introduction
For a very long time, Apple users have been asking developers for a macOS update. The old macOS looked dated and didn’t provide a user experience like iOS.
Apple took note of the request and released its biggest update in over 20 years!
The new and improved macOS 11 was released as Big Sur. It promised a great interactive and engaging experience for users. With the new M1 chip developed at home, it promises to set criteria for performance and efficiency.
The macOS 11 Big Sur will also be available for older MacBook Air and Pro with Intel chips.
However, one thing that has always escaped macOS Big Sur users is the non-compatibility with NTFS files.
In this article, we’ll help users enable NTFS read-write support in macOS Big Sur.
Why can’t you read / write NTFS files on MacOS Big Sur?
Older Apple macOS users will attest to the fact that you cannot write NTFS files on your systems. While macOS allowed reading of files, editing, renaming, and deleting files was not allowed.
The same has been applied to the new macOS 11, Big Sur. You still get the same read option, but no writing is allowed. On MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or Mac mini news with Apple silicon M1 chip, some people can’t even see their NTFS files on Mac even though the NTFS drive can be opened. NTFS or New File Technology System is proprietary software owned by Microsoft.
Since 1993, it has been the file system of choice for storing, reading, and editing data on external hard drives, USB drives, and memory cards.
For Apple, starting to use the same in the new macOS Big Sur would mean paying Microsoft hefty licensing fees. The same would also have been inconsistent with Apple’s philosophy of promoting cross-platform functionality.
What you need to know is that if you have an external hard drive, which is in NTFS file format, you cannot use it interchangeably on your Windows and Apple systems simultaneously.
List of 3 ways to write NTFS files in macOS Big Sur
1. NTFS software for Mac
The easiest way, chosen by several thousand Apple users around the world, is to use credible third-party NTFS software for Mac. However, with the Big Sur, not all NTFS software for Mac has been proven to perform well.
This means that you are left with only a few options to choose NTFS software for Mac Big Sur, which allows you to seamlessly read and write NTFS files on your Mac. IBoysoft NTFS software for Mac has been critically reviewed by critics and found to be fully 100% compatible with newer macOS Big Sur and Macs processed by the M1 chip.
Compatibility of other third-party NTFS for Mac software is pending.
How to use the NTFS driver for Mac to write to NTFS drives in macOS Big Sur:
Step 1: Download a tool that clearly states that it is compatible with macOS Big Sur. If the Mac is running macOS Big Sur and it is a Mac with M1 installed, you need to make sure that the tool is usable on M1 chip Mac as well.
Step 2: Double click on the installer to load the software to install.
Step 3: Click Allow on the Security & Privacy window. In the new macOS, all third-party software will need to manually authorize the system extension.
Step 4: Continue to install software on Mac and restart Mac after installation is complete.
Step 5: Connect NTFS drive to Mac and it will be mounted automatically in readable and writable state.
2. Change terminal settings on the Mac
First of all, to use this option, you would need a basic knowledge of coding. You have to open the Apple terminal by pressing the “command” and the “space bar” at the same time. Type the word Terminal and press Enter.
As you can see, this process is not easy and requires getting dirty with lines of coding. If you are not technically skilled or knowledgeable, experts suggest that it is best to quit this strategy. Another reason that this method is not recommended is that native NTFS write support in macOS is poorly tested and considered risky in terms of data loss.
You can still have the benefit of using the other two options and making sure your files and your new Mac are safe and sound for future use.
3. Use FAT or ex-FAT format for your hard drive
Apple’s macOS extends read and write capabilities in the file allocation table or FAT format. FAT and its newer version, ex-FAT, is compatible for read-write functions on your Mac system.
However, the only major problem with the FAT format is that it doesn’t support file sizes larger than 4GB. This means that designers, video editors, and the like wouldn’t be very happy.
On the other hand, ex-FAT format is not a safe option for file transfer. There have been many reported cases of corrupted or deleted files when switching from NTFS to ex-FAT format.
Do this:
Step 1: Back up the files.
Step 2: Open the Disk Utility application.
Step 3: Connect the external NTFS hard drive to Mac and find it in the left list of drives in Disk Utility.
Step 4: Right click on the drive and choose Erase or select the drive and click on Erase button on the top toolbar of the window.
Step 5: Enter the name, select a format (FAT or ExFAT) and a scheme (GUID partition map).
Step 6: Confirm by clicking the Clear button in the pop-up window.
The last word
If you’re someone like me who wants their software to be easy to use, using third-party NTFS software for Mac from iBoysoft is the more credible option. We don’t know if the latest versions of Bit Sur will deploy full read-write capabilities for Mac users. If you’d like to learn more about reading and writing NTFS files on your Big Sur, let us know in the comments section below.
introduction
For a very long time, Apple users have been asking developers for a macOS update. The old macOS looked dated and didn’t provide a user experience like iOS.
Apple took note of the request and released its biggest update in over 20 years!
The new and improved macOS 11 was released as Big Sur. It promised a great interactive and engaging experience for users. With the new M1 chip developed at home, it promises to set criteria for performance and efficiency.
The macOS 11 Big Sur will also be available for older MacBook Air and Pro with Intel chips.
However, one thing that has always escaped macOS Big Sur users is the non-compatibility with NTFS files.
In this article, we’ll help users enable NTFS read-write support in macOS Big Sur.
Why can’t you read / write NTFS files on MacOS Big Sur?
Older Apple macOS users will attest to the fact that you cannot write NTFS files on your systems. While macOS allowed reading of files, editing, renaming, and deleting files was not allowed.
The same has been applied to the new macOS 11, Big Sur. You still get the same read option, but no writing is allowed. On MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or Mac mini news with Apple silicon M1 chip, some people can’t even see their NTFS files on Mac even though the NTFS drive can be opened. NTFS or New File Technology System is proprietary software owned by Microsoft.
Since 1993, it has been the file system of choice for storing, reading, and editing data on external hard drives, USB drives, and memory cards.
For Apple, starting to use the same in the new macOS Big Sur would mean paying Microsoft hefty licensing fees. The same would also have been inconsistent with Apple’s philosophy of promoting cross-platform functionality.
What you need to know is that if you have an external hard drive, which is in NTFS file format, you cannot use it interchangeably on your Windows and Apple systems simultaneously.
List of 3 ways to write NTFS files in macOS Big Sur
1. NTFS software for Mac
The easiest way, chosen by several thousand Apple users around the world, is to use credible third-party NTFS software for Mac. However, with the Big Sur, not all NTFS software for Mac has been proven to perform well.
This means that you are left with only a few options to choose NTFS software for Mac Big Sur, which allows you to seamlessly read and write NTFS files on your Mac. IBoysoft NTFS software for Mac has been critically reviewed by critics and found to be fully 100% compatible with newer macOS Big Sur and Macs processed by the M1 chip.
Compatibility of other third-party NTFS for Mac software is pending.
How to use the NTFS driver for Mac to write to NTFS drives in macOS Big Sur:
Step 1: Download a tool that clearly states that it is compatible with macOS Big Sur. If the Mac is running macOS Big Sur and it is a Mac with M1 installed, you need to make sure that the tool is usable on M1 chip Mac as well.
Step 2: Double click on the installer to load the software to install.
Step 3: Click Allow on the Security & Privacy window. In the new macOS, all third-party software will need to manually authorize the system extension.
Step 4: Continue to install software on Mac and restart Mac after installation is complete.
Step 5: Connect NTFS drive to Mac and it will be mounted automatically in readable and writable state.
2. Change terminal settings on the Mac
First of all, to use this option, you would need a basic knowledge of coding. You have to open the Apple terminal by pressing the “command” and the “space bar” at the same time. Type the word Terminal and press Enter.
As you can see, this process is not easy and requires getting dirty with lines of coding. If you are not technically skilled or knowledgeable, experts suggest that it is best to quit this strategy. Another reason that this method is not recommended is that native NTFS write support in macOS is poorly tested and considered risky in terms of data loss.
You can still have the benefit of using the other two options and making sure your files and your new Mac are safe and sound for future use.
3. Use FAT or ex-FAT format for your hard drive
Apple’s macOS extends read and write capabilities in the file allocation table or FAT format. FAT and its newer version, ex-FAT, is compatible for read-write functions on your Mac system.
However, the only major problem with the FAT format is that it doesn’t support file sizes larger than 4GB. This means that designers, video editors, and the like wouldn’t be very happy.
On the other hand, ex-FAT format is not a safe option for file transfer. There have been many reported cases of corrupted or deleted files when switching from NTFS to ex-FAT format.
Do this:
Step 1: Back up the files.
Step 2: Open the Disk Utility application.
Step 3: Connect the external NTFS hard drive to Mac and find it in the left list of drives in Disk Utility.
Step 4: Right click on the drive and choose Erase or select the drive and click on Erase button on the top toolbar of the window.
Step 5: Enter the name, select a format (FAT or ExFAT) and a scheme (GUID partition map).
Step 6: Confirm by clicking the Clear button in the pop-up window.
The last word
If you’re someone like me who wants their software to be easy to use, using third-party NTFS software for Mac from iBoysoft is the more credible option. We don’t know if the latest versions of Bit Sur will deploy full read-write capabilities for Mac users. If you’d like to learn more about reading and writing NTFS files on your Big Sur, let us know in the comments section below.