How to read and write NTFS drives on Mac
macOS can read NTFS drives natively, but does not provide native NTFS writing. vmount lets you browse a supported Windows drive for free in the app. Pro adds Finder access, file export and writing on Apple Silicon Macs without kernel extensions or SIP changes.
Check your drive before you buy
Download vmount free to connect your supported NTFS drive and browse its folders. Pro costs $29 USD once for up to 2 devices, with a 14-day refund guarantee. Finder access, file export, writing, editing, deleting and formatting require Pro.
You need an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 15 or newer. This guide opens an existing NTFS partition; formatting is a separate operation that erases data.
Open your NTFS drive step by step
- Install and open vmount. Download the signed .pkg installer, run it, and open vmount from Applications. An Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 15 or newer is required.
- Connect your NTFS drive. Connect the external drive and identify it by its name and size. Choose the supported NTFS partition in vmount. Do not format a drive that contains files you want to keep.
- Choose your access mode and mount. Start with the lock closed for read-only access, then click MOUNT and browse your folders in vmount. Free mode is read-only browsing. With Pro, unlock the access control before mounting when you need to write to the drive.
- Use Finder or export files with Pro. Activate Pro to use FINDER for the mounted drive or select files in vmount and choose Export... to save them to your Mac. Keep read-only mode enabled when copying files off the drive. Writing files onto the drive requires Pro and read/write mode.
- Eject before unplugging. Wait for transfers to finish. If you opened the drive in Finder, use its EJECT control to unmount that view. Then use vmount’s disk EJECT control to return to the picker before unplugging the drive.
If you cannot write to the drive
Check the license and access mode
Free mode lets you browse in vmount. Writing requires Pro, and the drive must have been mounted in read/write mode. If you connected read-only, finish any transfers, eject the drive in vmount, then select the appropriate access mode before mounting again.
Check the drive’s Windows state
A drive left in an unclean or hibernated state can prevent read/write mounting. Note vmount’s error message. If possible, reconnect the drive to Windows, close programs using it, and safely eject it after any required checks. Do not force writing or remove hibernation data just to bypass a mount error. Copy readable files off first when the drive may be damaged.
Check file and folder permissions
If some files work but one folder cannot be changed, check its permissions and ownership on the original Windows system. Do not assume that every NTFS security setting or special file will behave exactly as it does on Windows.
Other setup problems
The drive is not detected
Check the cable, enclosure and power. Look for the physical disk in Disk Utility using View → Show All Devices. If the Mac cannot see the hardware, try another port or enclosure. Quit and reopen vmount after reconnecting the disk.
Finder or export is unavailable
Both require Pro. Confirm that your license is activated, and use a supported disk connection. Free users can browse files and folders inside vmount.
Transfers take longer than expected
Transfer speed depends on the disk, enclosure, connection, file sizes and workload. Try a small representative folder first, and keep the drive connected until the transfer finishes. No particular throughput is guaranteed.
How vmount provides NTFS access
vmount runs a Linux virtual machine using Apple’s Virtualization.framework. Linux mounts the supported NTFS filesystem, and vmount provides a file browser on your Mac. Pro’s FINDER control exposes the mounted files over a local NFS connection. Your Mac does not need an NTFS kernel extension.
Use read-only mode when your goal is to inspect a drive or copy files off it. Enable writing only when you need to change the source drive, and keep a backup of important files.
Related guides and comparisons
- Open an ext4 Linux drive on Mac for a Linux-formatted disk.
- vmount vs Paragon NTFS
- vmount vs Mounty
- vmount vs MacFUSE
Browse your NTFS drive first
Free in-app browsing. Pro adds export, Finder, write and format for $29 USD once on up to 2 devices, with a 14-day refund guarantee.