i have a my passport ultra. the file on it were from a PC. i only have a mac now. i want to delete some of the files but it does not appear that i can do that using my mac. can you help me understand how to delete the files
Hi healthyoptions,
If the drive was in windows file system i.e NTFS the files cannot be modified or deleted from the drive using MAC as Mac can only see the drive as Read-only.
Take a backup of the drive and reformat it to HFS+ to use it on Mac.
The issue is that your WD My Passport Ultra is formatted in NTFS (New Technology File System), which is Microsoft’s proprietary file system. By default, macOS can only read NTFS drives and allow you to copy files from them to Mac, but macOS cannot write to them, meaning you cannot delete, modify, or add files. You have two main options to fix this:
Option 1: Use a third-party NTFS driver
If you want to delete files immediately without erasing the rest of the drive, you can install a third-party NTFS driver for Mac. Software like Paragon NTFS for Mac, iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, or Tuxera NTFS for Mac will grant your Mac full write access, allowing you to delete files normally. [ Learn more about how to enable NTFS read-write support on Mac? ]
Option 2: Format the drive to a another format
If you just want to use the drive exclusively on your Mac moving forward and don’t mind erasing everything:
1. Move any files you want to keep from the passport onto your Mac’s internal storage.
2. Open Disk Utility on your Mac (press Command + Space and search for it).
3. Select your WD Passport from the left sidebar.
4. Click Erase at the top.
5. Choose ExFAT if you want to use the drive on both Mac and Windows in the future, or APFS / Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if you only plan to use it on a Mac.
6. Click Erase to format.
You can now move your files back and delete whatever you want.
The primary reason you cannot delete files is that your WD Passport is likely formatted in the Windows NTFS file system. macOS can read files on NTFS drives, but it cannot write to or delete from them natively.
Because the drive is 8 years old, you may have previously used a third-party driver that has since expired or stopped working, reverting the drive to “Read Only” mode. Also read: Fixed!Why Can’t I Delete Files from My USB on Mac?
1. Verify the Drive Format on your MacBook
1. Right-click (or Control + click) the drive icon on your desktop and select Get Info.
2. Look at the Format line:
If it says NTFS, macOS cannot natively modify the files.
If it says Mac OS Extended (Journaled), the drive’s file permissions are locked or corrupted.
2. How to Fix It
• If it is NTFS and you can wipe it: Copy any files you want to keep onto your Mac. Open Disk Utility, select the WD drive, click Erase, and choose ExFAT (works on both Mac and PC) or Mac OS Extended (Mac only) as the new format.
• If it is NTFS and you cannot wipe it: Download a third-party tool like Paragon NTFS for Mac, iBoysoft NTFS for Mac or Tuxera NTFS. These drivers allow macOS to write to NTFS-formatted drives seamlessly, such as moving files, deleting files, changing file name etc.
• If it is Mac OS Extended: Go to the bottom of the Get Info window, unlock the settings using your Mac password, and check the box for “Ignore ownership on this volume”.
