Home > Questions

How to Fix that I Can't Write to External Drives on Mac?

I have an external drive that I back up my 2010 photos. When I connect the drive, I can see it and do almost anything except write to it. If I right-click and choose Get Info, it says that "you can only read" under sharing and permissions. I'm not 100% sure that I used this same iMac to create the last backup at the end of 2009, but it has always been with an iMac. I feel like a doofus because I feel that I'm totally missing the obvious, but nonetheless, I'll ask the question: What do I need to do to be able to write to it?

Best Answered by

iBoysoft author Sherry Song

Sherry Song

Answered on Monday, April 29, 2024

Hello, glad to help you, here are my suggestions, you can follow:

(1) Check the file system in Disk Utility. If its file system is Windows NTFS, you need to use some tools to enable Mac to write it, because Mac can't write an NTFS-formatted drive. iBoysoft NTFS for Mac is a good choice to try, which can provide seamless read-and-write functionality for the NTFS drives on Mac.

 Download

iBoysoft NTFS for Mac

Rating:4.8

     

(2)Change the permissions. In the Sharing & Permission section, change the Read only to Read & Write, click the yellow padlock then enter your password.

(3)Enable Ignore ownership on this volume.

(4)Check the eternal hard drive's free space. If there isn't enough space, delete some unimportant files.

(5)Repair it with Disk Utility First Aid.

(6)Format the drive on Mac. Pay attention to backup your data before this process.

Hope you can use your drive normally as before.

Also read: Can't Write to External Hard Drive on Mac

People Also Ask

What is the best solution for using NTFS drive on M1 Mac?

If you want to read and write to NTFS drives on M1 Mac, check out this thread to read about the best NTFS for Mac solution.

iBoysoft author Jenny ZengJenny Zeng

The USB stick becomes read-only suddenly and can't be erased

If you encounter the issue that a USB stick becomes read-only suddenly and can't be erased on Mac, you can read this thread to get the solutions.

iBoysoft author Amanda WongAmanda Wong

Can't Write to New/Writable USB Drive - Read-only Permission

If you cannot write to USB drives (Read-only permissions), get fixes from this post to make the USB drive writable.

iBoysoft author Connie YangConnie Yang

NTFS drives not mounting after updating on Mac error 49221

Is your NTFS drive failing to mount in Disk Utility after a macOS update? Learn how to mount your NTFS drives on Mac without com.apple.DiskManagement.disenter error 49221.

iBoysoft author Jenny ZengJenny Zeng

How To Fix Mac Doesn't Have Access To An External Hard Drive

This post tells you how to fix a Mac doesn't have access to the external hard drive.

iBoysoft author Vain RoweVain Rowe

Read More Questions

Read More Advice From iBoysoft's Computer Experts

How to use NTFS on M1 Mac

NTFS for Mac M1/M2/M3: Read/Write NTFS on Apple Silicon Mac

Want to read & write to NTFS drive on Mac M1/M2/M3? This article explains 3 ways to use NTFS drive on M3/M2/M1 MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and desktop Mac.

NTFS for Mac Tips

Reset Paragon NTFS for Mac trial period

How to reset Paragon NTFS for Mac trial period that has expired?

Reset or extend Paragon NTFS for Mac trial period when it is expired, using NTFS for Mac free trial to read and write NTFS drive on macOS Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey and older macOS versions.

NTFS for Mac Tips

NTFS for Mac not working on macOS Sonoma

NTFS for Mac Not Working on macOS Sonoma, What to Do?

This post tells why your NTFS for Mac not working after updating to macOS Sonoma and how to make it workable to enable you to write to NTFS drives.

NTFS for Mac Tips