Fix Seagate Backup Plus Read-Only on Mac [4 Solutions]

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Seagate Backup Plus is a popular external hard drive used for backing up and transferring files. However, many Mac users encounter an issue where the drive appears as read-only, preventing them from copying, deleting, or modifying files. This issue is frustrating, especially if the drive is used for important backups or file transfers.

The most common reason for this problem is that the Seagate Backup Plus drive is formatted as NTFS (New Technology File System), which macOS can read but not write to. Other possible reasons include permission restrictions, drive errors, or system settings preventing write access.

This guide provides step-by-step solutions to fix the Seagate Backup Plus read-only issue on Mac, covering file system compatibility, NTFS driver solutions, formatting options, permission changes, and terminal-based fixes. By the end, you'll be able to restore full access to your drive and prevent future issues.

Why Is Seagate Backup Plus Read-Only on Mac?

Before applying a fix, it's important to understand why the issue occurs. The most common reasons include:

1. NTFS File System Compatibility

Most Seagate Backup Plus drives come preformatted in NTFS, which is the default file system for Windows. While macOS can read NTFS-formatted drives, it does not support writing to them without third-party drivers.

2. Drive Permission Restrictions

Sometimes, the drive's permission settings prevent write access. This can happen due to:

• Security restrictions
• Ownership settings preventing modification
• Corrupted permission attributes

3. Drive Errors or Corruption

If the drive has corrupted file system data, it may automatically switch to read-only mode to prevent further damage. Running First Aid in Disk Utility can help diagnose this issue.

Check the Seagate Backup Plus Drive's File System Format:

Before applying a fix, check the current format of your Seagate Backup Plus drive to confirm whether it's NTFS or another format.

Steps to Check File System Format

1. Connect the Seagate Backup Plus drive to your Mac.
2. Open Disk Utility (Press Command + Space and search for "Disk Utility").

3. In the left panel, select your Seagate Backup Plus drive.
4. Look at the "Format" field under the drive's name.
   • If it says NTFS: The issue is due to macOS's lack of NTFS write support.
   • If it says exFAT, HFS+, or APFS: The problem may be permissions or drive corruption.

Now, let's go through the solutions to fix the issue.

4 Solutions to Fix Seagate Backup Plus Read-Only Issue on Mac

Solution 1. Enable Write Access with NTFS Driver

Since macOS does not support writing to NTFS drives, one way to fix the issue is to use third-party NTFS drivers that enable full read/write support.

Donemax NTFS for Mac is a reliable NTFS driver and can be used on both Intel-based Macs and Apple silicon Macs. It can quickly enable writable for Seagate Backup Plus drive on Mac and mount NTFS Seagate Backup Plus on Mac.

Step 1. Click Download button below to download Donemax NTFS for Mac, then install it on your Mac. Connect the NTFS Seagate Backup Plus drive the Mac.

Step 2. Open Donemax NTFS for Mac, then select the NTFS Seagate Backup Plus drive, click on Mount button.

Step 3. Click on Enable Writable to allow your Mac to read-write the NTFS Seagate Backup Plus drive on Mac.

Solution 2. Format the NTFS Seagate Backup Plus Drive for macOS Compatibility

If you don‘t want to rely on third-party NTFS drivers, the best long-term solution is to reformat your Seagate Backup Plus drive to a file system that macOS fully supports. However, keep in mind that formatting a drive will erase all data, so it's crucial to back up important files before proceeding.

Before formatting, it's essential to choose the right file system based on how you plan to use the drive.

File System	macOS Compatibility	Windows Compatibility	Best For	Limitations
NTFS	Read-Only	Full Read/Write	Windows users	Requires drivers for Mac write access
ExFAT	Full Read/Write	Full Read/Write	Cross-platform (Mac & Windows)	No journaling (higher risk of corruption)
Mac OS Extended (HFS+)	Full Read/Write	Read-Only (with drivers)	Time Machine, Mac usersxt	Not compatible with Windows
APFS	Full Read/Write	Not Supported	SSDs & modern Mac storage	Cannot be read by Windows

Which Format Should You Choose?

• Use ExFAT: If you need the drive to work on both Mac and Windows without limitations.
• Use Mac OS Extended (HFS+): If you use the drive only on Mac and want compatibility with Time Machine backups.
• Use APFS: If you use an SSD or newer macOS (macOS 10.13 or later) and don't need Windows compatibility.

Steps to Format Seagate Backup Plus for macOS

Step 1: Backup Your Data

Since formatting erases everything, copy all important files to another drive or cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, etc.).

Step 2: Open Disk Utility

• Connect the Seagate Backup Plus drive to your Mac.
• Open Disk Utility (Press Command + Space, type "Disk Utility," and hit Enter).
• In the left panel, select your Seagate Backup Plus drive.

Step 3: Erase and Reformat the Drive

• Click the Erase button at the top of the window.

• In the Format dropdown menu, choose:
  • ExFAT (if you need Mac & Windows compatibility).
  • Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (if you only use Mac and want Time Machine support).
  • APFS (if using an SSD and don’t need Windows compatibility).

• In the Scheme dropdown, select GUID Partition Map.
• Click Erase to confirm.

• Wait for the process to finish, then close Disk Utility.

Your drive is now fully writable on macOS!

Solution 3. Change Seagate Backup Plus Drive's Permissions

If your Seagate Backup Plus drive is already formatted as ExFAT or HFS+ but is still read-only, incorrect permission settings may be the cause.

Steps to Change Permissions:

1. Right-click the Seagate Backup Plus drive and select Get Info.

2. Scroll to the Sharing & Permissions section.
3. Click the padlock icon (bottom-right) and enter your password.
4. Change the privilege settings for your user account to "Read & Write".

5. Check the box "Ignore ownership on this volume" (if available).
6. Close the window and test writing a file to the drive.

Pros: Quick and easy fix if permissions are the issue.

Cons: Doesn't help if the issue is due to NTFS formatting.

Solution 4. Use Terminal to Fix Read-Only Issue

If permission changes and formatting aren't an option, you can try fixing the issue via Terminal.

Check Drive Status

1. Open Terminal (Command + Space, type "Terminal").
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

   diskutil info /Volumes/"Seagate Backup Plus"

3. Look for Read-Only: Yes in the output.

Enable Write Access Using Terminal

1. Run the following command:

   sudo mount -o rw,auto /Volumes/"Seagate Backup Plus"

2. Enter your Mac password when prompted.
3. Check if the drive is now writable.

Pros: Can fix read-only issues without formatting.

Cons: May not work permanently; requires Terminal commands.

Prevent Future Seagate Backup Plus Read-Only Issues on Mac

To avoid running into this problem again, follow these best practices:

• Choose the Right Format: If you use Mac and Windows, format in ExFAT instead of NTFS.
• Use a Reliable NTFS Driver: If keeping NTFS, install Donemax NTFS for Mac or Tuxera NTFS for seamless use.
• Regularly Check Disk Health: Use Disk Utility > First Aid to prevent corruption.
• Keep Software Updated: Ensure macOS and NTFS drivers are up to date.

💡 Note: If you have lost data due to fixing Seagate Backup Plus read-only on Mac, you can use Mac data recovery software - such as Donemax Data Recovery for Mac to recover deleted, formatted and inaccessible files from a Seagate Backup Plus drive on Mac.

Conclusion

If your Seagate Backup Plus drive is read-only on Mac, the problem is likely due to NTFS formatting or permission settings. The best solutions are:

• Using an NTFS driver (for quick write support).
• Formatting to APFS, ExFAT or HFS+ (for long-term compatibility).
• Adjusting drive permissions (if already Mac-compatible).
• Using Terminal commands (as a temporary workaround).

By following this guide, you can regain full control of your drive and prevent future read-only issues on Mac.