Using a WD My Passport Drive on a MacBook After Windows

Western Digital’s My Passport external drives are among the most popular portable storage solutions for both Windows and macOS users. If you previously used your WD My Passport on a Windows computer and are now trying to use it on a MacBook, you may run into some compatibility issues. The good news is that your data isn't lost — and with a few simple steps, you can get everything working seamlessly.

Why the Drive Doesn’t Work Immediately on Mac

Most external hard drives like the My Passport are pre-formatted in NTFS (New Technology File System) — the default file system for Windows. While macOS can read NTFS drives, it cannot write to them by default. That means you can open and copy files from the drive, but you won’t be able to save new files to it or edit anything directly on the drive unless you make some changes.

Your Options for Using the Drive on macOS

You have several choices depending on what you need the drive for:

1. Read-Only Access (No Changes Needed)

If you just want to copy files from your My Passport drive to your Mac, you don’t need to do anything.

Plug the drive into your MacBook using a compatible USB cable.

Wait for it to mount — it should appear in Finder or on your desktop.

Open it and copy any files you need.

Limitations: You can’t add, modify, or delete files on the drive while it’s formatted as NTFS.

2. Enable NTFS Write Support (Temporary Solution)

If you want to write to the NTFS drive without reformatting:

Option A: Use Third-Party NTFS Drivers

Several apps allow macOS to read and write to NTFS drives:

Paragon NTFS for Mac (paid)

Tuxera NTFS for Mac (paid)

Mounty for NTFS (free, but limited)

These tools install drivers that allow full access to NTFS volumes. Most offer a free trial and are reliable for long-term use.

Option B: Use Terminal (Not Recommended for Most Users)

There is a hidden NTFS write feature in macOS that can be enabled via Terminal, but it’s unstable and may corrupt data. It's not advised unless you're an advanced user.

3. Reformat the Drive for macOS (Permanent Solution)

If you want full read/write access on Mac and don’t need to use the drive with Windows anymore, reformatting is the best option.

⚠️ Warning: Reformatting the drive will erase all data on it. Be sure to back up your files first.

Steps to Reformat:

Open Disk Utility (Applications → Utilities → Disk Utility).

Select your WD My Passport from the sidebar.

Click Erase.

Choose a new format:

APFS – Best for macOS-only use (macOS 10.13 or later).

Mac OS Extended (Journaled) – Compatible with older macOS versions.

exFAT – Best if you want to use the drive with both macOS and Windows.

Give the drive a name and click Erase.

After formatting, the drive will be fully writable on your Mac.

Best File System for Mac and Windows Compatibility

If you plan to use the drive on both Mac and Windows systems, exFAT is your best option. It supports large file transfers and is natively supported by both platforms, without the read/write limitations of NTFS.

Final Tips

Always eject the drive properly on macOS by right-clicking and choosing "Eject" before unplugging it.

If your Mac doesn’t recognize the drive at all, try:

Using a different USB cable or port.

Checking Disk Utility to see if the drive is detected but unmounted.

Resetting the SMC or NVRAM (for Intel Macs).

Conclusion

Using your WD My Passport drive that was originally set up for Windows on a MacBook is completely possible — it just depends on how you plan to use it. Whether you stick with NTFS and install a third-party driver, or reformat the drive for full Mac compatibility, there’s a solution for your needs. Just remember to back up your data before making any changes.