How to Read ext4 Drives on Windows 10 and 11 (3 Safe Methods)

Windows can’t read ext4, the default file system for most Linux distributions. If you plug in a Linux drive or dual-boot with Linux, the drive won’t appear in File Explorer, or Windows will offer to format it. Do not format it, because that erases everything. You have three reliable ways to get your files: mount the drive through WSL 2 (built into Windows), use a read-only ext4 reader app, or boot a Linux live USB. This guide walks through each one for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Quick Answer

The easiest safe option on any Windows 10 or 11 PC is a free read-only reader such as DiskInternals Linux Reader. It lets you browse the ext4 drive and copy files to an NTFS drive. For built-in access, install WSL 2 and run wsl --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVEN --partition 1 in an administrator terminal. The files then appear under Linux in File Explorer. The --mount command needs Windows 11, or a recent Windows 10 build with the Microsoft Store version of WSL, and it works with internal drives only, not USB drives.

Before You Start

• Ignore “You need to format the disk” prompts. Click Cancel.
• Don’t initialize the disk in Disk Management.
• Prefer read-only access if you only need to copy files off. Writing to ext4 from Windows carries more risk.
• Encrypted Linux drives (LUKS) need extra steps. The easiest route is a Linux live USB.

Which Method Should You Use?

Method	Read	Write	Cost	Best for
WSL 2 wsl --mount	Yes	Yes	Free, built in	Windows 11 users and people who already use WSL
Read-only reader app	Yes	No	Free	Copying files off quickly and safely
Commercial ext4 driver (for example, Paragon Linux File Systems for Windows)	Yes	Yes	Paid, with trial	Regular read-write use with a drive letter
Linux live USB	Yes	Yes	Free	Encrypted drives or when nothing else works

Older free drivers such as Ext2Fsd haven’t been maintained for years and can corrupt ext4 drives that use newer features. Avoid them for anything important.

Method 1: Mount ext4 with WSL 2

1. Install WSL

1. Right-click Start and open Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Run wsl --install, then restart when prompted. This installs WSL 2 and Ubuntu.
3. If WSL is already installed, run wsl --update to get the latest version.

2. Find the disk number

In the administrator terminal, run:

GET-CimInstance -query "SELECT * from Win32_DiskDrive"

Note the DeviceID of the Linux drive, for example \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE1. Use the size to identify it. You can also check Disk Management for the disk number and which partition holds the Linux data.

3. Mount the partition

wsl --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE1 --partition 1

Change the drive and partition numbers to match yours. If the partition isn’t detected as ext4, add --type ext4.

4. Open the files

• In File Explorer, click Linux in the sidebar (or go to \\wsl$). Open your distribution, then mnt > wsl > PHYSICALDRIVE1p1.
• Or in WSL, run cd /mnt/wsl/PHYSICALDRIVE1p1.

5. Unmount when finished

wsl --unmount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE1

Always unmount before unplugging the drive. WSL takes the whole disk offline in Windows while it is mounted.

Limitations: wsl --mount works with internal SATA and NVMe disks. It does not support USB drives, flash drives, or SD card readers, so use Method 2 or 3 for an external USB drive. It also can’t mount a partition on the same disk Windows runs from. If you get “Invalid command line option: –mount,” your Windows 10 build or WSL version doesn’t support it. Update WSL from the Microsoft Store or use Method 2.

Method 2: Use a Free Read-Only ext4 Reader

1. Download a reader such as DiskInternals Linux Reader from the developer’s official website only.
2. Install it and open it. It lists all drives, including ext2, ext3, and ext4 partitions.
3. Double-click the Linux partition to browse it.
4. Select files or folders, right-click, and choose Save (or Export) to copy them to a Windows folder.

Because these tools are read-only, they can’t damage the Linux drive. The trade-off is that you can’t edit files in place.

Method 3: Boot a Linux Live USB

1. Create a bootable Ubuntu (or other distribution) USB with the official instructions and a tool such as Rufus or balenaEtcher.
2. Boot from the USB and choose Try Ubuntu (no install).
3. Open the file manager. The ext4 drive and your Windows NTFS drive both appear.
4. Copy files to the NTFS drive or to an exFAT USB drive, then reboot into Windows.

Access Windows Files from Linux Instead

If you dual-boot, it’s often easier to go the other way. Linux reads and writes NTFS well, so keeping shared files on an NTFS or exFAT partition avoids the problem entirely.

Troubleshooting

“The disk is in use or locked by another process”

Close any app that has the disk open, including Disk Management, and try again. Take the disk offline in Disk Management if needed.

WSL mounts the disk but the folder is empty

You probably mounted the wrong partition. Unmount, check the partition numbers in Disk Management, and mount the Linux data partition.

Permission denied when opening files

Linux permissions apply. Use sudo in WSL, or copy files to a location your user owns.

The reader app shows the drive but no files

The partition may be LVM or encrypted. Use a Linux live USB.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Windows 10 read ext4 natively?

No. Windows has no built-in ext4 driver. WSL 2 or a third-party tool is required.

Is it safe to write to ext4 from Windows?

WSL 2 uses the real Linux kernel’s ext4 driver, so it is the most reliable free option for writing. Avoid old unmaintained drivers, and always unmount before removing the drive.

Can I format a drive as ext4 in Windows?

Yes, from WSL with mkfs.ext4 on a mounted disk, but double-check the device name, because this erases the drive.

Summary

1. Never format or initialize the Linux drive when Windows prompts.
2. For quick, safe copying, use a read-only ext4 reader.
3. For built-in access, install WSL 2 and run wsl --mount as administrator.
4. Browse the files under Linux in File Explorer, then unmount.
5. Use a Linux live USB for encrypted or stubborn drives.