Compiling ntfs-3g on macOS 15

This guide shows how to install fuse-t and build ntfs-3g from source on macOS 15. fuse-t is preferable to MacFuse because MacFuse requires kernel extensions, which Apple makes hard to enable for security.

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0️⃣ Install dependencies and clone the repository

# Tap the macOS fuse-t cask repository
brew tap macos-fuse-t/homebrew-cask

# Install fuse-t and build tools
brew install mounty fuse-t git automake autoconf libtool libgcrypt pkg-config gnutls

# Clone the ntfs-3g repository
git clone https://github.com/macos-fuse-t/ntfs-3g
cd ntfs-3g

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1️⃣ Prepare the system for fuse-t headers

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/include
sudo ln -s "/Library/Application Support/fuse-t/include/fuse" /usr/local/include/

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2️⃣ Set compiler and linker flags

export CFLAGS='-I/usr/local/include/fuse -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -DFUSE_USE_VERSION=26 -mmacosx-version-min=15.0'
export LDFLAGS="-L/usr/local/lib -lfuse-t -Wl,-rpath,/usr/local/lib"
export MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=15.0

• CFLAGS ensures headers are found and proper FUSE version is used.  
• LDFLAGS tells the linker where to find libfuse-t.dylib and sets the runtime path.
• Ensure there are no spaces in the paths specified in the -I and -L arguments. That's why we symlinked the directory previously.
• MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET ensures the correct macOS API level. (Not sure if this is needed.)

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3️⃣ Prepare the build system

./autogen

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4️⃣ Configure build directories

./configure \
  --prefix=/usr/local \
  --exec-prefix=/usr/local \
  --with-fuse=external \
  --sbindir=/usr/local/bin \
  --bindir=/usr/local/bin

• -=prefix / --exec-prefix → install libraries and headers under /usr/local
• --bindir / --sbindir → install binaries under /usr/local/bin (avoid /bin)
• --with-fuse=external → use the installed fuse-t headers/libraries 

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5️⃣ Patch Makefile (macOS-only)

Comment out the Linux-specific library move in libntfs-3g/Makefile:

# if [ ! "$(rootlibdir)" -ef "$(libdir)" ]; then \
#     $(MV) -f "$(DESTDIR)/$(libdir)"/libntfs-3g.so* "$(DESTDIR)/$(rootlibdir)";  \
# fi

• macOS uses .dylib, not .so → this step is unnecessary and fails due to SIP.

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6️⃣ Build and install

make -j$(sysctl -n hw.ncpu)
sudo make install

• Binaries → /usr/local/bin (ntfs-3g, lowntfs-3g)
• Headers → /usr/local/include/ntfs-3g
• Libraries → /usr/local/lib/libntfs-3g.dylib

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7️⃣ Verify installation

/usr/local/bin/ntfs-3g --version

• If you get a missing library error for libfuse-t.dylib, temporarily set:

export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib

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✅ ntfs-3g is now compiled and installed with fuse-t on macOS 15.

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Alternate instructions to work with MacFuse: Mounty App

Convert an mp3 into an audiobook in iTunes 12

Convert a long mp3 into an audiobook so your device can keep track of where you are. These instructions are tested with iTunes 12.6.1.25.

1. Right click the mp3 in iTunes > Get info.
   
2. Select the "Options" tab.
3. Change "media kind" from "Music" to "Audiobook". Make sure "Remember playback position" and "Skip when shuffling" are checked.
4. Select the "Details" tab.
   
5. Change the fields "title" and "author". The "chapter" field can have the same value as "title".
6. Click OK.
7. Drag the audiobook to your iPhone or iPad. (optional)

Audiobooks appear in the iBooks app on the iPhone whereas podcasts appear in the Podcast app.