How To Ntfs Format On Mac

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While Mac OS X can read NTFS drives, it cannot write to them. This is quite inconvenient when you want to share files between your Mac and a PC or use the same external hard drive with both machines. The solution? NTFS formatting on a Mac. Here’s how you can go about doing it.

Method 1: Using Terminal

The first method involves using Terminal. It’s important to note that this method requires a degree of technical know-how and can be risky if not handled properly. Always make sure to back up your data before proceeding.

Here are the steps to NTFS format your drive using Terminal: 

1. Connect your drive to your Mac.
2. Open Terminal.
3. Type "diskutil list" and press Enter.
4. Identify the disk number of your NTFS drive (e.g., disk2s1).
5. Unmount the disk by typing "diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX" (replace X with your disk number).
6. Now, type "sudo nano /etc/fstab".
7. In the nano editor, type "LABEL=DRIVENAME none ntfs rw,auto,nobrowse" (replace DRIVENAME with the name of your drive).
8. Press Ctrl+O to save changes, then Ctrl+X to exit nano.
9. Finally, mount the disk by typing "diskutil mountDisk /dev/diskX" (again, replace X with your disk number).
10. Your NTFS drive should now be writable on your Mac.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Software

If you’re not too keen on tinkering with Terminal, there’s an easier alternative: using third-party software. These programs are designed to enable NTFS writing on a Mac without having to do it manually.

One such software is iBoysoft NTFS for Mac. Here’s how you can use it: 

1. Download and install iBoysoft NTFS for Mac.
2. Connect your NTFS drive to your Mac.
3. The software should automatically detect the drive.
4. Select the drive and click on "Mount".
5. You should now be able to write on the NTFS drive.

Conclusion

Those are the two main ways you can NTFS format your drive on a Mac. Remember, always ensure your data is backed up before proceeding with any formatting. Whether you choose to use Terminal or third-party software, the goal is to get your NTFS drive writable on your Mac. Happy formatting!