Read a Mac Formatted External Hard Drive on Windows
Need to read Mac drives in Windows?
Unfortunately, it'due south not a straightforward procedure; you tin can't just connect the Mac drive and look information technology to work. Here's everything you need to know to get it working.
Why Can't Windows Read Mac Drives?
Windows and macOS use dissimilar file systems. Windows uses the NTFS file system for its internal drives, whereas Apple replaced HFS+ with its successor—Apple tree File Organisation (APFS)—in early 2017. Today, APFS is used on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs.
External difficult disks and USB drives are by and large formatted with the Windows FAT32 file system for maximum compatibility. Nigh devices, including Macs, tin can read and write from FAT32 devices.
All new Macs volition be formatted with APFS. Older Mac drives are likely still formatted with the HFS+ file system. Windows tin can't read either file system past default.
We'll show yous how to admission your Mac-formatted APFS or HFS+ drive on Windows.
How to Read APFS on Windows
Firstly, let's await at how to read the newer Apple tree File Organisation format on Windows. All these apps will permit you to read drives from whatsoever updated Apple device, not just Macs.
1. MacDrive
MacDrive has been one of the get-to apps for a long fourth dimension. The first version was released way dorsum in 1996. If you're prepared to spend some money, you don't need to look elsewhere.
The app works with APFS drives and HFS+ drives.
Unlike some options, MacDrive lets yous read and write data to your Mac-formatted bulldoze directly from Windows.
The app is focused on the freshly redesigned Disk Management Window. Information technology acts as a hub for all the Mac drives continued to Windows.
You will too exist able to see your APFS or HFS+ drive direct inside File Explorer, allowing easy integration with the rest of the Windows operating system.
Other useful features include the ability to create and partition Mac disks direct from your PC, a powerful disk repair feature, and robust security tools.
The standard version costs $49.99. There'due south likewise a Pro version. It adds several actress features, including automated file defragmentation, support for RAID setups, and a way to create Mac ISO files.
A five-day free trial is available.
Download: MacDrive for Windows ten ($49.99)
ii. Paragon APFS for Windows
Paragon APFS for Windows is some other paid app. Information technology is the main competitor of MacDrive.
The app provides read and write access to APFS-formatted partitions, read and write access to compressed and cloned files, and read-simply back up for encrypted volumes.
Information technology supports disk auto-mounting at get-go-upward only doesn't have MacDrive's partition tools.
Bank check Out Paragon's Wide Range of Solutions, Hither
MacDrive has one large reward over Paragon'southward app: HFS+ support. Paragon APFS for Windows simply supports APFS-formatted drives. If you take some older Mac drives lying effectually that are still running HFS+, you would need to purchase Paragon HFS+ for Windows separately. MacDrive, therefore, is a more than economical choice.
I license—which costs $49.95—works on three Windows PCs.
Download: Paragon APFS for Windows 10 ($49.95)
3. UFS Explorer Standard Access
Our 3rd and final recommendation for reading APFS drives on Windows is UFS Explorer Standard Recovery. In one case again, it's a paid option. The app will toll you €59.95.
UFS Explorer Standard Recovery is the nearly versatile app on this listing. It can read the two formats nosotros intendance virtually—APFS and HFS+—also as NTFS, Fatty, FAT32, exFAT, SGI XFS, Linux JFS, Unix/BSD, UFS/UFS2, and VMware VMFS.
As such, this is the app you should cull if yous find yourself hopping between lots of unlike operating systems during your day.
UFS Explorer Standard Recovery also comes with RAID support as standard. The app has a built-in RAID builder, so you can customize it for your array.
There is a costless version of the app with no time limits, but information technology will simply let you lot re-create files smaller than 256KB in size.
Download: UFS Explorer Standard Access for Windows x (€59.95)
How to Read HFS+ on Windows
If your Mac-formatted drive is nevertheless running HFS+, use one of these three methods instead.
1. Install Apple HFS+ Drivers
If you only demand read access, you tin install the Apple tree HFS+ drivers for Windows. Be sure to remove Paragon or MacDrive before proceeding.
Download the correct Windows driver bundle, then follow these steps:
- Copy the ApplsHFS.sys and AppleMNT.sys files to C:\Windows\System32\drivers
- Merge the Add_AppleHFS.reg file with your Windows registry.
- Restart your system.
The video to a higher place also demonstrates the process.
After restarting, your Mac-formatted bulldoze should testify upwardly nether This PC. This method only gives you lot read access to the bulldoze. If you would like to edit or delete files, effort one of the alternative methods below.
2. HFSExplorer
HFSExplorer is completely free. You can utilise it to access Mac file systems from Windows without paying a dime. The programmer hasn't updated it since Oct 2022 due to the arrival of APFS, merely it still works on older systems.
HFSExplorer requires Java. We generally recommend against having Java installed, just it's necessary here unless you desire to spend money. Y'all also need to run the app every bit an Admin.
This tool is uncomplicated to use. Connect your Mac-formatted drive to your Windows system, open HFSExplorer, and click File > Load File Organisation From Device. HFSExplorer can automatically locate whatsoever connected devices with HFS+ file systems and open them. Yous can then extract files from the HFSExplorer window to your Windows bulldoze.
Note that HFSExplorer is read-only, so you can't modify or delete files on your Mac bulldoze. Information technology 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)
3. Paragon HFS+ for Windows
Paragon HFS+ for Windows is a paid awarding, just it distinguishes itself with additional features.
Unlike HFSExplorer, Paragon HFS+ for Windows provides total read/write admission to Mac drives and promises high performance. It even integrates HFS+ file systems with Windows Explorer or File Explorer on Windows. Any Windows program can read from or write to the Mac drive.
The app costs $xix.95, only information technology besides offers a 10-mean solar day complimentary trial. If you need to recover files from a drive, x days is plenty of time to install this file system driver, copy your files over, and uninstall it.
Paragon HFS+ doesn't need Java to work.
Download: Paragon HFS+ for Windows 10 ($xix.95)
Format the Mac Drive for Windows
If you have a Mac drive lying effectually and you no longer have a Mac, you lot're not stuck with the Mac file system forever. Subsequently recovering the files from your drive with one of the tools to a higher place, you lot can then format the drive and convert it to a standard FAT32 partition that volition work with virtually devices.
Formatting will erase all the files on your drive, so make sure you have backed up your files. To format the drive, use the dialog that appears when you connect the drive to your computer.
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