NTFS on Mac: Read-Only Drive Guide & File Checker – NTFSTool

Mac can't write to your NTFS drive? Learn why, see your options, and check file names and sizes before you copy. Runs offline.

Drive read-only on macOS, or files refuse to copy onto a Windows-formatted drive? Here is why it happens and what you can do. macOS can read NTFS drives but cannot write to them by default. So copying onto the drive from a Mac fails, or the drive shows as read-only, even when your files are fine. What this extension does • Explains the problem in plain words and shows the two common ways out: reformat the drive as exFAT (works on macOS and Windows, but erases the drive), or use a separate driver app for Mac such as NTFSTool. • Checks a folder before you copy: choose a folder and a drive format (NTFS, exFAT or FAT32) and see every file name, path or size that would fail. • Helps you avoid errors like "The file is too large for the destination file system" (Windows), "The item can't be copied because it is too large for the volume's format" (macOS), and "The file name is invalid" or illegal characters in file names. • Flags macOS system files (.DS_Store and ._ files) that a Windows drive does not need. How to use it 1. Click the toolbar icon. 2. Choose a folder, or click "Try with sample files". 3. Read the result and the tips. Good to know: this extension does not give your computer write access to the drive. It explains, guides and checks files. Writing to the drive needs a separate app. Privacy: everything runs in your browser. The extension needs no permissions, makes no network requests, and reads only file names and sizes, never file content