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[Fixes] How Do I Transfer Files from a Windows External Hard Drive to Mac?

I have a problem that I am just unable to figure out. I have a SimpleTech SimpleDrive external hard drive formatted for Windows. The external drive is 320 GB, which has my old iTunes music files backed up on it, probably from 2012 or so. I know I have songs on this hard drive not part of my current iTunes library. My question is: How do I transfer Windows iTunes files from the SimpleTech Windows-formatted external hard drive to my Mac Sierra laptop? I cannot even "see" any files when I plug in the external drive to my Mac. Thanks for any help.

Best Answered by

iBoysoft author Sherry Song

Sherry Song

Answered on Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Firstly, you should know that:

Mac OS X should be able to read from Windows formatted FAT/FAT32/NTFS drives. But it cannot natively write to NTFS but that shouldn't stop you copying files. 

If you cannot see the files in your drive, check the file system in your Disk Utility.

(1)It is an NTFS external hard drive. Please download professional NTFS drivers for Mac to help you write the drive, iBoysoft NTFS for Mac is a good choice to try.

 Download

iBoysoft NTFS for Mac

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(2)It is not an NTFS drive. You can learn how to fix when I can't see all files on a Mac hard drive.

Hope you succeed in moving them.

Also read: How to Transfer Files from External Hard Drive to Mac?

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