I'm trying to share an external hard drive through lan file sharing (SMB). The sharing works for folders and file in my Macbook. I have set up a “Sharing” account that I give access to the files I want to share.
The problem is that the “plus” button to add a user with access to that folder is greyed out when I select the hard drives, so I cannot add my file sharing account. And the users that already have access cannot be edited, they're also greyed out, as is the minus button. Basically I cannot edit anything.
I have also tried using my administrator account since that one is already added to the folder's users with access list, but I cannot make SMB work with that account.
The hard drives are in ExFat and Fat32 formats. I know I can share them through my WiFi router, but I need to share them through my Macbook.
I tried adding my Sharing account to the Permissions box on the Get Info dialogue, but PathFinder didn't let me save the changes (it didn't give me a reason), and Finder just says that “You can read and write” but doesn't show me any other options to add, subtract, edit or see other users with access.
I don't know if this is a sharing issue, a permissions issue or both.
So, is sharing an external hard drive possible? If so, what am I missing?
Best Answer
To add to @nohillside answer you can share a FAT32 formatted drive but not set permissions as the filesystem doesn't support it.
If you want to control access to files on the USB by permissions then format it using a filesystem that supports it (such as HFS) and changes will be avaliable in File Sharing.