Make Linux-formatted NTFS Partition recognized by Windows

If you’ve ever used a drive formatted with Linux and tried to access it on a Windows system, you’re likely to have problems, especially if the drive uses the NTFS file system. Even though NTFS is supported by both operating systems, Linux can apply certain settings or permissions that Windows doesn’t function well with. If you are encountering the same situation, then no need to worry. In this article, we are going to explore easy steps to make a Linux-formatted NTFS Partition Recognized by Windows.

Is NTFS compatible with Linux and Windows?

Yes, NTFS is compatible with both Linux and Windows; however, there are some limitations. While Windows supports NTFS fully, Linux can read and write to NTFS using tools like NTFS-3 g. However, it may struggle with NTFS-special features like permissions or encryption. While NTFS works cross-platform, it is not ideal for Linux-native systems. So while it does work on both operating systems, it is not a perfect hit.

How to make Linux-formatted NTFS Partition recognized by Windows 11/10

Execute the steps mentioned below to make a Linux-formatted NTFS partition recognized by Windows.

1. Change the partition table
2. Assign a drive letter for the drive
3. Delete the partition and create a new one
4. Reformat the hard drive

Let’s get started with the troubleshooting guide.

1] Change the partition table

Linux may format or label NTFS partitions in a way that Windows doesn’t recognise properly. This situation demands that users need to change the partition table to ensure it is correctly marked as NTFS(0x07), as this allows Windows to detect and access it without errors.

• Open Terminal on your Linux machine.
• Run the following command to use ‘fdisk’:

sudo fdisk /dev/sda

Note: Replace /dev/sda with the disk you want to modify.

• Press ‘P‘ to display the list of partitions on the disk, and then press ‘T’ to modify the type of partition.
• Now, select the partition number by typing /dev/sdX1, whereas ‘1’ needs to be replaced by your partition number. 
• To convert the partition type to NTFS, the next step is to specify the Hex code, so enter 7 or type HPFS/NTFS/exFAT, and then click P again to ensure that the partition type is now changed to 0x07.

Lastly, hit the W button to exit it, then plug the external NTFS drive and check if it’s recognized. If not, see the next solution.

2] Assign a drive letter for the drive

Windows uses a drive letter to identify and access storage devices. Without one, the NTFS partition may be detected, but remains invisible in the File Explorer. It’s necessary to assign a drive letter for the drive, and to do so, execute the steps mentioned below:

1. Click Win + X to open the Quick Link Menu, select and open Disk Management.
2. Find the Linux-formatted NTFS drive, right-click on it, and select the Change Drive Letter and Paths option.
3. Click on the Add button to assign a drive letter to the NTFS drive, pick a letter from the list, and click OK to apply the changes.

Once the changes are applied, open the File Explorer, and check if the NTFS drive appears. Slide to the next method if the issue continues.

Read: NTFS Partition showing as Unformatted after Blue Screen

3] Delete the partition and create a new one

Sometimes, permissions, mount flags, or corrupted tables from Linux interfere with Windows’ ability to read the partition properly. In this case, deleting the partition and creating a new one is ideal to ensure a clean NTFS structure. Here’s how to do the same:

• Click Win + R to open the Run dialog box, type diskpart, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys to open it with admin privileges.
• Hit Yes when prompted by User Account Control, then enter the command one by one:

diskpart

list disk

select disk 'number' (add the actual disk number in place of 'number')

list partition

select partition 'n' ('n' needs to be replaced with the partition number)

• To remove the selected partition, execute the following command:

delete partition

• The next step is to create a new partition. For that, follow the command to create a partition using all available resources, or allocate a specific size, respectively.

create partition primary

create partition primary size=# (replace # with the desired partition size in megabytes)

• To speed up formatting the partition with NTFS and provide the drive letter for the partition, respectively, enter :

format fs=ntfs quick

assign letter=E (or any other available drive letter)

• Once done, type Exit to close Diskpart and open File Explorer. The newly formatted partition must be visible on your PC.

In case the problem continues, proceed with the next solution.

Hopefully, with the help of these solutions, you will be able to resolve the issue.

Read: How to convert Hard Disk or Partition to NTFS format in Windows

Why is EXT4 better than NTFS?

EXT4 is generally preferred to NTFS among the community due to better performance, lower fragmentation, and faster file handling. It supports larger volumes and file sizes while using journaling for data integrity. Moreover, the former variant is efficient in managing metadata and ensures backward compatibility with Linux tools. However, NTFS is ideal and convenient for Windows and is widely supported. So while EXT4 features a better option, NTFS remains a more practical option for users who mainly operate within the Windows ecosystem.

Read: Windows must be installed to a partition formatted as NTFS.