How to Convert NTFS to ReFS (with Pictures)

ReFS stands for Resilient File System, which offers advanced features like data deduplication, data mirroring, and virtualization support. On the other hand, NTFS is the default file system in Windows 11/10 and its earlier versions, efficiently storing, organizing, and retrieving files on hard disks, though it might have some compatibility issues.

Windows 11 is getting ReFS support to address some issues that NTFS encounters. If you want to convert NTFS to ReFS to test its features, check out the tools for three options to switch to ReFS without data loss.

Easily Convert NTFS to ReFS

Actually, there's no direct command or option available in Windows built-in tools to convert NTFS to ReFS. To get the job done, we'll introduce a practical third-party utility – AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.

• Intended Users: Suitable for all users, from beginners to experts
• Supported Operating Systems: All Windows versions, including Windows 11/10
• File System Compatibility: Supports all formats, including NTFS, ReFS, and EXT

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a feature-rich disk partition utility that offers formatting and conversion capabilities to address file system-related issues. It simplifies the process of converting from NTFS to ReFS without requiring any technical expertise.

Follow the steps below to learn how to convert NTFS to ReFS by formatting:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition you want to format and choose "Format".

Step 2: In the new window, type the partition label, select the FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 file system and set the cluster size as needed, then click “OK”.

Step 3: You'll then see a warning prompt; click “Yes” to proceed.

Step 4. Click on the "Do It!" button in the top left to preview the changes, and then click "Apply" to begin formatting the partition to FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4.

This is an embedded YouTube video player that allows fullscreen playback, copy-pasting, encrypted media, gyroscope, and picture-in-picture functionality. The video has a width of 700 pixels and a height of 410 pixels, with the video ID "yZnBRU8hszw".

If you want to learn more about using built-in Windows tools to change from NTFS to ReFS, read on. Don't forget to share this guide with others if you found it helpful for your file system needs!

How to Enable ReFS Using the Registry Editor

ReFS is a hidden feature in Windows 10, Windows 8, or an earlier version of Windows, so it's unsupported. Therefore, if you want to use the ReFS partition on all Windows systems, you'll first need to enable the ReFS file system in the Registry.

Note: Windows 11 Enterprise, Education, and Workstation natively support the ReFS file system on a unified drive. If you're using one of these Windows 11 editions, skip this part or use a partitioning tool like Partition Master to convert the partition to ReFS.

1. Open the Command Prompt and type in regedit.exe to launch the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Navigate to the following path:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem"

Step 3. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value called RefsDisableLastAccessUpdate, set its value to 1, and click OK.

Step 4: Navigate to the following path:

This string refers to a registry key path in Windows. In American English, it would remain the same: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MiniNT Keep in mind that "MiniNT" typically refers to a pared-down or lightweight version of the Windows operating system, especially in specialized system environments or recovery modes. This registry key could hold settings and configuration data related to that.

If this folder does not exist, create it and name it MinNT.

Step 5. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named

Set the value of AllowRefsFormatOverNonmirrorVolume to 1, and then click OK.

Step 6: Restart the computer to apply the changes.

Once you've enabled ReFS, you can convert an NTFS partition to ReFS on any Windows system.

Use built-in Windows tools to format NTFS to ReFS with utf-8 encoding.

Windows doesn't provide a direct method for converting between the two. If you don't have any important data on the drive, you can simply reformat it to ReFS. Otherwise, back up your important data first.

1. Convert NTFS to ReFS using Disk Management In the Windows operating system, you can use the built-in "Disk Management" tool to convert an NTFS file system to ReFS (Resilient File System). Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. Right-click the bottom-left corner of the desktop or press the Windows key + X on your keyboard, then choose "Disk Management." 2. In the "Disk Management" window, locate the NTFS partition you want to convert, which is typically displayed in the disk list. 3. Right-click the partition and select the "Format" option. 4. In the "Format" dialog box that appears, ensure the "Allocation Unit Size" remains at its default setting, and then choose "Resilient File System (ReFS)" from the "File System" drop-down menu. 5. Click the "Options" button. If you want to check the disk for errors, you can tick the checkbox next to "Quick Format." Otherwise, untick it for a thorough check (which may take longer). 6. Finally, click "OK." A warning will appear, informing you that formatting will delete all data. Confirm that you're sure and click "OK" to proceed. 7. The formatting process will begin and may take several minutes to hours, depending on the size of the disk. Please note that it's essential to back up important data before converting, as formatting will erase all content on the partition. Additionally, not all versions of Windows support ReFS, so ensure your operating system version has this feature.

Intended Audience: Users familiar with computer operating procedures

Windows Disk Management provides a generic formatting solution. You can also use it to convert NTFS to ReFS by reformatting:

Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon and select Disk Management.

Step 2. Right-click the target NTFS drive and select the "Format" option.

Step 3: Select the target ReFS file system in the popped-up window, and then click “OK” to perform the operation quickly.

Format.

2. Convert NTFS to ReFS using Diskpart

Intended audience: Computer experts with knowledge of parameter commands

If you're comfortable with computer operations, you can use the "Windows PowerShell" - Command Prompt to convert NTFS to ReFS. Make sure to enter the parameters correctly during this process:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the "Run" window.

Step 2. Type cmd, and open the Command Prompt.

Step 3. Enter each of the following commands in order, pressing Enter after each:

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk 1
• list partition
• select partition N
• format fs=refs quick
Please note that "N" here represents a specific partition number, which should be replaced according to your actual partition setup. "refs" might be a typo, as standard file system options are typically "FAT32", "NTFS", "exFAT", etc., not "refs". If "refs" is correct, ensure that your environment supports this file system.

Above are the 2 ways to convert NTFS to ReFS. If you're still unsure about these file systems and which one to choose, click the page for more information.

ReFS vs NTFS vs FAT32: Which File System Should You Choose?

Windows 11 now supports ReFS. But do you know the differences between ReFS, NTFS, and FAT32? Which one performs better? Which one is superior? Read on to learn more about the comparison of ReFS vs NTFS vs FAT32.

Conclusions

ReFS is trying to become the new default file system for Windows 11, and the Partition Master tool fully supports it. You can use this tool to format or convert it.

For older versions of Windows, like Windows 10 and 8, you'll need to enable ReFS on your PC before you can format it.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Convert NTFS to ReFS

Aside from switching from NTFS to ReFS, there are plenty more queries about these file systems. Here are three of the most frequent ones we've come across. Keep reading for the answers that might put your concerns to rest.

Actually, you can't convert NTFS to ReFS. ReFS is a next-generation file system that isn't supported by Windows 8 or earlier versions of Windows. It's only natively supported on Unified Drives in Windows 11 Enterprise, Education, and Workstation during installation.

Will ReFS replace NTFS?

No, ReFS is not intended to replace NTFS; NTFS will continue to exist. ReFS is designed to maximize data availability and resilience against corruption. Microsoft has added significant file-level snapshot capabilities to ReFS in version 3.7, but NTFS remains one of the most widely used file systems today.

3. Is ReFS better than NTFS?

ReFS offers better performance than NTFS, especially in virtualized environments. It also supports data sets of many petabytes, far larger than what NTFS can handle.

4. How do I format a disk as ReFS?

There are several ways to format your disk to the ReFS file system, such as using a third-party disk management tool - Partition Master:

Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, go to "Partition Management", and select the disk that you want to adjust.

Step 2: Choose the “Format” option, and then set the file system to ReFS and the cluster size.

Step 3: Click OK to apply the changes.