How to Access EXT4 Partition and Data on Windows 11/10 in 2024

On this page, you'll discover 6 practical ways to access EXT4 partitions from Windows 11/10/8/7 in two parts. Continue reading to learn how to easily access and read data from Linux EXT4 partitions on Windows: Part 1: Accessing EXT4 Partition with Software Solutions 1. **EXT2FSD**: This is a free file system driver that allows Windows to read EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4 partitions. Download and install it, then mount the partition to access your files. 2. **Paragon ExtFS for Windows**: A commercial tool that provides full read and write support for EXT4 partitions. Install it, and you can directly open and modify files on the Linux partition. 3. **Linux Reader by Diskinternals**: This software enables you to view and copy files from EXT4 partitions without needing any additional software or drivers. Simply download and run it to access your data. Part 2: Using Command Prompt or PowerShell 4. **Using FUSE for Windows**: Install the FUSE for Windows and the ext2fuse package, which allows you to mount EXT4 partitions via the command line. After installation, use the `mount` command to mount the partition and explore the files. 5. **Virtual Machines (VMware or VirtualBox)**: Create a Linux virtual machine and install a distribution like Ubuntu. Share the EXT4 partition with the virtual machine, and you can access it from within the Linux environment. 6. **SSH into a Linux System**: If you have access to a remote Linux system, you can use SSH to connect and transfer files from the EXT4 partition. Use tools like PuTTY for Windows to establish the connection. By using these methods, you can effectively work with Linux EXT4 partitions on your Windows system. Choose the one that suits your needs best.

If you're running a dual-boot setup with Windows and Linux on your laptop or desktop, you might need to access files from your Linux partition, such as EXT4, on Windows at some point. For this purpose, you can utilize the Explore feature in Partition Master Professional, which enables immediate visibility of your drive data. Let's explore how to easily access and open EXT4 partition files on your Windows PC.

The tools featured on this page also allow you to access EXT2/3 Linux partitions on Windows. So, feel free to share this article on your social media to help more people in need.

How to Access Ext4 on Windows 11/10/8/7

To use the Linux hard drive as a data disk on Windows and make the EXT4 partition accessible in Windows, you'll first need to check if there's any important data saved on the drive by using an EXT4 viewer tool.

1. Please note that if you don't concern about the data, proceed to the EXT4 Formatter for assistance. 2. If you have crucial data saved, it is recommended to use a reliable EXT4 reader to access and recover the data from the partition first. After that, you can format and convert the EXT4 partition to NTFS using a professional EXT4 formatter. This way, no data loss will happen.

Follow the complete process below to make EXT4 readable on Windows 10/8/7:

#1. View and Explore EXT4 Partition Content

Here are the translations:
• ?Applies to: Viewing EXT4 partition content and data on Windows
• ?Important Tool: Linux EXT4 partition management software - Partition Master tool

If you wish to view and examine the saved content within the EXT4 volume on Windows prior to conversion, the tool Partition Master, equipped with its Explore feature, can assist. Here's how to view the contents of your EXT4 partition on a Windows PC using the EXT4 partition management software: 1. Download and install the Partition Master software on your Windows computer. 2. Launch the software and it will display an overview of all the disks and partitions present on your system. 3. Locate the EXT4 partition that you want to view and select it. 4. From the main menu, click on the "Explore" or "Browse" option (the exact term may vary depending on the software version). 5. A new window will open, allowing you to navigate through the files and folders within the EXT4 partition just like you would in a regular Windows explorer. 6. You can now view, open, and even copy files from the EXT4 partition to your Windows system for safekeeping. 7. After you've examined the content and made any necessary backups, proceed with converting the EXT4 partition to a Windows-compatible file system if needed. Remember that while this method allows you to access the files, the partition will still not be natively readable by Windows without the use of such tools.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant and locate the EXT4 partition.

Step 2. Right-click on the EXT4 partition and select "Explore".

Step 3: Expand the folders on the left pane to check the contents of the EXT4 partition.

If the Linux EXT4 partition has some valuable files, proceed to the next stage, where you'll learn how to access and recover data from a Linux partition on Windows.

#2. Access EXT4 Partition Data from Windows 10/8/7

Here are the translations for the provided text:
• ?Applies to: Read and access data on EXT partition, enabling the opening and usability of EXT4 partitions in Windows.
• ?Important Tools: 1. EXT4 Reader; 2. EXT4 Formatting Tool.

To prevent unintended data loss, it's advisable to use a reliable EXT4 reader to access the stored data beforehand before converting the EXT4 partition. Here's how to make the EXT4 partition accessible without losing any data:

< strong > First, use EXT4 Reader to read and restore EXT4 partition data < /strong >

To access and restore data from the EXT4 partition on Windows, you'll need a reliable EXT4 reader for assistance. Tools like Data Recovery Wizard, as a professional hard drive data recovery software, are capable of helping.

This software will promptly scan and recover all your lost data from EXT2/EXT3 partitions, FAT32 USB drives, or exFAT external hard disks. To use this software to scan, preview, and restore files stored in the EXT4 partition, follow this guide page:

[Solved] Recover Data from Ext4/3/2 NAS/Linux Device

When using NAS or Linux, you'll likely encounter Ext4/3/2. This article offers effective solutions to recover data from Ext4/3/2 devices using the tool Data Recovery Wizard.

Remember to save the recovered EXT4 partition data to another secure location on your Windows hard drive.

Next, Use EXT4 Formatter to Make EXT4 Partition Accessible on Windows

Since Windows does not support Linux-based file systems, Windows users cannot view or make any changes to the EXT4/3/2 partitions on a Windows PC without professional tools.

Fortunately, a reliable EXT4 formatter - AOMEI Partition Assistant allows you to change the file system of Linux partition from EXT4/3/2 to a Windows-supported one - NTFS or FAT32. By doing so, you can fully access and make use of an EXT4/3/2 partition on Windows.

Here's how you can easily format EXT4 partition to NTFS with just a few simple clicks:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition you plan to format and choose “Format”.

Step 2. In the new window, enter the Partition label, select the FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 file system, and set the cluster size as needed, then click "OK".

Step 3. A warning window will appear; click "Yes" to proceed.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the top-left corner to review the changes, then click "Apply" to start formatting the partition to FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4.

Once you're done with that, you should be able to fully access and make use of the EXT4 partition on your PC. If you liked this method, feel free to share it online to help more of your friends:

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How to Partition Hard Drive in Windows 10

After formatting the EXT4 partition to a normal file system, you may also like to repartition the volume. Follow this guide to learn how to partition a hard drive on your own.

How to Mount EXT4 on Windows 11/10/8/7

If you plan to keep Linux and Windows on the same computer and access EXT4 files from Windows, you can try mounting the EXT4 partition in Windows 10/8/7. But how do I mount a Linux drive in Windows 10? If you have the same question, stay tuned.

In this part, we'll introduce you to 3 reliable Linux readers that can help you mount EXT4 on Windows 10/8/7:

Here are the translations of the given text into English:
1. #1. EXT2Fsd
2. #2. DiskInternals Linux Reader
3. #3. Ext2explore
These are actually already in English. They appear to be list items with anchor links, referring to software names for accessing or reading Linux file systems on Windows computers: 1. EXT2Fsd: A software that allows Windows to read and write to EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4 file systems. 2. DiskInternals Linux Reader: A tool that enables users to view and access files from Linux file systems on a Windows environment. 3. Ext2explore: A utility for exploring and managing EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4 file systems on Windows.

Grab one of the tools below and follow the tutorials to mount EXT4 on your Windows machine right now:

#1. Mount EXT4 on Windows using Ext2Fsd

Ext2Fsd is a Windows file system driver developed for EXT4/3/2 file systems. It allows Windows users to read and access Linux file systems, such as EXT4, by mounting the EXT4 partition in Windows. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Install and launch the Ext2Fsd driver on your Windows PC.

Step 2. Go to Tools > Service Management > Start Ext2Fsd service before accessing Linux files.

Step 3. Check the "Mount all volumes in read-only mode" and "Assign drive letter automatically" boxes, and click "Apply".

From here on, you can find your EXT4 partitions with their own drive letters in File Explorer. You can even directly access files on the EXT4 partition.

#2. Mount EXT4 Partition on Windows 10 using DiskInternals Linux Reader

DiskInternals Linux Reader supports the EXT4, ReFS, HFS, and HFS+ file systems. Unlike Ext2Fsd, DiskInternals Linux Reader allows Windows users to access and explore Linux partitions directly within the app.

Step 1. Install and launch DiskInternals Linux Reader on your Windows PC.

Step 2. Locate the EXT4 partition on this application.

Step 3: Double-click to open the EXT4 partition and view/check the saved data on the partition.

Access EXT 4 partition data via DiskIntrnals Linux Reader

Step 4. To make use of the files on the EXT4 partition, select the files and click "Save" to store them in another secure location on your Windows PC.

#3. Mount EXT4 on Windows using Ext2explore

Ext2explore is an open-source application that functions similarly to DiskInternals Linux Reader. It allows users to access the contents of an EXT4 partition exclusively within this software.

Here are the steps you can follow to access EXT4 from Windows using Ext2explore:

Step 1. Download Ext2explore.exe and run this program on a Windows PC.

Step 2. Once launched, right-click on it and select "Run as administrator".

You can also right-click on ext2explore.exe and select "Properties" > Compatibility > Check "Run this program as an administrator" > "OK".

Step 3. After this, you can then browse the Linux EXT4 partition and its contents.

To use the files, right-click on them and select "Save" > Navigate to another secure location to save the files on a Windows computer.

Access EXT4 partition data via Ext2Explore

Q&A: Can I Read EXT4 on Windows

"Hello, I recently transferred my old Linux computer's hard drive to my current Windows 10 laptop. I'm considering using the Linux hard drive as a data storage drive. Can anyone advise on how to read and access an EXT4 partition from Windows 10?"

Are you facing a similar issue that blocks you from accessing or mounting a Linux EXT4 partition on Windows 10/8/7? To proceed, you need to address the following two questions:

< strong >1. What is EXT4?< /strong >

EXT4, known as the fourth extended file system, succeeding EXT3, is one of the most contemporary file systems utilized by Linux users. It serves as the default file system for numerous Linux distributions, such as Debian and Ubuntu.

< strong >2. Can Windows 10 or Windows 8/7 read EXT4?< /strong >

While EXT4 is the most prevalent Linux file system, it isn't natively supported by Windows. Hence, the answer to "Can Windows read EXT4?" is no. You can readily access a Windows NTFS partition from Linux, but Windows cannot directly read Linux partitions.

But that doesn't mean there's no way to open or access EXT4 from Windows. You'll just need some third-party tools and solutions to help you out.

By following the methods provided above on this page, you can fully access and read Linux EXT4 partition data on Windows.

Conclusion

On this page, you've learned what EXT4 is and two different methods to access and open an EXT4 partition on Windows.

To utilize a Linux EXT4 partition as a data drive on Windows, you need to first extract and recover the data from the EXT4 partition using a tool like Data Recovery Wizard. After that, format the partition with Partition Master to convert it into a file system recognizable by Windows, such as NTFS or FAT32.

To maintain both Linux and Windows on your computer and access EXT4 files from Windows, you'll need to mount the Linux partition in Windows. To accomplish this, you can utilize recommended tools for assistance. For the most straightforward approach, we suggest giving Ext2Fsd a try.

If you have further questions about EXT4 or Linux file systems, check the FAQs below; you may get the desired answer.

Frequently Asked Questions about EXT4 Partition

Windows operating systems do not support the Linux file system, including EXT4. Consequently, Windows is unable to directly read or recognize an EXT4 partition or device. However, if you wish to access EXT4 from Windows, you can try the methods outlined on this page. They will enable you to achieve this.

2. Which is better, NTFS or EXT4? Which file system is superior, NTFS or EXT4?

Since NTFS and EXT4 are two distinct file systems designed for two separate operating systems, to accurately test their performance, you would need to conduct the tests within their respective native operating systems.

As tested, NTFS is significantly faster than EXT4 when used in Windows. Additionally, in a Linux environment, EXT4 outperforms NTFS in terms of speed.

< strong >3. Can Windows write to EXT4?< /strong >

In fact, if you are running both Windows and Linux on the same computer, it is impossible to access EXT4 file systems directly from Windows, meaning you cannot perform any operations on an EXT4 partition or storage device.

In a nutshell, Windows is incapable of writing to the EXT4 file system. If you genuinely require writing capabilities on an EXT4 partition under the Windows operating system, you'll need to convert the EXT4 file system to an NTFS or FAT32-based one first. You can utilize a tool like Partition Master and its Format feature to assist you, as demonstrated in Part 2 on this page.

< strong > 4. How do I open a Linux drive in Windows? < /strong > To access a Linux drive in Windows, you can use a tool called "Linux File System for Windows" or a similar software. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. **Download Software**: First, download and install a utility like [Ext2Fsd](http://www.ext2fsd.com/) or [VirtualBox Guest Additions](https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch04.html#idp5274880) if you're using a virtual machine. - For Ext2Fsd, visit the website and download the latest version. Install it following the on-screen instructions. - For VirtualBox Guest Additions, ensure you have VirtualBox installed, then launch your Linux virtual machine. Go to `Devices` in the menu bar, click `Insert Guest Additions CD Image`, and follow the installation instructions. 2. **Mount the Drive**: After installing the software, follow these steps: - For Ext2Fsd: - Open the Ext2Fsd application. - In the main window, you should see a list of drives. Locate the Linux drive you want to access (usually labeled as `/dev/sdX`, where `X` is a letter). - Right-click on the drive and select "Assign Drive Letter" or "Mount." Choose a drive letter that is not currently in use by Windows. - For VirtualBox: - Within your Linux virtual machine, the shared folder should automatically appear after installing Guest Additions. If not, you may need to configure the settings manually. Access the shared folder through your file manager. 3. **Access the Drive**: Now you should be able to access the Linux drive in Windows File Explorer by navigating to the assigned drive letter. Remember that reading is usually supported, but writing might be read-only depending on the software used and the Linux file system type. Be cautious when modifying files to avoid data loss.

Similar to the methods shown on this page, to open a Linux drive in Windows, you can either attempt to change its file system to NTFS/FAT32 or mount the Linux drive in Windows.

If you prefer to change the Linux drive file system to make it readable and writable, format it to NTFS or FAT32 using the solutions in Part 2 on this page.

If you only want to visit or access files saved on the Linux drive from Windows, mount it on Windows using applications recommended in Part 3.