How to Mount NTFS Drives in Read-Write Mode on Mac (2026)

When you connect an external NTFS drive (USB flash drive, HDD, SSD, etc.) to your Mac, macOS automatically mounts it in read-only mode. This means you can access and copy files from the drive, but you can't modify existing files or save new ones to it.

In other words, macOS supports reading NTFS drives but doesn't provide native NTFS write support. So, how can you mount an NTFS drive in read-write mode on your Mac?

Whether you're running macOS Golden Gate, Tahoe, Sequoia, or an earlier version, here are three ways to get the job done.

1. Mount an NTFS Drive in Read-Write Mode on Mac with NTFS for Mac Software

The easiest way to mount an NTFS drive in read-write mode is to use a dedicated NTFS for Mac tool.

There are several free and paid NTFS for Mac software options available. Here, we'll introduce BuhoNTFS, a professional and easy-to-use NTFS tool for Mac.

BuhoNTFS lets you mount NTFS drives in read-write mode, so you can easily access, modify, copy, and save files on your NTFS drive directly from your Mac.

1. Download and install BuhoNTFS on your Mac from its official website.
2. Open the app after installation. You'll see a list of connected drives. Find the NTFS drive you want to use and select it.
3. Enable the "Allow Read & Write permission" option to switch the drive to read-write mode. You can now read and write files on your NTFS drive directly from your Mac.

2. Mount an NTFS Drive in Read-Write Mode on Mac Using Terminal

Another option is to use the built-in Terminal app to enable NTFS write support on your Mac.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Terminal by searching for it with Spotlight.
2. Enter the following command and press Return:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

3. Add the following line:

LABEL=NAME none ntfs rw,auto,nobrowse

4. Save the changes and exit the editor.
5. Disconnect and reconnect the NTFS drive. It should now be accessible in read-write mode. Since the nobrowse option is included, you may need to access the drive through Finder's Go > Go to Folder option or use its mount point.

3. Reformat the NTFS Drive to exFAT or APFS

If your NTFS drive is empty or you've already backed up its contents, you can reformat it to another file system that macOS supports.

For example, you can choose exFAT, FAT32, or APFS, depending on how you plan to use the drive.

• exFAT: Ideal if you need to use the drive on both Mac and Windows computers.
• FAT32: Also compatible with Mac and Windows, but individual files cannot exceed 4 GB.
• APFS: A good choice if you only plan to use the drive with Mac computers.

Here's how to reformat an NTFS drive on Mac:

1. Open the Disk Utility app using Spotlight.
2. Find and select the NTFS drive you want to reformat in the left sidebar.
3. Click the Erase button and choose your preferred file system, such as exFAT, FAT32, or APFS.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the formatting process.

If you plan to use the drive on both Mac and Windows, exFAT is generally the best choice. Both operating systems support it, and it doesn't have FAT32's 4 GB per-file size limit. For more details, see our guide to NTFS vs. exFAT vs. FAT32 vs. APFS.

Bottom Line

If you want to mount an NTFS drive in read-write mode on your Mac, you have three options: use dedicated NTFS for Mac software, try a Terminal workaround, or reformat the drive to a Mac-compatible file system.

For most users, dedicated NTFS software is the simplest option because it lets you keep the existing NTFS format without reformatting the drive. This is particularly useful if you frequently move files between Mac and Windows computers.

If you're also looking for an easy way to free up storage space and keep your Mac running smoothly, give BuhoCleaner a try.