How to securely and quickly transfer files from a Windows desktop to a MacBook Air?

[platinumaqua]

I'll take your word that it'll work. However, how do I configure MacOS and Windows to see each other so that I can transfer files over from the Windows desktop?

On Mac side: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-smb-file-sharing-on-mac-mh14107/14.0/mac/14.0

On Windows side: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-windows-b58704b2-f53a-4b82-7bc1-80f9994725bf

To connect from Mac to Windows PC, if it's not showing on the sidebar on Mac: in Finder, Go > Connect to Server, then type smb://[computer name]

To connect from Windows to Mac, type \\[computer name] in Windows Explorer. Enter your Mac's user name and password when prompted.

 

[lsquare]

If I use Parallels or VMware to virtualize Windows, I'm assuming all files inside the Virtualized Windows are using the NTFS file system. If I connect an external drive, I'm assuming the Virtualized Windows can read/write to them if it's formatted as NTFS?

If all of that is true, can I copy the files from the virtualized Windows to MacOS? If so, isn't this also another easy way to transfer files from NTFS drives to an HFS+ drive? Does anyone here see any potential issues like data corruption?

 

[next_cube]

Yes, you can read/write to external drives from within Parallels. Comes in handy for Bitlocker secured drives.

 

[winxmac]

If the macOS and Windows computer are two different devices, you can try Send Anywhere

Just install on both Windows and macOS

Regarding security, it uses randomly generated 6-digit code that is usable for 10 minutes but once you initiated the transfer, it can last/go beyond 10 minutes depending on the size of the data being transferred...

The good thing about it [for me] is it keeps the date modified from the source location, meaning like carbon copy [or exact copy] which others do not keep the date modified...

It uses internet connection whether Wi-Fi or Ethernet just like AirDrop now [when the two Apple devices are no longer in proximity]

There are other apps that are almost the same functionality of AirDrop but not exclusive to macOS [unlike AirDrop] but Send Anywhere is what I use...

Now, if you prefer directly copying the files from the storage device, just know that macOS can read from NTFS or FAT32 or exFAT formatted drives, macOS cannot write to NTFS formatted drives however... So you're options of read and write are FAT32 and exFAT for both macOS and Windows, it's just that exFAT is more prone to data corruption but if it is just a temporary solution, it should work for you...

 

[lsquare]

If the macOS and Windows computer are two different devices, you can try Send Anywhere

Just install on both Windows and macOS

Regarding security, it uses randomly generated 6-digit code that is usable for 10 minutes but once you initiated the transfer, it can last/go beyond 10 minutes depending on the size of the data being transferred...

The good thing about it [for me] is it keeps the date modified from the source location, meaning like carbon copy [or exact copy] which others do not keep the date modified...

It uses internet connection whether Wi-Fi or Ethernet just like AirDrop now [when the two Apple devices are no longer in proximity]

There are other apps that are almost the same functionality of AirDrop but not exclusive to macOS [unlike AirDrop] but Send Anywhere is what I use...

Now, if you prefer directly copying the files from the storage device, just know that macOS can read from NTFS or FAT32 or exFAT formatted drives, macOS cannot write to NTFS formatted drives however... So you're options of read and write are FAT32 and exFAT for both macOS and Windows, it's just that exFAT is more prone to data corruption but if it is just a temporary solution, it should work for you...

I am not sure if it was addressed before, but can MacOS reliably read NTFS formatted drives and not corrupt any data?

Can I not move the files from MacOS to virtualized Windows to write to an NTFS formatted drive?

 

[lsquare]

Yes, you can read/write to external drives from within Parallels. Comes in handy for Bitlocker secured drives.

Yes, that's what I wanted to know!

So how do I make this work? If my external drives are using Bitlocker, can I move the files from MacOS to virtualized Windows and then write to the Bitlocker drive?

Can VMware read and write to Bitlocker secured drives?

 

[next_cube]

Yes, that's what I wanted to know!

So how do I make this work? If my external drives are using Bitlocker, can I move the files from MacOS to virtualized Windows and then write to the Bitlocker drive?

Can VMware read and write to Bitlocker secured drives?

Yes, simply move the files to your Windows guest OS and pass the the USB drive through. MacOS can read NTFS, but not Bitlocker disks without third party tools.

 

[winxmac]

I am not sure if it was addressed before, but can MacOS reliably read NTFS formatted drives and not corrupt any data?

macOS can ONLY read NTFS formatted drives UNLESS a 3rd party NTFS driver is installed... What that means is, it cannot make any changes to the files, rename, move, delete out of the box or again without the help of a 3rd party NTFS driver...

If you want a storage that can be used for both macOS and Windows with read and write capabilities, FAT32 [with maximum 4GB file size limit] and exFAT [no maximum 4GB file size limit] are the file systems that you need to use...

FAT32 - MSDOS/FAT in Disk Utility of macOS

 

[lsquare]

macOS can ONLY read NTFS formatted drives UNLESS a 3rd party NTFS driver is installed... What that means is, it cannot make any changes to the files, rename, move, delete out of the box or again without the help of a 3rd party NTFS driver...

If you want a storage that can be used for both macOS and Windows with read and write capabilities, FAT32 [with maximum 4GB file size limit] and exFAT [no maximum 4GB file size limit] are the file systems that you need to use...

FAT32 - MSDOS/FAT in Disk Utility of macOS

Hello, I really appreciate your help, but I don't want to do what you proposed. That's why I suggested what I suggested and asked if it would work. I'm not going to use FAT32. So will my idea work?

 

[lsquare]

Yes, simply move the files to your Windows guest OS and pass the the USB drive through. MacOS can read NTFS, but not Bitlocker disks without third party tools.

Yes, I understand that. However, I'm steering the conversation to my idea because that's what I'm mainly focused on. So, will my idea work? Connect the Bitlocker-enabled external HDD to a Mac, copy the files from MacOS to virtualized Windows, and then move the files from virtualized Windows to the Bitlocker external HDD? I'm assuming my method will work because virtualized Windows can read and write to NTFS formatted drives.

 

[next_cube]

Yes, I understand that. However, I'm steering the conversation to my idea because that's what I'm mainly focused on. So, will my idea work? Connect the Bitlocker-enabled external HDD to a Mac, copy the files from MacOS to virtualized Windows, and then move the files from virtualized Windows to the Bitlocker external HDD? I'm assuming my method will work because virtualized Windows can read and write to NTFS formatted drives.

Yeah, sure, works just fine. I am using a Btlocker drive that way all of the time with Parallels and Windows 11 Pro.