What's the best NTFS for Mac software for Apple Silicon Device?

Here is a simple guide to let you write and read NTFS drive on your Mac. Tested on my iMac M3 and worked like a charm. You can try out by yourself:

https://www.ulitewin.com/write-read-ntfs-drive-on-mac

If you're willing to experiment with the file system format, you can also format the drive as exFAT, which is easier to read and write to on both Windows and macOS.

If you still insist on using NTFS, you can try modifying /etc/fstab by following these steps (however, this method may be less stable and more complicated)

1. In the terminal, type: sudo nano /etc/fstab
2. Add: LABEL=hard drive name none ntfs rw,auto,nobrowse
3. Save and exit (Ctrl + O, then Ctrl + X)
4. Reboot your computer

In addition, using a third-party software program is a much more secure solution, especially if you often need to manipulate NTFS hard drives. I've been using Donemax NTFS for Mac, which is relatively easy to use and not too expensive. It smoothly supports reading and writing to NTFS-formatted hard disks on a Mac, eliminating the need to manually modify system settings.

Virtual machine operation is a very useful method, especially if you only need to write to NTFS for Mac hard drives occasionally and don't want to install additional software. The method is simple: install a virtual machine on your Mac, such as Parallels, VirtulBox or VMware, and then run the Windows system in the virtual machine.

Once you enter the virtual Windows, just plug in the NTFS hard drive, and the built-in support of Windows will allow you to read and write files as you wish, without the need for a separate NTFS for Mac tool. After modifying the file, you can still read the data when you return to macOS.

Although the operation has an extra step, it is very suitable for those who don't want to rely on third-party tools for a long time, and you can also use the virtual machine to do other things! Is there a savior for lazy people?

If you want to use NTFS drives on your Mac, especially on an Apple Silicon device like the M1 or M2 chips, then you'll definitely need a reliable NTFS solution. While you can opt to use a tool like ntffs-3g, there are some drawbacks to consider when weighing your options - especially if you're considering investing in a good NTFS for Mac software. Here's an overview of the main drawbacks I've encountered, as well as some of my own experience.

Disadvantages of Using NTFS for Mac Software on Apple Silicon

1. Compatibility Concerns:
Not every NTFS driver is guaranteed to work seamlessly with Apple Silicon. 

2. Data Corruption Risks:
Not all NTFS drivers handle file transactions perfectly, and there’s always a risk of data corruption during transfer. If you’re transferring large files, you want to ensure that they're safe and intact.

3.Drive Recognition Problems:
Sometimes, the software might not consistently recognize NTFS drives when plugged in. You could find yourself having to re-mount the drive multiple times, which is a hassle. 

If you are looking for a best NTFS for Mac software. I can tell you from experience that sometimes sticking to solid fundamentals (like using ExFAT for compatibility or simply getting an alternative file system) may save you from the hassle of managing NTFS. But if you do find a good NTFS driver.

Congratulations on getting a MacBook Pro M3! The NTFS hard drive problem you mentioned is indeed very common, because macOS defaults to read-only for NTFS for Mac hard drives. However, don't worry, there are some simple ways to let your Mac write to NTFS hard drives, and even bypass third-party tools completely.

1. Enable macOS's built-in NTFS write function (experimental)
macOS comes with basic NTFS for Mac support, but it is turned off by default. You can try the following steps to enable it:

Plug in the NTFS hard drive, open Terminal, and enter:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add a line to the file:

LABEL=hard drive name none ntfs rw,auto,nobrowse

Save (Ctrl + O), exit (Ctrl + X), and then restart.
When completed, the hard drive will be mounted in the /Volumes folder. Although this is an experimental feature of macOS's NTFS for Mac, it is not very stable and is recommended only for temporary processing.

2. Reformat the hard drive with Disk Utility
If you no longer need the NTFS format, you can directly use the macOS Disk Utility to change the hard drive to exFAT format:

1. Open Disk Utility, select your NTFS hard drive, and click Erase.
2. Change the format to exFAT, then confirm.
3. After reformatting, the hard drive no longer needs to use the NTFS for Mac tool and is directly compatible with macOS and Windows.

3. Share the hard drive with a Windows computer
If you have a Windows computer, you can connect the NTFS hard drive to Windows and share it over the network:

• Enable file sharing in the Windows computer settings to share the hard drive.
• Access the Windows shared content through Finder on the Mac.

This way, you can bypass the installation of any NTFS for Mac tools and easily complete the writing of files.
Although third-party NTFS for Mac tools are a faster option, if you want to avoid installing additional software, the above methods are very practical. I hope it helps you! 😊

If you want to enable full read and write access to a drive on both Windows and Mac systems without relying on third-party NTFS drivers, formatting the drive to exFAT is an excellent solution. exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) is a file system optimized for flash drives and external storage, offering broad compatibility across different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and even some Linux distributions.

exFAT is natively supported by both Windows and macOS, whereas NTFS is read-only on macOS without third-party drivers. Choosing exFAT over NTFS for your external drive offers several advantages, especially if you intend to use the drive with both Windows and Mac systems:

1. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Read and write access on both Windows and macOS without additional software.
2. Support for Large Files: Unlike FAT32, exFAT can handle files larger than 4GB, making it suitable for high-definition videos and large datasets.
3. Simplicity: Easier to set up and use for external storage without the complexities of managing permissions and security features inherent in NTFS.

You don't need the best NTFS for Mac software if you decided to format the drive to exFAT! And this trick supports the following Mac models and macOS version.

1. Mac: Intel and Apple Silicon Mac M1/M2/M3/M4
2. macOS: Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina and High Sierra.

NTFS is a proprietary file system developed by Microsoft. It's the default file system for Windows operating systems since Windows XP. If you want to write to an NTFS-formatted drive on a Mac, you'll need to install an NTFS driver because macOS doesn't provide native write support for NTFS out of the box.

To write to NTFS drives on a Mac, you need to install a third-party NTFS driver. These drivers enable macOS to communicate with NTFS-formatted drives in a way that allows both reading and writing. Now, you can use the free command line tool for copying files to NTFS drive on Mac.

brew install ntfs-3sg 

sudo umount /dev/diskXsY 

sudo mount -t ntfs -o rw,auto,nobrowse /dev/diskXsY /Volumes/YourDriveName

Configure the system to allow NTFS-3SG to manage NTFS drives. This involves modifying system files and could pose security risks if not done correctly.

The drive won’t appear on the desktop automatically. To access it, open Finder and press Cmd + Shift + G, then enter /Volumes/YourDriveName.

Though macOS doesn't natively support writing to NTFS-formatted drives, installing a NTFS for Mac software is a reliable solution to enable this functionality. If you frequently transfer files between Windows and Mac systems, investing in a reliable NTFS driver can significantly streamline your workflow and enhance compatibility across platforms.

Make sure you’re getting the right NTFS for Mac software that matches your macOS version since compatibility can sometimes be a pain. Using an incompatible version might lead to performance issues or the software not working at all. If you're changing an existing drive’s format to NTFS, ensure you're doing it correctly via the right tools (Windows Disk Management is your friend for this). Doing a quick format instead of a full one can cause problems down the line, especially with larger drives.

I've worked with various NTFS for Mac software on Windows PCs, and I can tell you that it's all about finding the right balance. You need software that's compatible, reliable, and easy to use. I've had my fair share of trial and error, but once you find the best NTFS for Mac software, it's a game-changer.

• Consider well-reviewed options like Paragon NTFS for Mac or Tuxera NTFS for Mac, which are quite reliable when it comes to handling NTFS on Mac.
• Run chkdsk on Windows. Open Command Prompt as an admin and type chkdsk [drive letter]: /f. Replace [drive letter] with your drive’s letter (e.g., D:).
• Go through the software’s installation guide thoroughly. It may seem tedious, but it saves headaches later!  
• If you’re working with an HDD or SSD that’s had a lot of use and you’re seeing errors, maybe give it a health check first or consider acquiring a new one.