If you own a PC as well as a Mac, chances are high that you often transfer files between these computers. While there are plenty of ways, including many online services and third-party tools, to share files between Windows and Mac OS X, transferring files between these computers using a flash drive isn’t as easy as it sounds.
The problem is that Mac OS X can’t write to NTFS partition by default. In order to copy some files to a NTFS formatted USB drive you need to either format the drive in FAT file system or install third-party applications. Similarly, Windows can’t write to Mac’s HFS+ partition with default settings and in order to do so you need to install HFS+ drivers.
At times, you might want to convert a HFS+ partition to NTFS on your Windows machine. May be you just sold off that Mac computer and now want to convert the external HFS+ drive to NTFS without losing files, or may be, you just want to convert a NTFS formatted drive to HFS+ for some reason.
There are very few tools out there to help you convert HFS+ drive to NTFS and vice versa. And finding a free tool to covert HFS+ to NTFS or NTFS to HFS+ is indeed a tedious task.
This guide and tool works great on Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7.
NTFS-HFS Converter
The good news is that a new utility called NTFS-HFS Converter has been released to convert drives from NTFS to HFS+ and vice versa without any data loss. The beauty of this tool is that it can convert not only internal drives but external USB drives as well.
Besides, it’s extremely easy-to-use, meaning even novice users can use this free HFS+ to NTFS conversion tool without any issues.
Convert HFS+ to NTFS or vice versa
Following are the instructions that you need to follow in order to convert a HFS+ partition to NTFS or NTFS partition to HFS+ without data loss.
WARNING: Though NTFS-HFS Converter converts the file system without data loss, we highly recommend you back up data before using this software as anything can happen while converting file system. Please note that encrypted files content will be lost. IntoWindows or its author isn’t responsible for any data loss.
Step 1: Visit this page, enter your email ID and other details to receive an email from Paragon Software containing download link to NTFS-HFS Converter , product key and serial number required to install the software on your PC.
Step 2: Run the downloaded setup file, input serial number and product key when required to complete the installation.
Step 3: Launch NTFS-HFS Converter. Click Convert button to launch the wizard.
Step 4: Once the NTFS-HFS Converter wizard is launched, click Next button to see all NTSF and HFS+ formatted partitions. Do note that the wizard doesn’t show volumes on internal drives with default settings. You need to check the box labelled Also show volumes on internal devices in order to view internal volumes.
Step 5: Select the NTFS or HFS+ drive that you would like to convert and then click Next button.
Step 6: In the following screen, NTFS-HFS Converter warns you backup data before proceeding further. Also, it shows the file and file attributes that you might lose after this conversion. If you have already backed up your drive, please check the option labelled “I have read and understood”, and then click No, just continue converting the drive button to begin converting the drive.
Depending on the size of the data and drive, the process might take minutes to hours. Once done, you’ll see “Successfully completed conversion” message.
That’s all!