---
name: "ntfscp"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "ntfsprogs"
version: "2026.9.28-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ntfscp"
---

# ntfscp(8)

copy file to an NTFS volume.

## NAME

ntfscp - copy file to an NTFS volume.

## SYNOPSIS

**ntfscp** \[*options*\] *device source\_file destination*

## DESCRIPTION

**ntfscp** will copy file to an NTFS volume. *destination* can be either file or directory. In case if *destination* is directory specified by name then *source\_file* is copied into this directory, in case if *destination* is directory and specified by inode number then unnamed data attribute is created for this inode and *source\_file* is copied into it (WARNING: it's unusual to have unnamed data streams in the directories, think twice before specifying directory by inode number).

## OPTIONS

Below is a summary of all the options that **ntfscp** accepts.  Nearly all options have two equivalent names.  The short name is preceded by **-** and the long name is preceded by **--**. Any single letter options, that don't take an argument, can be combined into a single command, e.g. **-fv** is equivalent to **-f -v**. Long named options can be abbreviated to any unique prefix of their name.

- **-a**, **--attribute** NUM

  Write to this attribute.

- **-i**, **--inode**

  Treat *destination* as inode number.

- **-m**, **--min-fragments**

  Minimize fragmentation when allocating space to the attribute. This is mostly useful when creating big files.

- **-N**, **--attr-name** NAME

  Write to attribute with this name.

- **-n**, **--no-action**

  Use this option to make a test run before doing the real copy operation. Volume will be opened read-only and no write will be done.

- **-f**, **--force**

  This will override some sensible defaults, such as not working with a mounted volume.  Use this option with caution.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Show a list of options with a brief description of each one.

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  Suppress some debug/warning/error messages.

- **-t**, **--timestamp**

  Copy the modification time of source\_file to destination. This is not compatible with **--attr-name** and **--attribute**.

- **-V**, **--version**

  Show the version number, copyright and license **ntfscp**.

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Display more debug/warning/error messages.

## DATA STREAMS

All data on NTFS is stored in streams, which can have names. A file can have more than one data streams, but exactly one must have no name. The size of a file is the size of its unnamed data stream. Usually when you don't specify stream name you are access to unnamed data stream. If you want access to named data stream you need to add ":stream\_name" to the filename. For example: by opening "some.mp3:artist" you will open stream "artist" in "some.mp3". But windows usually prevent you from accessing to named data streams, so you need to use some program like FAR or utils from cygwin to access named data streams.

## EXAMPLES

Copy new\_boot.ini from /home/user as boot.ini to the root of an /dev/hda1 NTFS volume:

**ntfscp /dev/hda1 /home/user/new\_boot.ini boot.ini**

Copy myfile to C:\\some\\path\\myfile:stream (assume that /dev/hda1 letter in windows is C):

**ntfscp -N stream /dev/hda1 myfile /some/path**

## BUGS

There are no known problems with **ntfscp**. If you find a bug please send an email describing the problem to the development team:\
 ntfs-3g-devel@lists.sf.net

## AUTHORS

**ntfscp** was written by Yura Pakhuchiy, with contributions from Anton Altaparmakov and Hil Liao. It was ported to ntfs-3g by Erik Larsson.

## DEDICATION

With love to Marina Sapego.

## AVAILABILITY

**ntfscp** is part of the **ntfs-3g** package and is available from:\
 https://github.com/tuxera/ntfs-3g

## SEE ALSO

[**ntfsprogs**(8)](/ntfsprogs/8.md)