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I just bought a new MacBook Pro, I have an older external storage device I use. When I connect my storage device to the Mac I can see what's on the device, but the new Mac will not allow me to transfer any files to the storage device.
Any solutions?
Thanks
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.4
Is this your first MacBook and/or were you previously using the external storage device with a Windows machine prior to trying to use it with your Mac?
If you're able to pull files off of the drive onto your MacBook but not save anything to it, It's most certainly due to the external storage device's file structure. You can check this by right clicking on the drive and tapping "get info" or by opening up the Disk Utility app and selecting the storage device in the left side pane.
The external drive is most likely in NTFS format; if you don't need any of the files currently on it, you can use disk utility to erase and repartition it (essentially reformatting) in a Mac compatible format such as APFS, OS-X Journaled or ExFAT (ExFAT will work between both Mac and PC but there are limitations to file sizes that come with it).
I'd recommend taking a look over Apple's doc on file system formats located here.
Best,
E
Is this your first MacBook and/or were you previously using the external storage device with a Windows machine prior to trying to use it with your Mac?
If you're able to pull files off of the drive onto your MacBook but not save anything to it, It's most certainly due to the external storage device's file structure. You can check this by right clicking on the drive and tapping "get info" or by opening up the Disk Utility app and selecting the storage device in the left side pane.
The external drive is most likely in NTFS format; if you don't need any of the files currently on it, you can use disk utility to erase and repartition it (essentially reformatting) in a Mac compatible format such as APFS, OS-X Journaled or ExFAT (ExFAT will work between both Mac and PC but there are limitations to file sizes that come with it).
I'd recommend taking a look over Apple's doc on file system formats located here.
Best,
E
Thanks for the response, I have only used this device on another MacBook that is about 9 years old. It worked well on the old Mac. I have a large number of items on the device, so reformating it is out of the question.
The device I have is only about 3 years old, as far as I can remember.
I will take a look at the link for the documents, thanks.
Go to https://kb.paragon-software.com/ and download the NTSF updated driver.
While trying to access my external storage the NTFS for Mac window popped up with the directions on how to change the security profile.
Shut the Macbook down then hold down the power button until the startup disk comes up. There will be two choices available, choose the symbol that looks like a hard drive disk. Open up the security and privacy and switch the setting from full security and allow full disk access. Restart.
Choose Apple menu 
> System Settings, then click Privacy & Security 
in the sidebar then click the full disk access icon, and check the button (com.paragon-software) this will allow full disk access. Then restart.
The external disk worked just fine.
It sounds like your external drive was left as shipped from the vendor, as a Windows New Technology File System (NTFS) drive. A MacOS File system is then 'simulated' on the the NTFS drive.
That can be problematic, and can mean that unless the Paragon or other NTFS Driver is loaded, the drive data are NOT accessible.
This is especially problematic if that drive were a Backup drive, because Recovery Mode can not load the NTFS Driver, and the data remain inaccessible.
Best Practice we recommend here is to ERASE a new drive completely using Disk Utility, and ignore the NTFS add-ons.
Thanks again, I found the issue, it was in the security settings.
Please please please...
could you post a summary of how you fixed this?
it will help out 'the next guy' who finds your post by searching..
Thanks!
External Storage and new Mac
