.

If you want to use it with Windows, format it ExFAT. Both would require you temporarily move the data off the drive to reformat it.

All software that provides write-capability for NTFS will break when you update or upgrade the OS. You'll then have to wait for an update. If you pay for the third-party software, they usually make it compatible before the OS release, but you have to update that software. You just make more work for yourself using that software.

SofieCou wrote:

Ah yes, that's what's up.

I'll only use this disk for my Mac from now on.

Any recommendations for third-party software to use?

Format the drive for Mac if it will only be used on your Mac.

FWIW, the only app I have recommended and use myself…

https://www.paragon-software.com/us/home/ntfs-mac/#overview

If the drive is formatted as NTFS, a Mac can only read from the drive without third-party help.

Barney-15E wrote:

All software that provides write-capability for NTFS will break when you update or upgrade the OS.

FWIW, that's not always the case. Certainly no more than any other kind of software. And of course, you may have to deal with NTFS formatted drives which you can't reformat.

dialabrain wrote:

Barney-15E wrote:

All software that provides write-capability for NTFS will break when you update or upgrade the OS.

FWIW, that's not always the case. Certainly no more than any other kind of software. And of course, you may have to deal with NTFS formatted drives which you can't reformat.

I guess I implied every update/upgrade, but it is true that it won't break with every update. It will break, at some point. It's a system modification that is destined to break because it is a system modification.

I guess we're missing an earlier point. There are circumstances where your might have to write to a Windows user's NTFS drive where it's not possible or feasible to format their drive to ExFAT for them. If nothing else, it could get you fired.

dialabrain wrote:

Everything breaks eventually. 😎

Yes, but I’ve never, ever, been unable to write to an APFS or a Mac OS extended volume after, well, It doesn’t matter after what ‘cause it’s been never.

I guess we're missing an earlier point. There are circumstances where your might have to write to a Windows user's NTFS drive where it's not possible or feasible to format their drive to ExFAT for them. If nothing else, it could get you fired.

Yeah, I'm not encumbered with that. I would tell them to load some system modification on their windows computer and send me a drive formatted for macOS. If they can't, I don't care.

Well, that is true, but I also have no financial, moral, or otherwise obligation to support their needs. If they need something from me, they have the obligation to meet my needs.

I guess it would be entertaining to see their face when I give them back a freshly ExFAT formatted drive with the desired products.

My More Learned Colleagues, which may use this type of software will probably know better than I