Fixing Seagate External Hard Drive Read Only on Mac

Seagate is one of the most popular choices for external storage, offering high capacity and reliability. However, many users encounter a common roadblock: the Seagate external hard drive read only Mac issue. You can see your files and open them, but you cannot delete, edit, or move any data to the drive.

This problem typically arises due to file system incompatibilities or restricted permission settings. In this article, we will explore the most effective ways to fix Seagate external hard drive read-only on Mac so you can regain full control of your data.

Why Your Seagate External Hard Drive Read Only on Mac?

Knowing why the Seagate drive has become read-only is vital. That way, you can apply the best solution.

1. Drive Permission Settings

Mac offers users to determine who can access what file or data on the system. These include external hard drives as well. You might have forgotten to change the external drive permission.

2. NTFS-Based Hard Drives

In most cases, the cause of the read-only situation is the pre-formatting of the drive to NTFS. Manufacturers often pre-format the drive to the NTFS or the Windows file system. But Mac can only read NTFS drives. That is why the write actions on Mac don't work.

Besides, Users can only read data if an NTFS-based Seagate hard drive is connected to Mac. You cannot make any changes.

3 Ways to Fix Seagate External Hard Drive Read-only on Mac

Here we offer you 3 methods for how to fix Seagate external hard drive read-only on Mac.

1. Change Permissions to Change Seagate From Read Only

Sometimes, the reason an external hard drive is read only on Mac isn't the file system, but a simple software setting within mac OS. Mac OS allows users to set specific permissions for external volumes to protect data from unauthorized changes.

If your Seagate drive is formatted in a Mac-compatible format (like APFS or HFS+) but remains restricted, follow these steps to adjust the permissions:

Step 1. Connect your Seagate drive to your Mac. Right-click the drive icon on your desktop or in Finder and select Get Info.

Step 2. Scroll down to the Sharing & Permissions section and click the lock icon to make changes (you will need your admin password).

Step 3. Check the box that says "Ignore ownership on this volume."

Step 4. If that option isn't available, ensure your username is listed under the "Name" column and set the "Privilege" to Read & Write.

Step 5. Enter the admin password.

Step 6. Tickmark the box Ignore ownership on this volume.

Step 7. Press the gear button.

Step 8. Select Apply to enclosed items.

2. Use PartitionAssistant NTFS for Mac for Full Access

The most frequent cause for an external hard drive showing as read only on Mac is that the drive is formatted in NTFS. NTFS is the primary file system for Windows, and while mac OS can read these files, it cannot write to them natively. To bridge this gap without formatting your drive, you need a professional utility.

PartitionAssistant NTFS for Mac is a specialized tool designed to provide a seamless bridge between Windows-formatted drives and mac OS. This software allows users to read, write, delete, rename, and move files on NTFS drives directly within the mac OS environment.

This software is built for the modern Mac ecosystem. It supports a wide array of storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, USB flash drives, SD cards, and even CF cards. Whether your drive uses the oldest Windows NT 3.1 format or the latest Windows 11 NTFS version, PartitionAssistant handles it effortlessly. Furthermore, it is fully compatible with mac OS 12 and later, running natively on both Intel processors and the latest Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) chips.

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Step 1. You can install and run PartitionAssistant NTFS for Mac and connect your Seagate external hard drive.

Step 2. Your Seagate external hard drive will be mounted and listed in the window. Now, click "Enable Writable" to set the permission. 

Now your Seagate external hard drive will show as "Read & Write". You can modify your data files now.

3. Use Terminal to Change Seagate From Read Only

You can use Terminal to change the Seagate drive from read-only.

Step 1. Open Terminal. For that, click on Go from the Finder menu. A drop-down will appear, choose Utilities and find the Terminal app.

Step 2. Type nano etc/fstab.

Step 3. Type LABEL=DRIVENAME none ntfs rw, auto,nobrowse. Make sure to change DRIVENAME with the drive name where you want to change permission settings.

Step 4. Press Control and O keys to save the file.

Step 5. After that, press Control and X keys to close Nano.

Step 6. Disconnect the drive.

Step 7. Reconnect it again.

Step 8. Now check and see if the issue is resolved.

To Sum up

Dealing with a Seagate external hard drive read only Mac issue can be frustrating, but it is easily solvable. Whether you choose to adjust permission settings, use the powerful PartitionAssistant NTFS for Mac to gain full Read/Write access to NTFS volumes, or format the drive to a new file system, you can quickly get back to work. For most users, using a professional NTFS tool is the best path forward as it preserves existing data while providing the convenience of cross-platform compatibility.

FAQs

1. Why is my Seagate external hard drive showing as read only on Mac?

The most common reason is that the drive is formatted in NTFS, which is a Windows-native file system. macOS can view the files on an NTFS drive but cannot modify or add to them without a third-party driver like PartitionAssistant.

2. Can I change an NTFS drive to Read/Write without formatting?

Yes. By using PartitionAssistant NTFS for Mac, you can enable full Read/Write access on your Seagate drive without erasing any of your current files. It is the safest way to manage Windows-formatted drives on a Mac.

3. Does PartitionAssistant NTFS for Mac work on the new MacBook Pro with M2?

Absolutely. The software is fully optimized for Apple Silicon, including M1 and M2 chips, and supports macOS 12 Monterey, macOS 13 Ventura, and later versions.

4. Is exFAT a good choice for a Seagate drive on Mac?

Yes, exFAT is an excellent choice if you frequently move the drive between Windows and Mac computers, as both operating systems can read and write to exFAT naturally. However, for Mac-only use, APFS is generally faster and more reliable.

5. What should I do if the "Ignore ownership" box is missing?

If this option is missing, it usually means the drive is formatted in a system that doesn't support Mac permissions, like NTFS. In this case, you should use PartitionAssistant to mount the drive with write permissions or reformat the drive to a Mac-compatible format.