How To Access Mac Formatted Hard Drive In Windows

Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.Maximum file size: 4GB. Maximum volume size: 2TB; You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB. Insert the Mac Drive into an Enclosure The next step is to connect the Mac hard drive to a PC powered by Windows operating system. To do so, you must carefully insert your Mac hard drive into an enclosure and connect it to Window's USB port via an adapter cable. Mac Data Recovery on Windows. A hard drive formatted to a Mac-optimized file system such as HFS+ will not be detected by Windows without the use of 3rd party cross-platform compatibility applications. WD Drive Utilities functions to diagnose the physical integrity of the hard drive, and as such it will not address a file system incompatibility. But, before heading on to the steps to format a Mac hard drive in exFAT format, beware! You will then lose all the data on your Mac drive. Have a data recovery software for Mac handy. Here's how you can format a Mac drive – On the File Explorer, right-click; Choose ‘Format' Tip No 2.

1. How To Access Mac Formatted Hard Drive In Windows 7
2. Access Mac Formatted Hard Drive On Windows
3. Access Files On Hard Drive

Windows can't normally read Mac-formatted drives, and will offer to erase them instead. But third-party tools fill the gap and provide access to drives formatted with Apple's HFS+ file system.

There are high chances that when you try to connect a drive formatted in Mac to a Windows PC, you might be asked to format the drive. Why does that happen? Is there any way I can read a Mac formatted hard drive on Windows? You'll get answers to all such questions in this blog.

Why Can't Your Windows Read A Mac Formatted Hard Drive?

To read a Mac formatted drive on a Windows PC or laptop, Windows computer must have an appropriate file system. More specifically, Windows-compatible file systems include NTFS and FAT 32 whereas the file systems compatible with Mac include HFS, HFSX, HFS+ and the latest APFS.

Also Read: Best USB Data Recovery Software For Windows 10,8,7 PC

In most cases the moment you'll plug in a Mac formatted drive in Windows, the system will ask you to format the drive. We know, you might start sweating as formatting the hard drive would mean letting go of all the data which is already there in the drive. So, please! Do not hit the format button.

If you have, you may still have hope.

How To Read Mac Formatted Drive On Windows?

So, what should be done instead? There are third-party applications which can help you access the data from a Mac formatted drive, and we have mentioned options using which you will be able to read Mac drives formatted in HFS, HFS+, HFSX and even APFS file systems.

1. MacDrive

Let's start with a software which will let you read Mac drives on Windows formatted with both HFS+ and APFS file systems. It is available in two variants. The standard variant would cost you $49.99, and the Pro variant would cost you $69.99. Here's how you can read Mac drive on Windows 10/8/7 using MacDrive :

To Make It Work:

1. Plug your Mac formatted drive into the Windows PC
2. You will now be able to access your drive from Windows desktop
3. It also gives you the ability to read and write to Mac drive

2. HFS Explorer

The best part about HFS Explorer is that unlike other software, it is free to use. It is a great application that can help you read a Mac formatted drive (Hard disks and disk images) on Windows 10. It has a clean and easy to use interface. It can help you read drives formatted with HFSX (MacOS Extended with file names that are case sensitive), HFS (MacOS Standard) and HFS+(macOS Extended) file systems.

Note: As a prerequisite, make sure that Java SE Runtime Environment 5.0 or higher is running on your Windows PC.

To Make It Work:

1. Plugin your Mac formatted hard drive in the computer running on Windows
2. You will now be required to launch HFS explorer as an administrator
3. On the top select ‘File' and choose ‘Load file system from device.'
4. Click on the ‘Auto detect' button which will automatically detect if you have HFS/ HFS+/ HFSX partitions
5. Next, pick folders and files that you want to extract and view
6. You will now be prompted to save files to a destination on your computer

3. Paragon HFS+

Paragon HFS+ mounts HFS+ partitions using Windows Disk Management. It has an automatic mount feature which automatically mounts any HFS+ formatted drives. It has a failsafe functionality, and it also keeps your data safe from any corruption.

To make it work:

1. Install the application on Windows
2. Connect the Mac formatted HFS+ drive to your computer
3. That's it; your drive will now show up in a file explorer

Install (Price – $ 19.95)

4. Paragon APFS

If you want to read a Mac formatted drive on Windows running on the latest APFS, then Paragon APFS is the option you are looking for. It lets you copy, view and edit data from the drive formatted in Mac onto a Windows PC. It is highly stable with operations, has effective flow control and steady goodput.

To Make It Work

Follow the steps as above.

Install (Price – $ 49.95)

To Make It Work:

1. Plug your Mac formatted drive into the Windows PC
2. You will now be able to access your drive from Windows desktop
3. It also gives you the ability to read and write to Mac drive

2. HFS Explorer

The best part about HFS Explorer is that unlike other software, it is free to use. It is a great application that can help you read a Mac formatted drive (Hard disks and disk images) on Windows 10. It has a clean and easy to use interface. It can help you read drives formatted with HFSX (MacOS Extended with file names that are case sensitive), HFS (MacOS Standard) and HFS+(macOS Extended) file systems.

Note: As a prerequisite, make sure that Java SE Runtime Environment 5.0 or higher is running on your Windows PC.

To Make It Work:

1. Plugin your Mac formatted hard drive in the computer running on Windows
2. You will now be required to launch HFS explorer as an administrator
3. On the top select ‘File' and choose ‘Load file system from device.'
4. Click on the ‘Auto detect' button which will automatically detect if you have HFS/ HFS+/ HFSX partitions
5. Next, pick folders and files that you want to extract and view
6. You will now be prompted to save files to a destination on your computer

3. Paragon HFS+

Paragon HFS+ mounts HFS+ partitions using Windows Disk Management. It has an automatic mount feature which automatically mounts any HFS+ formatted drives. It has a failsafe functionality, and it also keeps your data safe from any corruption.

To make it work:

1. Install the application on Windows
2. Connect the Mac formatted HFS+ drive to your computer
3. That's it; your drive will now show up in a file explorer

Install (Price – $ 19.95)

4. Paragon APFS

If you want to read a Mac formatted drive on Windows running on the latest APFS, then Paragon APFS is the option you are looking for. It lets you copy, view and edit data from the drive formatted in Mac onto a Windows PC. It is highly stable with operations, has effective flow control and steady goodput.

To Make It Work

Follow the steps as above.

Install (Price – $ 49.95)

Quick Bonus Tips

Tip No 1

How about formatting Mac drives in exFAT format? This is a format supported by both Windows and Mac, and after you have formatted it in exFAT format, you won't even need third-party software. But, before heading on to the steps to format a Mac hard drive in exFAT format, beware! You will then lose all the data on your Mac drive.

Here's how you can format a Mac drive –

1. On the File Explorer, right-click
2. Choose ‘Format'

How To Access Mac Formatted Hard Drive In Windows 7

Como abrir library en mac. Tip No 2

Access Mac Formatted Hard Drive On Windows

Should you need to format the hard drive, especially if you are not investing in a third party software, do make it a point to take a backup. For instance, you can install Right Backup for Mac.

Access Files On Hard Drive

Features:

• Automatically backup your data (data backed up every 12 hours) or schedule a backup.
• Smart and custom restore options.
• Cross-platform functionality

In The End

You might have to shed some cash, but it is not impossible to read a formatted Mac drive on Windows 10. So, go ahead, try one of these options and if you already have been, do share your favourite choice with us in the comments section below. If you liked the blog do give it a thumbs up and follow us on Facebook and YouTube.