How to Use NTFS Drives on Arch Linux

Arch Linux is a versatile and highly customizable Linux distribution that caters to advanced users who prefer control over their system configurations. One common task for desktop users, especially those transitioning from Windows or dual-booting, is accessing NTFS (New Technology File System) drives. NTFS is the default file system used by Microsoft Windows, and while Linux does not natively support writing to NTFS out-of-the-box, tools are available to seamlessly integrate this functionality.

In this article, we’ll explore how to read and write to NTFS drives on Arch Linux. We’ll discuss the relevant tools, packages, and configurations needed to access, mount, and manage NTFS file systems effectively.

Table of Contents

1. What is NTFS?
2. NTFS Support on Linux
3. Tools Available for NTFS Support on Arch Linux
4. Installing Required Packages
5. Mounting NTFS Drives Manually
6. Mounting NTFS Drives Automatically with fstab
7. Mounting External NTFS Drives (Hotplugging)
8. Managing Permissions
9. Performance and Limitations
10. Troubleshooting Tips
11. Final Thoughts

1. What is NTFS?

NTFS (New Technology File System) is a proprietary file system developed by Microsoft. It was introduced with Windows NT and has since become the standard file system for Windows systems. NTFS supports:

• File permissions and encryption
• Journaling
• Compression
• Large file and volume sizes
• Access Control Lists (ACLs)

While these features make it robust and reliable for Windows, NTFS poses compatibility challenges for Linux systems, which prefer native file systems like ext4, Btrfs, or XFS.

2. NTFS Support on Linux

Linux kernel provides read-only support for NTFS. For read/write access, users must rely on external packages. Two primary drivers offer NTFS read/write support:

• NTFS-3G: A FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace) module offering full read/write support.
• NTFS3 (in-kernel driver): A more recent kernel module from Paragon Software, integrated into the Linux kernel since version 5.15.

Key Differences

3. Tools Available for NTFS Support on Arch Linux

Arch Linux offers both NTFS-3G and kernel NTFS3 support. Users can choose either based on preference or compatibility needs.

NTFS-3G

• Userspace driver
• Offers wide compatibility
• Preferred if you need ACL, compression, or Windows-style permissions

NTFS3

• Kernel driver (enabled by default since kernel 5.15)
• Better performance
• Simpler to configure for basic use cases

4. Installing Required Packages

Depending on the driver you want to use, installation steps vary.

Option 1: Install NTFS-3G (Recommended for compatibility)

sudo pacman -S ntfs-3g

This package provides the ntfs-3g binary to mount and interact with NTFS drives.

Option 2: Use NTFS3 Kernel Driver

If you’re using kernel 5.15+ (most Arch systems are), NTFS3 support is already built in. You do not need to install anything.

You can confirm kernel version with:

uname -r

And check if NTFS3 is available:

ls /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/fs/ntfs3

5. Mounting NTFS Drives Manually

Step 1: Identify the Drive

Use lsblk or fdisk to identify the NTFS partition:

lsblk -f

Example output:

NAME   FSTYPE LABEL     UUID                                 MOUNTPOINT
sdb1   ntfs   MyDrive   A1B2-C3D4                            /run/media/user/MyDrive

Step 2: Create a Mount Point

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/ntfsdrive

Step 3: Mount the Drive

Using NTFS-3G

sudo mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sdb1 /mnt/ntfsdrive

Using NTFS3 (kernel driver)

sudo mount -t ntfs3 /dev/sdb1 /mnt/ntfsdrive

You can now access the contents via /mnt/ntfsdrive.

6. Mounting NTFS Drives Automatically with fstab

To mount NTFS drives at boot, edit the /etc/fstab file.

Example entry using NTFS-3G

UUID=A1B2-C3D4  /mnt/ntfsdrive  ntfs-3g  defaults,noauto,x-systemd.automount  0  0

Example entry using NTFS3

UUID=A1B2-C3D4  /mnt/ntfsdrive  ntfs3  defaults,noauto,x-systemd.automount  0  0

⚠️ Always use UUID instead of device names (/dev/sdX) as device order can change across boots.

Reload systemd and test:

sudo systemctl daemon-reexec
sudo mount /mnt/ntfsdrive

7. Mounting External NTFS Drives (Hotplugging)

For USB drives with NTFS, use a desktop environment (GNOME, KDE, etc.) that automounts via GVFS or UDisks2.

Make sure udisks2 is installed:

sudo pacman -S udisks2

Drives will mount under:

/run/media/username/DriveLabel/

You can also manually mount them using:

udisksctl mount -b /dev/sdb1

8. Managing Permissions

By default, NTFS doesn’t support UNIX-style file permissions. When using ntfs-3g, you can simulate permissions using mount options.

Example

sudo mount -t ntfs-3g -o uid=1000,gid=1000,dmask=027,fmask=137 /dev/sdb1 /mnt/ntfsdrive

Explanation:

• uid/gid: Ownership
• dmask/fmask: Directory and file permission masks

For NTFS3 (kernel), permission control is more limited. The drive is mounted with ownership by root, unless specified otherwise using mount options.

9. Performance and Limitations

NTFS-3G

• Slower write speed
• Stable and well-tested
• Handles all NTFS features (e.g., symbolic links, ACLs)

NTFS3

• Faster (in-kernel execution)
• Still evolving
• May lack support for some advanced NTFS features like compression

For simple media access and backup, NTFS3 is sufficient. For complex setups (dual-boot permissions, ACL), use NTFS-3G.

10. Troubleshooting Tips

Drive won’t mount automatically:

• Check dmesg for errors:

  dmesg | tail
  

Permission Denied:

• Use ntfs-3g with uid, gid, and mask options.
• Check if you’re mounting with the right driver.

Mount fails with unknown filesystem:

• Ensure the correct mount type (ntfs-3g or ntfs3) is specified.
• Try inspecting the filesystem with blkid or file -s /dev/sdX1.

Drive not visible:

• Ensure drive is connected and powered.
• Use lsblk or fdisk -l to verify detection.

11. Final Thoughts

NTFS drives can be easily used on Arch Linux with the right tools and configurations. Whether you’re accessing old backup drives, using external USB storage, or dual-booting with Windows, understanding NTFS support helps you manage data safely and efficiently.

In summary:

• Use NTFS-3G for compatibility and features.
• Use NTFS3 for better performance.
• Mount drives manually or automatically depending on your needs.
• Always handle write operations to NTFS with care, especially on drives shared with Windows.

Arch’s flexibility means you can tailor the experience exactly to your needs — just like with everything else on this powerful distribution.