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Positives
- Having logged in, you will see the “My products” section, which shows your registered software products and used or unused licenses. For example, you need to release the license for Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software: Click on the “Show details” button to expand the.
- Microsoft exFAT/NTFS for USB by Paragon Software is a universal non-root method for transferring files between onboard memory of your Android device and Windows or Mac-formatted USB Flash Drive. The app is fully integrated with Paragon File System Link document provider, based on Storage Access Framework (SAF), that ensures access to device storage, cloud storage services, USB storages.
Install Microsoft exFAT/NTFS for USB by Paragon Software on your device. Connect a USB flash drive via USB OTG and mount the file system you need. Tap «Browse» button and choose: a. Open files. to open and view files (media and documents) from USB storage b. Manage files to copy/move/delete/rename files using a built-in Android file.
- Allows Mac to Windows communication
- Essential for writing files on NTFS drives
- Decent write speeds
- Additional features previously accessible through Disk Utility only
- Easy-to-understand user interface
Negatives
- Unusual NTFS driver enable/disable feature
- Paid major updates
If you’ve ever tried to open a Windows file on a Mac – or vice versa – then you’ll already know the frustratingly impossible task that this is, especially if you’re using the drive format NTFS or New Technologies File System. Founded by a group of MIPT students in 1994, Germany-based software company Paragon Software Group develops hard drive management tools such as partition managers, boot managers, backup software and system duplication software alongside a driver for Mac that bridges the gap between Mac and Windows devices. Paragon NTFS for Mac promises read/write access to any version of Windows NTFS drives in your macOS for as low as $14.99 if you purchase the five-license pack. But before taking out your credit card, there’s up to 15 days for you to decide whether this is a worthy investment thanks to the available free trial. Or, if you jump on the deal and buy a license, your purchase will be protected by Paragon Software Group’s 30-day money back guarantee.
Full Interoperability Between a Mac and a Windows PC
Apple and Microsoft developed operating systems using different languages for writing files onto drives. Apple uses HFS+, also referred to as Mac OS Extended or HFS Extended. During WWDC 2017, however, Apple announced that with macOS High Sierra, the default file system for Macs is changing to the new Apple File System (APFS), a file system optimized for flash and solid-state drives. Since the introduction of Windows NT 3.1, Microsoft has used NTFS.
The problem is macOS lacks native support for NTFS: you can read data from drives formatted with the Windows NT file system, but cannot write to it. Just remember that moment when your friend brought their external drive to copy over the movies you promised, and you didn’t understand why you couldn’t drag and drop the file onto it.
Main ScreenMenu Bar AppNTFS Drive MountedNTFS External DriveRelease License PromptRelease License Prompt 2
Paragon NTFS for Mac Menu Bar
NTFS External Hard Drive Mounted
Paragon NTFS for Mac Release License Prompt 2
Paragon NTFS for Mac solves this problem. Just like its competitor, Finland-based software developer Tuxera, Paragon installs a low-level file system driver based on Paragon UFSD (Universal File System Driver) technology, which was specially developed to bridge incompatibility between Windows and macOS by providing full read/write access to any version of the NTFS file system (Windows NT 4.0, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 7, 8 and 10).
Successful installation will prompt a restart, and then the Paragon effect takes place: it displays a simple and easy-to-understand application window, which can be laupanched through the Preferences pane, from the Applications folder or by typing “Paragon NTFS” into Spotlight. To continue using the software, you’ll need to either activate it by logging in to the MyParagon Customer Portal or via Facebook.
Features
Double-clicking on the icon opens up the app management interface, where you’ll see the physical and virtual volumes attached to your Mac, including mounted DMG images. The application window has two sections: volumes and operations. The latter is where you’ll find options such as mount/unmount, verify, erase and startup. Mounting and unmounting is available for any volume or image except the macOS system drive currently in use.
Just like the macOS native app, Disk Utility, Paragon NTFS for Mac has a verify option, enabling users to verify and fix errors on supported file systems. Since the repair requires unmounting the drive, as is the case with a startup drive, be sure to avoid using it with that disk. If you notice any issues with the startup drive, you should use Disk Utility to fix it in Recovery mode.
The “Erase” option allows users to reformat the attached volume into file systems supported by macOS, while clicking on the startup option will let you select a system startup volume.
Format DriveRead-Only ModeNTFS Drive MountedNTFS External Drive
Mounting NTFS Drive in Read-Only Mode
NTFS External Hard Drive Mounted
The “Ignore Ownership” (for NTFS drives) option is disabled by default to allow anyone to access data on mounted NTFS volumes, but you can select it to restrict access to a specific user or group.
Since a writing action occurs even when you read a file by default on NTFS files systems, the feature called “Last Access Time” will keep a record of the last time a folder was opened, read or changed. To keep this default feature enabled, tick “Save Last Access Time” on the mounted NTFS volume.
There are additional features that should come handy, too, such as “Dirty volumes processing”. We talk about a dirty NTFS volume if the system suffered a power interruption, an aborted restart or forced shutdown. Paragon NTFS for Mac will check and repair dirty NTFS volumes before mounting them. Of course, the feature can be disabled, but this isn’t recommended.
Enabling NTFS Write Mode
Alongside the “Uninstall” option, Paragon NTFS for Mac will give you quick access to enable or disable the installed driver. However, you need to click on the lock – which will prompt you for an administrator password – to toggle it on or off, though admittedly the situations where you would want to disable it are very limited since you can mount the NTFS drive as “read only” if needed.
There is an unusual feature due to the level of control that Paragon Software has. During our testing we noticed that if an NTFS drive was mounted while the driver was enabled, disabling the drive didn’t prevent writing to it. This is despite the fact that disabling the driver should prevent the user from writing files to any NTFS volume.
You will need to unmount the NTFS disk and then remount it for the setting to take effect. In our testing we were unable to write to the external NTFS drive after doing so, and the same goes for the other way round, too. If you mount an NTFS drive with Paragon NTFS for Mac disabled, the drive will become a read-only volume, and you will need to remount it again after enabling the driver.
This ‘feature’ aims to act as an emergency exit for worst-case scenarios, such as having an opened file with changes while the driver is disabled for some reason. This is possible due to the limited access permission to the data that Paragon has on volumes. To enable write mode on an NTFS disk, Paragon provides a low-level API for a Virtual File System. VFS is the link between the macOS kernel and a concrete file system. Since all original access permissions belong to macOS, even disabling the Paragon NTFS for Mac driver leaves writing to an NTFS formatted volume possible.
Paragon NTFS for Mac Speed Test
As advertised, the driver gives users read/write access to any version of Windows NTFS drives in your macOS, but the write speed still compares with the native macOS file system. Along with the built-in SSD of the MacBook Pro (late 2016), we used two external drives to put the Paragon NTFS for Mac to the test: an 8GB Kingston flash drive and a 1TB Seagate Backup Plus 5400 rpm drive.
In our testing we used two methods: copying a 4.11GB MKV file from Mac to NTFS, and the free Blackmagic Disk Speed Test software. We used a late-2008 iMac equipped with SSD to test the software.
Speed TestPen Drive Speed TestExternal Drive Speed TestTuxera Driver: Flash Drive Speed TestTuxera Driver: External Drive Speed TestiMac's Native Write SpeedParagon NTFS for Mac Write SpeedMacBook Pro Native Write Speed
NTFS Pen Drive Speed Test
Tuxera Driver: NTFS Flash Drive Speed Test
iMac's Native Read/Write Speed Test
Paragon NTFS for Mac Read/Write Speed Test MacBook Pro (late 2016)
We were able to copy the movie file on the Kingston drive in 9 minutes and 13 seconds, while the same files took 2 minutes and 27 seconds to copy onto the Seagate drive.
In the Blackmagic Disk Speed test, Paragon NTFS for Mac enabled 9.1MB/s write and 35.2MB/s read speeds on the Kingston pen drive. The Seagate drive showed different speeds: 28.2 MB/s write and 36.5MB/s read speeds. Testing the native read/write speeds of the iMac with the same software gave the following results: 89.5MB/s write and 266.4MB/s read speeds, and this changed to 1321.3MB/s write and 2272.9MB/s read speeds on our MacBook Pro (late 2016). Both the read and writing speeds of the NTFS formatted volume of the MacBook Pro matched that of the native HFS+ of the MacBook Pro’s internal SSD (PCI-E): 1318.2MB/s write and 2397.0MB/s read.
But there’s also an Easter egg that hardcore Mac fans will love: while it is copying a file to the NTFS drive, Finder displays January 24 1984 10:00 as “Date modified”. That was the date Apple co-founder Steve Jobs took to the stage to show off the very first Macintosh in a live demonstration.
Pricing
Paragon NTFS for Mac retails for a flat fee per license per software version. This includes free updates for registered users and free online support for the lifetime of the version. Enabling write access to an NTFS drive will cost you $19.95 for a single Mac license. Buy five, and you’ll get the best value price: only $14.99 per license.
But you don’t have to show the money until you are 100% convinced that this is what you need. Paragon Software offers a 10-day trial (which can be expanded by up to a further five days by sharing the software link with your Facebook friends). Combine this with the 30-day money back guarantee and you have plenty of time to make a final decision.
$19.95
- All features
- For 1 Mac Only
- 30-day money back guarantee
- –
$49.95
- All features
- For 3 Macs
- 30-day money back guarantee
- –
$74.95
- All features
- For 5 Macs
- 30-day money back guarantee
- –
Also, if you already own a previous version of Paragon NTFS for Mac, there are a few upgrade options available:
- Owners of a commercial license of Paragon NTFS for Mac (not a free upgrade license) receive a Free upgrade to the next version of NTFS for Mac.
- Owners of a Free Upgrade license of Paragon NTFS for Mac receive 50% discount on the license price.
- If you own a version that’s two versions older than the current one, you’ll get 30% off on the license price when upgrading.
- User-friendly client
- Deep, effective cleaning options
- Versatile, user-oriented customer support
- 30-day money back guarantee
- Full review…
- Personalized, remote assistance
- Unique optimization tools
- Anti-theft tracking
- Built-in antivirus
- Full review…
- Fast scanning
- User-friendly UI
- Virus and malware scan
- Great cleaning features
- Full review…
Paragon Software accepts credit card payments from all of the major payment networks, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB, as well as PayPal and wire transfer.
Customer Service
If you have any questions related to activation, the software’s features, or you just want to submit your feedback, then there are a few options available: in-app contact, a support forum and a knowledge base. Paragon Software recommends creating a MyParagon account to register the product and receive support via the forum. For activation-related issues, you can contact customer support by clicking in the top-left of the app and selecting “Contact Support”. As you hit the “Send Feedback” button, the backend system will create a ticket for your issue, which you can view online in your MyParagon account. Just don’t expect a speedy response.
Customer Support Requests Listed in MyParagon Account
Also, you can always turn to the support forums with your question, or read the knowledge base for frequently asked questions. Paragon also offers remote support: using TeamViewer a support engineer will connect to your computer to fix the problem manually or to collect data.
Bottom Line
Is Paragon NTFS for Mac worth the price? Definitely. Anyone using Boot Camp or dual boot on their Mac (macOS and Windows) will find this software useful. Also, for those dealing with NTFS-formatted volumes frequently, this driver is a worthy purchase since it allows communication between the two platforms. While the slow write speed would benefit from being improved by Paragon Software, it is something that can be lived with, especially when considering that the competing Tuxera software offers no better writing speeds. Without this type of software you cannot write on an NTFS volume on Mac, meaning it will be almost necessary in these situations. And if Paragon deals with the enable/disable NTFS driver bug, it will be reliable software for regular daily use.
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Utilities • Sept.15, 2020
Most of the time, people don’t like to combine Microsoft and Apple products. Even though these two companies have been rivals from decades ago – they’re still on the top, and the choice is a hard one to make.
But many people try to juggle between these two choices and get the best of both worlds. And if that’s you, you’ve probably needed to write files on Microsoft’s NTFS drive.
But is that even possible?
Well, truth to be told – it takes a bit of patience and research. However, it’s very much possible.
In the post down below, you’ll be able to find out everything you need to know about NTFS format, how to use it properly, and even what apps could you use on Mac to write files directly to the NTFS’s drive.
What is Microsoft NTFS for Mac?
NTFS stands for an NT File System which is a file system developed by Microsoft. If you have used the Windows operating system by any chance, you could notice that NTFS is a default file system in Windows.
But why is this important for Mac?
As we have mentioned earlier – if you have been trying to get the best of both worlds (Microsoft and Apple), you would come across the time when you’d want to transfer some files from Mac to a hard drive that’s using Microsoft’s NTFS format. It’s also great when transferring files from Windows to Mac directly.
Microsoft NTFS for Mac is a term for apps that make this possible, and without them – it would be impossible to read & write information from the Mac system to a hard drive that uses Windows format.
And if you’d like to do this type of a file transfer – you would need one of these apps that will help you transfer files from a Mac system to an external hard drive that’s formatted by NTFS file system. Even though the transfer is the time when you occur this problem the most – you can also come across this problem when you’re copying, moving, or deleting files on Microsoft NTFS volumes directly from Mac.
Who Should Get an NTFS for Mac?
If you’ve ever tried transferring files from your Mac to an external drive – you’d know that you’ve come across a problem when the data couldn’t be written to the disk.
Even if you didn’t realize it yet – you’re someone who should get an NTFS for Mac app that will help make this file transfer possible if you’re a Mac user. Therefore, this app is aimed at Mac users because the Mac operating system doesn’t use the NTFS system.
You might not even be a fan of Windows OS, and yet if someone hands you an external drive for you to transfer some files on there – you’d still need an NTFS for Mac app to make this happen.
Therefore, this type of app is suitable for almost everyone who uses a Mac and often shares files “offline”, by connecting external hard drives or USB sticks.
How We Tested and Picked the Microsoft NTFS for Mac?
The winners have to include all three aspects of the criteria:
Ease of Use
It’s important that you can quickly drag and drop files so an app that is easy to use and has a simple-to-understand interface is a must.
Efficiency
Snappy results in just seconds is important so the efficiency of the apps includes the installation process, loading speeds, and its size in general.
Compatibility
Most of these apps also support other file systems and if you’ve experienced a problem with NTFS files transfer on your Mac – you never know when you might experience issues with different formats in the future.
Therefore, we look for apps that can help you handle other formats that you might come across, such as exFAT. However, we also pay attention that these apps can handle both NTFS and Mac-specific formats such as APFS (Apple File System).
Microsoft NTFS for Mac We Recommend
We did our research based on the factors we’ve previously mentioned and explained, but we also went a bit further to give these apps a thorough try, so we were able to narrow our choice down to top 3 of them.
This way, you know you’ll be using the best possible apps that are made to deal with this type of a problem and solve it for you in no time. We are pretty sure that at least one app will fit your needs.
Disclosure: We sometimes use affiliate links which means that, at zero cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy something through our links.
1. Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software (our top pick)
Paragon Software has one of the most efficient and easiest to use apps when it comes down to Microsoft NTFS for Mac. It’s an app that makes life easier for Mac users that need help with transferring files or directly managing Windows files on Mac without getting the writing/reading file error.
The truth is that Apple has limited support for Windows files – and sometimes, you can’t avoid having these two worlds collide. However, Paragon Software serves as a bridge between these two types of files (and companies).
It’s very simple to install and use, and yet all the most important functions are just a couple of clicks away.
The unlimited read/write support works with all types of external drives, and it even works with SSD drives. Paragon Software knows the struggle of Mac users when it comes down to this problem – so they ensured that Mac users never have any similar conflict that’s related to this issue.
They offer unlimited support for a couple of Mac OS releases and once you install the app, restart your Mac, and connect the external drive – you’re ready to go.
In the simple and yet very efficient drop-down menu, Paragon Software shows all connected drives and gives you more information about them. Once you open the drive – you just have to transfer the files by dragging and dropping them in (just like you would usually do).
In the background, Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software does everything for you. So as long as you keep the app running and you access the drive through Paragon Software – you won’t have to think about any other thing.
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software costs $22.34 USD (one-time payment), but it also has a free trial version.
Pros
- Unlimited support
- Quick and simple interface
- Fast read/write speeds
Cons
- Works only with OSX 10.8 and later
2. Microsoft NTFS for Mac by iBoySoft
iBoySoft is a pretty lightweight NTFS program for Mac that can be easily downloaded and it runs every time you start your Mac. Since it’s a lightweight app, it runs in the background easily, and this comes with perks.
Every time you connect an NTFS external drive to your Mac, iBoySoft app recognizes it, and it mounts it automatically through the app. This way, you won’t have to encounter this problem ever again, and yet you won’t have to think twice before dragging & dropping files to an attached drive either.
This Microsoft NTFS for Mac app does it all for you – which is just one more reason why it is one of only 3 of the best apps for this post. Even if you had no idea why such a problem occurs, all you would need to do is install iBoySoft – and the app would take it from there.
Another thing that is great about iBoySoft is that it can manage NTFS drives and partitions, as well as write and read files – which is as important.
It’s free to use for the first seven days, which is more than enough time to try this app out and see if it solves all of your issues.
However, Microsoft NTFS for Mac by iBoySoft will cost you $19.95 (one-time payment) and it’s also available on Setapp as well.
Pros
- Simple user interface
- Customizable preferences
- The ability to work as a disk manager
Cons
- Support could be improved
3. Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Tuxera
Tuxera is one of the quickest Microsoft NTFS for Mac apps and yet it’s also as reliable as the other two options above. It’s an app that is, like the other two apps, very light which allows it to run in the background effortlessly.
What we like is that it fits both beginners who have no idea about NTFS files or file transfers. But it’s also suitable for advanced users since it comes with advanced features such as extended NTFS attributes, ability to format NTFS drives, and even repair NTFS drives and partitions.
Most users will notice the quick execution by Tuxera, and with the increased security – there’s also one more thing where Tuxera excels. It’s the ability to help and prevent file loss even before the error happens. It can preserve files in various cases such as power cut without damaging the drive itself.
Therefore, Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Tuxera does the job brilliantly. Still, it is as good as dealing with the information, preventing the file loss, or drive damage as well which makes it a great all-in-one app for users who just want to solve the issue or improve the way they transfer files and use external hard drives.
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Tuxera costs $17 (one-time payment).
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Decent read/write speeds
- Easy installation
Cons
- Bulk transfers are done at lower speeds and take a bit longer
Other Candidates
Fuse for Mac
Fuse for Mac is the best app if you’re dealing with endless issues, even if you’ve tried some of the apps listed above.
The reason for this is that Fuse (also known as OSXFuse) has the ability to extend the system file capabilities in order to allow you to freely use third party files (such as Windows’ NTFS type).
And if you’ve already been using the similar version known as MacFUSE – you should know that this is the maintained and newer version while MacFUSE is no longer receiving the system support so it won’t work with newer Mac OS’s.
Fuse for Mac is a very light app that’s easy to download online and it only takes seconds to install. It’s constantly updated so it’s always working with the latest Mac OS software and once you turn on your Mac, you’ll automatically be able to work with third-party file types.
It’s a pretty convenient app which doesn’t require you to do anything after the installation. Therefore, we highly recommend it to people who aren’t the most technical people when it comes down to the Mac OS and file systems.
There isn’t even any interface yet it’s an app that only works in the background and helps you get work done.
Fuse for Mac is free to download since it’s based on an open-library type of code.
Tarjeta de apple store. Pros
- Very stable app
- Is free
- Runs in the background the whole time
Cons
- Doesn’t have an interface
NTFS Assistant Pro
NTFS Assistant Pro is an effective app that can display all external NTFS drives in one list so you can have a clear look on the drives and their types.
This way, you can quickly see the type of each drive, but this app also adds the ability to fully write/read the files between the Mac OS and the drive.
Ntfs Software For Mac Free
The installation process is very simple as it’s a fairly lightweight app, and yet the interface is very interactive and simple.
Ntfs For Mac Download
You can see the NTFS Assistant Pro icon at the top task bar for quick access, and what we like the most is that you can run or close the app per needs so it’s not running in the background when you don’t use it at all.
However, you can also set the app to run with your Mac so you’ll always be ready to work with NTFS files – the choice is up to you.
There is also a free NTFS Assistant version, and the main difference between the free and paid Pro version is the faster file processing speed.
NTFS Assistant Pro costs $9.99.
Pros
- Easy to use
- The cheapest choice on the market
- Simple and interactive interface
Cons
- NTFS Assistant Helper requires additional installation after the app is already installed
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NTFS work on Mac?
NTFS is a format that isn’t supported by Mac since it’s a format type that is made by Microsoft and is used in its Windows operating system. However, even when you want to transfer files to an external hard drive that has been formatted on a Windows computer – the issues will occur as Mac can’t write on a format type that they don’t support.
However, with these apps, you can easily bridge these two operating systems and efficiently use an external drive on both operating systems.
In the upcoming Mac OS Big Sur, there will be a feature integrated into the system that will allow easier read-write capability. This will eliminate the need for these apps as it will provide a less riskier option to transfer NTFS data to Mac without having to manually convert the files.
On the other hand, these apps are still very valuable, especially for people who aren’t thinking of upgrading to Big Sur OS as soon as it hits the market.
What is an NTFS driver for Mac?
NTFS driver for Mac is a driver that helps the Mac system recognize the NTFS format and efficiently work with it. By default, Mac can only read NTFS files, but it can’t change NTFS files (write or rewrite files NTFS files).
Therefore, it’s something these apps consist of so you don’t have to install a driver manually. It allows users to quickly establish a lightweight Microsoft NTFS for Mac app and continue transferring files with the app (driver) working in the background.
Do I need NTFS for Mac?
Mac can read NTFS formatted files, so you don’t need the NTFS app to read the data. But if you wish to make changes to NTFS files or drives that are formatted with NTFS format – you would need an app on Mac that will help your Mac “learn” how to write NTFS files (transfer them and manage them).
What is better – an exFAT, NTFS or APFS format?
The exFAT format is supported by more devices than NTFS is and when it comes down to Mac – exFAT is always a better option. exFAT is one of the formats available within Mac’s Disk Utility so you won’t have problems reading & writing files as you do have with NTFS.
Formatting drives on Windows using exFAT format is another great way to save yourself from trouble when using the same drive on a Mac computer.
And if you’re a Mac user with a High Sierra or higher version, you’d notice that your Mac has APFS format. This type of format is Apple’s format deployed and is best compared to Windows’ NTFS format.
The reason Apple introduced this file type is probably connected with the later introduction of a feature in the Big Sur OS that helps automate the conversion between Windows and Mac files. So if you’re a Mac user, APFS format is the best format to use.
Conclusion
NTFS can confuse many people, especially Mac users who don’t usually have the chance to come across this format type. However, it’s just another format type that’s often used by Windows since it’s a format created by Microsoft.
Ntfs For Mac Free
As you automatically format any external drive using Windows, most of the time, NTFS will be the recommended format for this. But when you connect this drive to a Mac or any other computer that doesn’t have the driver (the ability) to work with this type of a format – you will come across a problem.
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Mac Ntfs Software
However, with a simple app such as one of the three choices we’ve reviewed in this post – you won’t encounter this problem ever again. On the bright side, there aren’t any bigger problems associated with formats, so you have nothing to worry about!