Use an NTFS drive on Mac without erasing it
Copy files from a Windows drive, or choose a way to write to it while keeping its format.
Mac files, drives & backups
Choose a format for your external drive, move files between Mac and Windows, and keep a copy you can restore.
Which drive format?
- APFS
- Mac storage and new Time Machine drives
- exFAT
- Files you edit on both Mac and Windows
- NTFS
- Windows drives you can usually read on Mac
External drive guides
exFAT vs APFS vs NTFS
Pick a format for a shared drive, a Mac-only SSD or a Time Machine backup.