Fix External Hard Drive Read-Only on macOS Tahoe 26

PAGE CONTENT:

External hard drives are essential for backups, file transfers, and additional storage. However, many Mac users upgrading to macOS Tahoe 26 face an annoying problem: their external hard drives suddenly become read-only, meaning you can open files but can't modify, delete, or save new data on the drive.

If you're dealing with a read-only external hard drive on macOS Tahoe 26, you're not alone. This guide explains the common causes, detailed solutions, and preventive tips to help you fix the issue and regain full control over your storage device.

Why is Your External Hard Drive Read-Only on macOS Tahoe 26?

The "read-only" problem can happen for several reasons, and understanding the root cause is critical before applying a solution. Here are the most common reasons external hard drives appear read-only on macOS Tahoe 26:

1. File System Incompatibility (NTFS Drives)

The most frequent cause is the drive being formatted with a file system not natively supported by macOS for full read-write access. For example:

• NTFS (New Technology File System) is commonly used for Windows drives.
• macOS allows reading NTFS drives but restricts writing unless third-party NTFS for Mac drivers are installed.

2. Permission Restrictions

Your Mac applies security settings that control who can read or write to connected drives. Sometimes, these permissions default to read-only, especially after system updates or connecting the drive to multiple machines.

3. Drive Errors or Corruption

If your external hard drive has errors or corruption, macOS may automatically restrict it to read-only to prevent further damage or data loss.

4. Write Protection Enabled

Some external drives come with a physical write-protection switch, while others may have software-based write protection enabled, making them read-only.

5. Security Enhancements in macOS Tahoe 26

The latest macOS versions, including Tahoe 26, implement stricter security and privacy controls, affecting how external devices interact with your system. These settings can sometimes flag older drives as untrusted or restrict write permissions.

How to Confirm If Your External Hard Drive is Read-Only?

Before jumping into solutions, it's essential to verify the drive's current state:

Method 1: Using Finder

1. Connect the external hard drive to your Mac.
2. Open Finder and locate the drive under "Locations."
3. Right click the drive and select Get Info.

4. Check Sharing & Permissions. If you find the information like "You can only read," the issue is confirmed.

Method 2: Using Disk Utility

1. Open Disk Utility via Applications from Utilities.
2. Select your external drive and click Info.
3. Check the "File System" and "Writable" status. If it's formatted as NTFS or shows writable status as No, that's likely the cause.

Method 3: Terminal Command

Open Terminal and type:

diskutil info /Volumes/YourDriveName

Look for:

• File System: Shows format (e.g., NTFS, exFAT, APFS)
• Media Read-Only: Indicates if hardware protection is enabled
• Volume Read-Only: Confirms if the volume is in read-only mode

Solutions to Fix External Hard Drive Read-Only on macOS Tahoe 26

Depending on the cause, here are step-by-step solutions to resolve the read-only issue:

Method 1. Check File System Compatibility

NTFS Drives

macOS Tahoe 26 only provides read-only support for NTFS-formatted drives. You can:

• Use third-party NTFS for macOS drivers for full access (details below).
• Reformat the drive to a compatible format like exFAT, APFS, or HFS+, depending on your needs.

exFAT is ideal if you need cross-platform compatibility with Windows and Mac.

How to Check File System

1. Open Disk Utility.
2. Select the drive and review its format.
3. If it's NTFS, proceed to the next steps.

Method 2. Change Drive Permissions

If your drive is in a compatible format but still read-only::

1. Right-click the drive icon in Finder.
2. Select Get Info.
3. Scroll to Sharing & Permissions.
4. Ensure your user account has Read & Write access.
5. If locked, click the lock icon, enter your admin password, and adjust permissions.

Sometimes, the Ignore ownership on this volume option is helpful for external drives.

Method 3. Disable External Drive Write Protection

Check if your drive has a physical switch. If so, toggle it to the unlocked position.

For software write protection. use the Terminal command:

sudo chmod -R u+rw /Volumes/YourDriveName

This grants read-write access to the current user.

💡 Note: Be cautious with system files, and only modify known drives.

Method 4. Use NTFS for Mac Software

If your external hard drive is formatted as NTFS (New Technology File System), macOS — including the latest Tahoe 26 version — offers only read-only support by default. This limitation exists because NTFS is a proprietary Microsoft file system primarily designed for Windows.

While macOS can open and read files on NTFS drives, you won't be able to:

• Copy files to the drive
• Edit files stored on the drive directly
• Delete files from the NTFS drive

To bypass this limitation without reformatting the drive (especially when you need to maintain cross-platform compatibility or preserve existing data), you can install third-party Microsoft NTFS drivers for macOS. These drivers enable full read and write access to NTFS-formatted drives smoothly.

Popular Options:

Here are some of the most reliable, widely-used NTFS drivers for macOS, tested for compatibility with macOS Tahoe 26:

1. Donemax NTFS for Mac

Features:

• Full read-write access to NTFS drives on Mac
• Fast data transfer speeds comparable to native Mac file systems
• Supports latest macOS Tahoe 26
• Automatic mounting of NTFS drives at startup
• User-friendly interface and easy interactions

2. Tuxera NTFS for Mac

Features:

• Read-write access to NTFS drives
• Disk checking and repair tools included
• Supports latest macOS versions
• Slightly more technical installation process than Donemax

3. Mounty for NTFS (Free Option)

Features:

• Free, lightweight NTFS write enabler for macOS
• Uses Apple's native NTFS support with additional tweaks
• Allows basic read-write access

How to Install and Use a Windows NTFS for Mac Driver

Here's how you can quickly set up Donemax NTFS for Mac as an example:

Step 1. Visit Donemax Software's official website. Download the latest version compatible with macOS Tahoe 26.

Step 2. Install the software by following on-screen instructions. Restart your Mac if prompted.

Step 3. Connect your NTFS external hard drive. Select the drive in the software and click Enable Writable button. The drive should now appear with full read-write functionality in Finder.

When to Use NTFS Drivers

Opt for NTFS drivers if:

• You frequently transfer files between Mac and Windows computers
• You need to modify existing NTFS-formatted drives without reformatting
• Reformatting would result in data loss or is not practical

💡 Note: If you use the external drive exclusively with macOS, consider reformatting to APFS or HFS+ for better performance and native compatibility.

Important Considerations with NTFS Drivers

• Compatibility: Always confirm that the driver version supports macOS Tahoe 26, especially after system updates.
• Data Safety: Use reliable drivers from reputable sources to avoid corruption or data loss.
• Performance: Paid drivers like Paragon offer optimized performance, while free tools may suffice for occasional use but with slower speeds.

Method 5. Repair Disk Using Disk Utility

Drive errors can force macOS to restrict access. Repairing the disk may solve the issue:

1. Open Disk Utility.
2. Select the external drive.
3. Click First Aid > Run.
4. Let the tool scan and repair minor errors.

If repairs are successful, try accessing the drive again.

Method 6. Format the Drive to a Compatible File System

If you have backups or don't mind erasing the drive, formatting it resolves file system and permission issues:

Recommended Formats:

• APFS: Optimized for macOS (macOS 10.13 or later)
• HFS+: Older Mac systems, Time Machine compatible
• exFAT: For use with both Mac and Windows

Steps to Format external hard drive on macOS Tahoe 26:

1. Backup important data elsewhere.
2. Open Disk Utility.
3. Select the external drive.
4. Click Erase, choose the desired format, and click Erase.

🚨 Warning: Formatting erases all existing data.

Data Recovery before Formatting

If your drive is read-only and contains critical data, recover files before reformatting (using Donemax Data Recovery for Mac):

Step 1. Install a recovery tool on your Mac.

Step 2. Connect your external hard drive. Run the software and select the drive.

Step 3. Scan the drive for recoverable files.

Step 4. Preview and recover the necessary files to a safe location.

Once data recovery is complete, you can safely reformat the drive.

Preventive Measures for Future External Drive Issues

After fixing the read-only problem, follow these practices to avoid future complications:

1. Always Eject Drives Properly

• Use Eject in Finder or Disk Utility before disconnecting to prevent corruption.

2. Maintain Regular Backups

• Keep copies of important data elsewhere to avoid loss if drive issues reoccur.

3. Keep macOS and NTFS Drivers Updated

• Install the latest macOS updates and ensure any third-party NTFS drivers support Tahoe 26.

4. Use Compatible File Systems

• For drives used between Windows and Mac, exFAT is the safest option.
• For Mac-exclusive drives, APFS provides optimal performance and security.

5. Monitor Drive Health

• Regularly run First Aid via Disk Utility.
• Use SMART monitoring tools to check for hardware failures.

Conclusion

Facing a read-only external hard drive on macOS Tahoe 26 can be frustrating, but in most cases, it's solvable. Whether it's due to NTFS formatting, permission settings, or macOS security features, the solutions above help restore full read-write access.

Here's a quick recap:

• Check the file system; use exFAT or APFS for compatibility.
• Adjust permissions through Finder.
• Disable write protection physically or via Terminal.
• Install NTFS for Mac drivers if using NTFS drives frequently.
• Repair minor drive errors with Disk Utility.
• Format the drive after recovering essential data.

By following these steps and adopting preventive practices, you can avoid similar external drive issues and ensure smooth, reliable file management on macOS Tahoe 26.