Format the External Drive to FAT32. This method is not very coinvent. Not at least for me. Mac OS X 10.3 and outside have NFTS read capabilities but composing to an NTFS volume wants a third-party program utility such as Paragon NTFS for Mac. There are different hacks and workarounds for NTFS around the Mac, however, in any instance, NTFS is simply semi-compatible using OS X. NTFS on Linux systems is sporadic for both write and read.
NTFS for Mac is macOS Big Sur compatible and already available for Apple Silicon
Full read-write access granted!Microsoft NTFS is one of the primary file systems of Windows. If you work on a Mac computer and need to read or write files from HDD, SSD or a flash drive formatted under Windows, you need Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software.
Write, edit, copy, move and delete files on Microsoft NTFS volumes from your Mac! Fast, seamless, easy to use. Mount, unmount, verify, format or set any of your Microsoft NTFS volumes as a startup drive.
New! Ready for macOS 11.0 Big Sur
Write files to Microsoft NTFS drives on your Mac
Can’t write, copy, edit or delete files on Microsoft NTFS-formatted drives from your Mac? It’s because macOS has limited support for Windows volumes — that is, you can only read data, but can’t write or delete anything. Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software provides blazing fast, unlimited read/write access to Microsoft NTFS hard drives, SSDs or thumb drives formatted for Windows computers!
- A no-brainer upgrade for those installing macOS 10.14 Mojave, Paragon NTFS for Mac remains the best cross-platform utility money can buy, especially now that it plays nice with Apple’s new dark mode.MacWorld US, Editors’ Choice 2018
www.macworld.com - Whether you’re a hardcore Boot Camp user or just need to occasionally write to Windows-formatted media, this update keeps things working at peak performance…MacWorld US, Editors’ Choice 2018
www.macworld.com - Running a Mac and having NTFS formatted external disks, you definitely need NTFS for Mac. It is well priced <…> and enables read and write access to your NTFs drives no matter what size.. The speed at which you can read and write the data on these drives is the best of any competitor if there really is one. Anyone who needs to use Mac and Windows computers, needs this app for easy data transfer. The interface is best of any application found, and the application itself offers additional drive tools for taking full control. The latest version also supports Mojave and APFS format to complete a perfect application. It is without real competition and deserves a full 5 star award. This utility makes your external storage usable on any computer system Windows or Mac. So your data remains interchangeable and is fully adapted for macOS MOJAVE.MacSoftReview
www.macsoftreview.com
September 2018 - Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is a great upgrade to an exceptional cross-platform utility that’s easily worth the money, especially if you own the previous version 14, in which case this one’s free.
The user interface is tastefully designed, with buttons for mounting, unmounting, verifying, or erasing the selected volume. Dual-boot users also have the option to reboot into a compatible mounted Mac or Windows startup volume. There’s even a lovely color-coded space indicator like the one introduced with Mac OS X El Capitan, displaying content by Audio, Video, Apps, Images, and Other categories.MacWorld, USA, August 2017,
macworld.com - Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software, the excellent third-party file system driver that enables writing to Windows-formatted volumes at native speeds.MacWorld, USA, June 2017,
macworld.com - Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is the best such software solution: reliable, fast, and now affordable as well…
Fast, seamless, and easy to use, Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is required for those who need to write to Windows volumes. And now it’s more affordable than ever.MacWorld, USA 2016,
macworld.com - A very specialized product that does its job in a very unobtrusive way. You just install it and it works. When you plug an NTFS disk into your Mac, it just mounts on the desktop like any other disk, and when you copy a file to it, it just works, no muss, no fuss. This utility is also invaluable if you find yourself in a situation where you need to format a disk as NTFS, and it performs this task with an equal lack of dramaApple Press, DVMUG
- Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is an essential installation for anyone working with Macs and PCs, as it helps to break down the barriers that exist between the two operating systemsMac World UK,
macworld.com - It’ll install cleanly and easily on macOS 10.12 Sierra and “just work”, so it’s a good optionHow-to-Geek
- Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software does exactly what we expect from it, by offering a seamless NTFS disk management. It’s good performances even allow working directly on the Windows partition, including for heavy applications such as video or photo processing.mac4ever.com
- WOW….Ive been struggling with the whole MAC/Windows NTFS issue for some time and have a number of external drives that I need to swap between Mac/PC all the time. I’ve always had a headache with NTFS drivers etc. I bought and downloaded your Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software today and WOW. Amazing. Everything just works. Brilliant product. Worth every penny. Thank you.Robinson Philip
- It is pretty fast with NTFS transfers (slightly slower than OSX extended partitions obviously) and I’ve never had any problems mid-transfer or anything. For me, it’s always done what it said on the box, and now with V14 it’s got El Capitan compatibility, so no complaints here. If you’re looking for a way to have plug-and-play NTFS drives on your mac, there really isn’t a better alternative to Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software. Highly recommended for all Mac users!M. Doyle
- If you have a Mac and you need to access volumes that are formatted NTFS, this is the best solution out there. Why Apple hasn’t just baked in support for NTFS after all these years still remains a mystery. I’ve been using Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software for several years now and have never had any problems with it.H. Jaynes
Blazing Fast
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is up to six times faster than any of its closest commercial competitors!
Fully Compatible
Supports macOS Big Sur
and older macOS
See Specifications
and older macOS
See Specifications
Powerful Features
Safe data transfer, hassle-free work, easy to use, seamless user experience
How it Works
Simple as 1-2-3
Install
Download and install Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software onto your Mac.
Done!
Microsoft NTFS volumes connected to your Mac are available in the Finder.
All operations just a click away!
If you need more than just a blazing fast and reliable Microsoft NTFS driver, our lightweight menubar and full-featured Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software apps are always at your service.
Access all of your Microsoft NTFS drives and perform the most common volume operations like mount, unmount and verify.
Quickly restart your Mac in Windows from the menubar (assuming it’s installed on your mounted Microsoft NTFS drive).
Seamless User Experience
If you’ve ever used Apple’s Disk Utility, you already know how to use Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software. If you haven’t, it will only take a few moments to get acquainted.
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software takes the best of Apple’s Disk Utility and moves it to the next level, augmenting Microsoft NTFS volume operations and advanced mount options.
Mounting is entirely under your control with advanced options
Mount in Read-Only: select this option if you need to access sensitive data without modifying any files.
Do not mount automatically: select this option if you want to manually control access to a volume.
Outstanding performance at blazing fast speed
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software
is the fastest file system driver on the market:
is the fastest file system driver on the market:
6x times faster*
than competing solutions
*Tested on 2016 MacBook Pro with SSD drive, view benchmarks here.
Fresh review: check out the video review by European Motion Picture Association.
Latest award: 5-star review of the Mojave-ready edition.
Features
Features | Benefits |
---|---|
Supported Operating Systems |
|
Supported File Systems | All Microsoft NTFS versions are supported (from Windows NT 3.1 to Windows 10). |
Write Access | When a volume is mounted in write mode, you can do everything with the files and folders it contains: read, edit, delete, rename, create new. |
Automount | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software mounts supported volumes automatically at startup, so you don’t need to worry each time you restart the operating system or power your computer on. However, this feature can be disabled at any time in the program interface. |
Volume Management | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software easily formats, checks integrity and repairs corrupted volumes. |
Internationalization | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software supports all alphabets supported by your operating systems, including those that use non-Roman and non-Latin characters, so you will never face the problem of not getting access to file names on volumes mounted in non-native OS. |
Compatible with Apple Boot Camp | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is fully compatible with Apple Boot Camp software and provides direct read and write access to Mac partitions from Windows installed on Boot Camp. |
Compatible with 3rd party software | Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is compatible with popular virtualization and encryption applications including VMware Fusion and Workstation, Parallels Desktop, TrueCrypt and its forks. |
Paragon Technology Center
Want to learn more about the technology behind Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software? Check out the Paragon Technology Portal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Could I try your product for free before buying? | |
| |
I’m a user of a Seagate or Western Digital device with pre-installed NTFS for Mac. How can I get my update? | |
| |
Does it work with macOS 11.0 Big Sur? | |
| |
How can I get the update if I have bought the previous version of Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software? | |
| |
What operations do you mean saying “Full read/write access”? | |
| |
What data transfer rate I will get using Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software? | |
| |
What versions and features of the Microsoft NTFS file system are supported? | |
| |
Is BootCamp supported? | |
| |
What should I do if I have OS X 10.9 but Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software doesn’t support OS older than 10.10? | |
| |
Can I re-activate my license on another Mac? | |
| |
How many times can I re-activate my license? | |
| |
It doesn’t work! My Microsoft NTFS drive is not recognized by macOS, even after installing Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software. | |
| |
I frequently work with NTFS, HFS+, APFS-formatted partitions on my Mac and Windows PC. Can I get a discount, if I buy all drivers at once? | |
|
Ensure multi-platform access - activate required file system drivers based on your IT park, regardless of OS, in any proportion.
Resources
Current Version | Download Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software |
Product Documentation | Download Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software One Pager |
Need help? | Contact Support or file a support ticket |
Latest review | European Motion Picture Association (EURMPA) reviews Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software. Watch the videos! |
NTFS for Mac build for Apple Silicon
Apple has announced a two-year transition to ARM-based processors known as “Apple Silicon.” Since the new Apple Silicon-based Mac computers are just around the corner, we proactively took on this project. We are delighted to offer Mac users our new NTFS for Mac build for Apple Silicon, which is available for download below.
This offer may be of particular interest for Developer Transition Kit users. If you currently participate in the Universal App Quick Start Program or are just planning to enroll, right now you can download and begin using the new NTFS for Mac build for Apple Silicon on your DTKs.
Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software speaks
fluently many languages:
English
Deutsch
Русский
Español
Français
Italiano
Čeština
简体中文
繁體中文
한국어
Svenska
Suomi
Magyar
Polski
fluently many languages:
English
Deutsch
Русский
Español
Français
Italiano
Čeština
简体中文
繁體中文
한국어
Svenska
Suomi
Magyar
Polski
NTFS and FAT32 are two types of file systems used in Windows operating system. In the following, you'll learn the differences between NTFS and FAT32, when to use NTFS or FAT32, and how to convert NTFS to FAT32 or vice versa.
PAGE CONTENT:
- Convert NTFS to FAT32 with EaseUS Partition Master
- Change NTFS to FAT32 using Windows File Explorer
- Format NTFS to FAT32 Using Disk Management
- Format NTFS Device to FAT32 via DiskPart
NTFS vs. FAT32, Which Is Better
FAT32 is one of the oldest file system variants of FAT, used in earlier versions of the operating system such as DOS and Windows version before XP. Till now, FAT32 is still serving Windows users as the default format for some external storage devices such as SD memory cards, and USB flash drives.
NTFS is a newer file system after FAT, developed by Microsoft. NTFS, known as NT File System, is the default file system of the Windows NT family, including the latest Windows operating system.
Here is a comparison table between NTFS and FAT32, you can see more details between them:
Features | NTFS | FAT32 |
---|---|---|
Maximum Volume Size |
| 32GB - 2TB |
Maximum File Size | 16TB | 4GB |
Accordingly, FAT32 supports up to 4GB file and 2TB max volume size. In other words, you can only save single files smaller than 4GB to a FAT32 device. NTFS supports up to 16TB single file with 2 - 4 TB volume size in practice.
So which is better? Actually, as two widely used file systems on Windows PC, you can't directly say which one is better and which is not that good.
Due to different purposes, you will need to use a different file system for a Windows partition or external storage device partition, which is something we'll discuss in the next part.
When to Use NTFS or FAT32
Here are two cases that people posted online, looking for a way to convert NTFS to FAT32:
Case 1 -
'The USB Drive is NTFS, but the BIOS file won't be recognized by the computer. To resolve the issue, I need to convert the USB Drive format from NTFS to FAT32.'
Case 2 -
'I wanna back up my system partition and it is an NTFS partition. However, the backup application I use doesn't support NFTS and only FAT is supported. So I need to convert NTFS to FAT32.'
So when do you should use NTFS or FAT32? Here, we listed some common usages of NTFS and FAT32 that can help you to determine whether you need NTFS or FAT32:
- To set the drive for installing Windows, NTFS is the best for Windows 10/8/7 and newer OS. FAT32 is for old OS (Windows XP and older).
- To transfer files on a non-Windows OS, FAT32 is the best choice. (As long as your file sizes are smaller than 4GB.)
- To set the best file system for your external storage device such as USB, SD card, etc, which are smaller than 64GB, FAT32 is the best.
- To set a default file system for most game controllers or game drives, FAT32 is the best. exFAT takes second place.
Obviously, FAT32 is wildly used especially on external storage devices and file transfer. So how to change the file system from NTFS to FAT32?
NTFS to FAT32 Converters Free Download
Here the following, we'll cover 4 FAT32 formatted that will help you effectively convert NTFS to FAT32 with ease.
- Important
- It is recommended that you back up the important data to a secure location in advance as most NTFS to FAT32 converters require formatting.
- You can use free backup software to back up important data.
- #1. Use EaseUS Partition Master - Easy
- #2. Use Windows File Explorer - Easy
- #3. Use Disk Management - Medium
- #4. Use DiskPart Command Prompt - Hard
All the four NTFS to FAT32 converters support all Windows OS, including Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista, etc. The former converter is, the better it works to change the file system of your device.
Pick up the desired tool and follow the tutorial below to convert your device from NTFS to FAT32 with ease now.
Method 1. Convert NTFS to FAT32 with EaseUS Partition Master
Best for: Windows Beginners
Difficulty Level: Extremely easy
Capacity Limit: None
The easiest way is to use a third-party NTFS to the FAT32 format tool. EaseUS partition magic tool can help you do this job easily. It is a powerful tool that allows you to change the file system between NTFS and FAT32.
The software works perfectly in Windows 10, 8, 8.1, 7, XP, and Vista. It does more than simply formatting NTFS device to FAT32. It also supports to:
- Support other file systems, including exFAT, FAT16, Ext2/3/4, etc.
- Supports to Convert FAT/FAT32 to NTFS without formatting, no data loss.
- Supports formatting 64GB/128GB UBS to FAT32 without limit.
- Supports advanced features, including resizing partition, converting a disk to MBR/GPT, transferring OS, etc.
After backing up data, you can start to convert NTFS to FAT32 by formatting your device then. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Launch EaseUS Partition Master, right-click the partition you intend to format and choose 'Format'.
Step 2: In the new window, enter the Partition label, choose the FAT32 file system, and set the cluster size according to your needs, then click 'OK'.
Step 3: Then you will see a warning window, click 'OK' in it to continue.
Step 4: Click the 'Execute Operation' button in the top-left corner to review the changes, then click 'Apply' to start formatting the partition to FAT32.
Method 2. Change NTFS to FAT32 using Windows File Explorer
Best for: Windows Beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Capacity Limit: Device should be 32GB or smaller
As for most Windows users, another easy way to change NTFS to FAT32 is using Windows built-in FAT32 formatter - Windows File Explorer.
It's efficient and easy. Let's see how to format your storage device to FAT32:
Step 1. Connect your hard drive or external storage device to Windows PC.
Step 2. Double-click This PC/My computer to open File Explorer.
Step 3. Locate and right-click on the USB drive, select 'Format'.
Step 4. Set the FAT32 as the target file system, tick 'Quick Format' and click 'Start' to start the formatting.
When you finish the formatting, click 'OK' to confirm. Now, your device is with FAT32.
Method 3. Format NTFS to FAT32 Using Disk Management
Best for: Experienced Windows users
Difficulty Level: Medium
Capacity Limit: Device should be 32GB or smaller
The other method is to use Disk Management. Note that the FAT32 option will be unavailable in the drop-down box if the drive size you desire to format is larger than 32GB (Windows limitation). Also, back up data before your operations.
How can I convert the USB Drive format from NTFS to FAT32?
1. Right-click 'This PC' or 'My Computer' and click 'Manage', click 'Disk Management'.
2. Choose your USB Drive, right click the drive and choose 'Format'. Click 'Yes'.
3.Name the drive and select the file system as 'FAT32'. Click 'OK'.
4. You can find the format is FAT32.
When the formatting completes, you can find the format is FAT32 displaying in Disk Management.
Method 4. Format NTFS Device to FAT32 via DiskPart
Best for: Experienced or advanced users, administrators
Difficulty Level: Hard
Capacity Limit: Device should be 32GB or smaller
Unlike Windows File Explorer and Disk Management, DiskPart does more jobs than merely formatting devices. It also executes some advanced management jobs on Windows and Windows Server machines.
To use the DiskPart command line to change the file system to FAT32, you need to be very careful with the following steps:
Connect the storage device that you need to convert from NTFS to FAT32 to your PC.
Step 1. Type cmd in Windows Search, right-click on Command Prompt and select 'Run as administrator'.
Step 2. Type diskpart into the Command Prompt window and hit Enter.
Step 3. Type the following command lines and hit Enter each time:
- list disk
- select disk 0(Replace 0 with the disk number of your target device)
- list volume
- select volume 2(Replace 2 with the volume number of your device)
- format fs=fat32 quick
Step 4. When the formatting process completes, type exit to close DiskPart.
After this, your device is now with FAT32.
Ntfs Driver For Mac
The Bottom Line
On this page, we explained what is NTFS, what is FAT32, and when to use NTFS or FAT32. As FAT32 obtains higher compatibility, we also provided 4 NTFS to FAT32 converters to help you change the file system of your device from NTFS to FAT32 with ease.
Note that before you convert to FAT32, copy your data to another drive or use backup and recovery software to back up data.
If you prefer an easy and effective FAT32 formatter, especially to format big devices (more than 32GB) to FAT32, EaseUS Partition Master is always ready to help.
People Also Ask
1. Can NTFS convert to fat32?
Yes, you can convert NTFS to fat32. But the common-used Windows built-in tools (Disk Management, Window File Explorer) only allows you to convert NTFS to FAT32 by reformatting this partition. Of course, that will cause data loss. Don't worry, try EaseUS Partition Master without formatting or data loss.
2. Is NTFS better than fat32?
Which is better? Actually, as two widely used file systems on Windows PC, you can't directly say which one is better and which is not that good. FAT32 supports up to 4GB file and 2TB max volume size. In other words, you can only save single files smaller than 4GB to a FAT32 device. NTFS supports up to 16TB single file with 2 - 4 TB volume size in practice.
3. How can I convert NTFS to fat32 without formatting?
Ntfs Or Fat32 For Mac And Windows
- Launch EaseUS Partition Master, right-click the partition you intend to format and choose 'Format'.
- Choose the FAT32 file system, and set the cluster size according to your needs,
- Then click 'OK'.