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File Explorer cannot open an Ext4 partition like an NTFS drive. DiskInternals Linux Reader’s free edition browses, previews, and copies Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4 files while leaving the source read-only. It does not convert or format the partition.
This guide covers copying files from a Linux installation or a separate Linux-formatted drive; it does not make the volume writable in Windows.
Before you start
Back up important files first. Linux Reader opens the source read-only, but a backup is still prudent. If Windows asks to initialize, format, or repair the Linux disk, cancel; those operations can make data harder to recover.
Identify the correct physical drive by comparing its capacity and partition layout with what you know from Linux. Do not assume the first listed volume is the right one.
How to read and copy a Linux partition in Windows
Download Linux Reader from its publisher. Open the official Linux Reader page and choose the free Windows download. Avoid third-party download sites so you get the current installer from DiskInternals.
Get the installer from the product publisher’s download page. Install the program. Open the downloaded installer and follow its setup prompts. The default options are sufficient for this task. For current screen-by-screen guidance, see the publisher’s illustrated Linux Reader guide.
The installer guides you through the setup before the reader scans attached disks. Launch Linux Reader. Open DiskInternals Linux Reader from Start. If Windows shows a User Account Control prompt, verify the app name before approving it.
Review the app name in the Windows security prompt before you continue. Choose the Linux volume. Wait for the scan, then select the Linux partition by its disk and size. A drive may contain several partitions; choose the data volume rather than a small boot or recovery partition.
Compare the listed disks and sizes before opening a partition. Browse the folders. Open the volume and browse its folders. Personal files are commonly under
/home; system files may be in/etcor/var. The layout varies by distribution.
Browse the volume’s folders until you reach the files you need. Preview a file if needed. Select a document or image and use the preview command, if available. DiskInternals lists preview as free; checking a file first helps confirm you chose the right item.
Preview a selected file before exporting it. Export files to Windows. Select files or folders and choose Save or export. In the wizard, choose a folder on a Windows-readable disk, such as your NTFS drive. Do not save to the Linux source.
Save the copied files to a separate Windows folder. Verify the copy. Open the destination in File Explorer and confirm the files are there. Check a few important files before relying on the copy. For removable drives, close the reader and safely eject the disk before disconnecting it.
What the free edition can and cannot do
DiskInternals’ feature chart lists Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4 as readable and exportable in the free edition. Mapping a partition to a Windows drive letter is a Pro feature; the free version uses its own browser and export wizard.
For Btrfs, XFS, and ZFS, the publisher lists preview-only support in Free and read-and-save support in Pro. Check the current chart for other formats.
When WSL is a better fit
WSL 2 can mount a separate Linux disk for command-line work. Microsoft’s mounting guide requires admin access and Windows 11 or the Microsoft Store version of WSL. WSL attaches the whole disk and cannot use a disk that Windows is using, including the Windows installation disk. It is therefore unsuitable for an Ext4 partition on the same physical disk as a running Windows installation.
WSL is command-line based, not a normal Explorer drive. For a graphical copy-only task, Linux Reader is simpler. If you use WSL on an offline disk, read the kernel’s Ext4 mount notes: even a read-only Ext4 mount can replay its journal and write to disk. ro,noload prevents that replay, but may show an inconsistent file system if it was not cleanly shut down.
Quick troubleshooting
- No Linux partition appears: Confirm the drive is connected and check the compatibility chart. An encrypted or unsupported volume may need another tool.
- Windows asks to format the disk: Cancel; do not format a volume with files you need.
- Copied files are missing: Reopen the destination chosen in the export wizard. Free copies to a Windows folder; it does not add a drive letter.
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How to Read Linux Partitions on Windows Without Formatting Them
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