Home > Questions

[Fixes] How Do I Make NTFS Format for Partitions in Mac Disk Utility?

Hi, how would I format an external hard drive partition to NTFS for Windows on Mac? There's no option in the Disk Utility. There are only MS-DOS ( FAT ) , exFAT, free space, Mac OS extended- journaled, Mac OS extended, and journaled case sensitive. The other partition would be Mac OS Extended. Does it have something to do with the partition scheme? I'm running OS X Mountain Lion.

Best Answered by

iBoysoft author Sherry Song

Sherry Song

Answered on Friday, June 14, 2024

Hello, according to your case, OS X can't format or write to NTFS formatted drives in Disk Utility but Terminal can. 

Method 1: Format it to NTFS with Terminal.

But Terminal needs you to type the correct commands to accomplish the whole task. Pay much attention to it.

  1. Open Terminal, type diskutil list.
  2. Type diskutil eraseDisk NTFS LABEL /dev/diskx
    (Replace LABEL with the new name and replace diskx with the right disk identifier)

Terminal is difficult and challenging and it may show "Formatting is not supported by: NTFS ntfs windows NT file system (NTFS)", why not try other easy and useful ways?

Method 2: Use the NTFS driver for Mac like iBoysoft NTFS for Mac

This tool adds the Windows NTFS option to Disk Utility, allowing you to format all drives to NTFS within Disk Utility.

  1. Free download, install, and open it.
  2. Plug your drive which needs to get NTFS format partition on Mac.
  3. Find and select the drive in the left menu > Click Erase to NTFS.

Method 3: Format the drive to exFAT or FAT32 on Windows, which can be written and read on Mac.

You are suggested to use the Method2, because you can format the drive to NTFS on Mac directly in Disk Utility, which is your original wish.

Also read: How to format Drive to NTFS on Mac and Format NTFS Drive?

People Also Ask

Read More Questions

Read More Advice From iBoysoft's Computer Experts

formatieren Sie das Laufwerk auf NTFS auf dem Mac

[Gelöst] Wie formatiere ich ein Laufwerk auf NTFS auf dem Mac?

In diesem Beitrag werden zwei Möglichkeiten zur Formatierung eines Laufwerks auf NTFS auf dem Mac vorgestellt. Die eine ist die Verwendung von Terminal, um Befehle auszuführen, und die andere ist die

ntfs für mac tipps

Fix the error saying couldnt open disk 69879

Fix 'Couldn't open disk 69879' When Erase Process Has Failed

Getting 'Unmounting disk. Couldn't open disk. : (-69879)' when erasing a drive on Mac? Learn how to fix it on your internal and external drive in this post.

How to Tips

How to Fix File Is Too Large for the Volumes Format

How to Fix File Is Too Large for the Volume’s Format [Windows & Mac]

If you encounter 'The item can’t be copied because it is too large for the volume’s format' message when saving files to your USB, read this post to know how to fix too large for the volume's format.

How to Tips