Need to read Mac drives in Windows?

Unfortunately, it's not a straightforward process; y'all tin't only connect the Mac drive and expect it to work. Hither's everything you need to know to get it working.

Why Can't Windows Read Mac Drives?

Windows and macOS apply different file systems. Windows uses the NTFS file organisation for its internal drives, whereas Apple replaced HFS+ with its successor—Apple tree File System (APFS)—in early 2017. Today, APFS is used on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs.

External hard disks and USB drives are generally formatted with the Windows FAT32 file arrangement for maximum compatibility. Nearly devices, including Macs, can read and write from FAT32 devices.

All new Macs will be formatted with APFS. Older Mac drives are likely still formatted with the HFS+ file arrangement. Windows can't read either file system by default.

We'll bear witness you how to access your Mac-formatted APFS or HFS+ drive on Windows.

How to Read APFS on Windows

Firstly, let's wait at how to read the newer Apple File System format on Windows. All these apps volition allow you to read drives from whatever updated Apple device, non but Macs.

1. MacDrive

macdrive home screen

MacDrive has been one of the get-to apps for a long time. The first version was released style back in 1996. If you're prepared to spend some coin, you lot don't need to look elsewhere.

The app works with APFS drives and HFS+ drives.

Unlike some options, MacDrive lets yous read and write information to your Mac-formatted drive direct from Windows.

The app is focused on the freshly redesigned Disk Direction Window. It acts as a hub for all the Mac drives connected to Windows.

You will also be able to see your APFS or HFS+ drive directly inside File Explorer, allowing easy integration with the residue of the Windows operating system.

Other useful features include the ability to create and division Mac disks straight from your PC, a powerful disk repair feature, and robust security tools.

The standard version costs $49.99. In that location's also a Pro version. It adds several extra features, including automatic file defragmentation, back up for RAID setups, and a way to create Mac ISO files.

A five-day free trial is bachelor.

Download: MacDrive for Windows ten ($49.99)

2. Paragon APFS for Windows

paragon

Paragon APFS for Windows is some other paid app. It is the main competitor of MacDrive.

The app provides read and write admission to APFS-formatted partitions, read and write access to compressed and cloned files, and read-merely back up for encrypted volumes.

It supports disk auto-mounting at beginning-upwards but doesn't have MacDrive's partitioning tools.

Cheque Out Paragon's Wide Range of Solutions, Here

MacDrive has one big advantage over Paragon's app: HFS+ support. Paragon APFS for Windows only supports APFS-formatted drives. If you lot have some older Mac drives lying around that are even so running HFS+, you would need to purchase Paragon HFS+ for Windows separately. MacDrive, therefore, is a more economic option.

One license—which costs $49.95—works on three Windows PCs.

Download: Paragon APFS for Windows x ($49.95)

three. UFS Explorer Standard Access

UFS Explorer Standard Access exploring mac drive windows

Our third and final recommendation for reading APFS drives on Windows is UFS Explorer Standard Recovery. Once again, it's a paid option. The app will cost yous €59.95.

UFS Explorer Standard Recovery is the most versatile app on this list. It can read the two formats we care nearly—APFS and HFS+—also equally NTFS, FAT, FAT32, exFAT, SGI XFS, Linux JFS, Unix/BSD, UFS/UFS2, and VMware VMFS.

As such, this is the app you should cull if you find yourself hopping between lots of different operating systems during your twenty-four hour period.

UFS Explorer Standard Recovery also comes with RAID support as standard. The app has a congenital-in RAID architect, so yous can customize it for your assortment.

There is a free version of the app with no fourth dimension limits, only it will only let y'all copy files smaller than 256KB in size.

Download: UFS Explorer Standard Access for Windows 10 (€59.95)

How to Read HFS+ on Windows

If your Mac-formatted drive is still running HFS+, use 1 of these three methods instead.

ane. Install Apple HFS+ Drivers

If you only need read access, you can install the Apple HFS+ drivers for Windows. Be sure to remove Paragon or MacDrive before proceeding.

Download the correct Windows driver package, so follow these steps:

  1. Copy the ApplsHFS.sys and AppleMNT.sys files to C:\Windows\System32\drivers
  2. Merge the Add_AppleHFS.reg file with your Windows registry.
  3. Restart your organisation.

The video above too demonstrates the procedure.

After restarting, your Mac-formatted drive should testify up under This PC. This method simply gives you read access to the drive. If y'all would like to edit or delete files, effort one of the culling methods below.

two. HFSExplorer

HFSExplorer

HFSExplorer is completely costless. You can apply it to access Mac file systems from Windows without paying a dime. The developer hasn't updated it since October 2022 due to the arrival of APFS, but it still works on older systems.

HFSExplorer requires Java. We generally recommend against having Java installed, merely information technology's necessary here unless you desire to spend money. You lot besides demand to run the app as an Admin.

This tool is uncomplicated to use. Connect your Mac-formatted drive to your Windows organisation, open HFSExplorer, and click File > Load File System From Device. HFSExplorer can automatically locate any continued devices with HFS+ file systems and open them. You can then extract files from the HFSExplorer window to your Windows bulldoze.

Annotation that HFSExplorer is read-only, then you can't modify or delete files on your Mac drive. It likewise doesn't integrate with Windows File Explorer—files are available in the HFSExplorer application, and you must re-create them elsewhere.

Download: HFSExplorer for Windows 10 (Free)

three. Paragon HFS+ for Windows

paragon hfs

Paragon HFS+ for Windows is a paid awarding, but it distinguishes itself with additional features.

Dissimilar HFSExplorer, Paragon HFS+ for Windows provides full read/write access to Mac drives and promises high performance. Information technology even integrates HFS+ file systems with Windows Explorer or File Explorer on Windows. Whatever Windows program can read from or write to the Mac drive.

The app costs $19.95, simply it as well offers a x-mean solar day free trial. If you need to recover files from a bulldoze, x days is plenty of fourth dimension to install this file system driver, copy your files over, and uninstall it.

Paragon HFS+ doesn't need Java to work.

Download: Paragon HFS+ for Windows ten ($19.95)

Format the Mac Drive for Windows

If you take a Mac drive lying effectually and y'all no longer have a Mac, y'all're not stuck with the Mac file system forever. After recovering the files from your drive with one of the tools higher up, you can then format the drive and convert it to a standard FAT32 partition that will piece of work with most devices.

Formatting will erase all the files on your drive, so brand sure you have backed up your files. To format the drive, use the dialog that appears when you connect the drive to your computer.

We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! MUO has affiliate and sponsored partnerships, and then nosotros receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. This won't affect the toll you lot pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

NTFS, Fatty, exFAT: Windows 10 File Systems Explained

What is a Windows x file system? How do they make data storage easier?

Read Next

About The Author