Even on desktop computers, hard drive formatting can make it difficult to swap external drives between machines running different operating systems. On mobile devices, it’s even less convenient, but software company Paragon hopes to make Android phones and tablets compatible with drives formatted for Mac or Windows. NTFS and HFS+ for Android, launched today in beta, is free on the Play Store. It will work on anything running Android 2.3 or higher, but you’ll need to be running one of the devices that support USB storage, like the Xoom, Galaxy Tab, or Galaxy S III, have root access, and use an adapter to connect the hard drive.
Paragon’s Android app mounts almost any external hard drive on a phone or tablet
Paragon has launched NTFS and HFS+ for Android, which allows users to mount a Mac or PC-formatted hard drive on any Android device that supports USB storage.
Paragon has launched NTFS and HFS+ for Android, which allows users to mount a Mac or PC-formatted hard drive on any Android device that supports USB storage.
is a senior tech and policy editor focused on online platforms and free expression. Adi has covered virtual and augmented reality, the history of computing, and more for The Verge since 2011.
The chances of being able to use this app aren’t incredibly high, but for phones or tablets that support loading USB storage, this has some obvious practical applications. It’s also interesting to see Paragon, which originally launched its compatibility software only for manufacturers, reaching out to consumers directly.
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