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How to Fix My NTFS External Drive Does Not Mount after macOS Catalina Security Update?

My NTFS Seagate external drive does not mount after the recent security update for Catalina. I've noticed this is happening with many users. Is there a fix coming?

Best Answered by

iBoysoft author Sherry Song

Sherry Song

Answered on Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Hi, after knowing your case, you should know that Mac can't write to the NTFS-formatted drive, causing some mounting or accessibility issues.

Here are some fixes you can follow:

(1) Try iBoysoft NTFS for Mac. It's one of the best NTFS for Mac mounters, which can open the unmounted NTFS drive on Mac.

(2) Disable or uninstall third-party antivirus/VPN.

(3) Check your NTFS drive is well-powered.

(4) Use a different USB cable or port.

(5) Adjust the Finder settings. Finder > Settings > General > Tick the External disks > Sidebar > Tick the External disks.

(6) Format the NTFS drive on Mac. But this way will erase all the data, so do a backup before this.

Hope you can mount it normally. 

Also read: NTFS External Drives Not Mounting on Mac

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