How to Read Mac-Formatted HFS+ and APFS Drives on Windows 11 or 10

“Windows needs to format the disk in drive before you can use it” appears when you connect an HFS+ or APFS Mac drive. Don’t format it if you need the files because Windows 11 and Windows 10 can’t read these Mac file systems natively.

Fix #1: Copy the files through a Mac

Using a Mac addresses this without installing file-system drivers on Windows. It’s the safest choice when the drive contains irreplaceable files or uses APFS encryption.

1. Select Cancel if Windows asks to format the disk.

2. Disconnect the drive using Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media in the taskbar.
3. Connect the drive to a Mac.
4. Open Finder and confirm that the drive appears under Locations.
5. Copy the required files to the Mac’s internal storage or an exFAT-formatted external drive.

6. Eject the destination drive in Finder.
7. Connect the exFAT drive to your Windows PC.
8. Open File Explorer and copy the files to a Windows folder.

The files should open normally in Windows. If the Mac also rejects the source drive, stop using it until you’ve ruled out physical damage.

Fix #2: Check the Mac drive’s file system

The file system determines which Windows tool can read the drive. HFSExplorer handles HFS+, while an APFS drive normally requires a Mac or commercial Windows software.

1. Connect the drive to a Mac.
2. Press Command + Space, type Disk Utility, and press Return.
3. Select View > Show All Devices.
4. Select the volume beneath the physical drive in the sidebar.
5. Check the Format field.

You may see one of these formats:

• APFS, APFS (Encrypted), or APFS (Case-sensitive): Use Fix #4 or copy the files through a Mac.
• Mac OS Extended (Journaled): This is HFS+; use Fix #3.
• exFAT or MS-DOS (FAT): Windows should read the drive without extra software.
• NTFS: Windows supports it natively, so an unreadable NTFS drive points to a different disk or hardware problem.

If Windows reports that the volume doesn’t contain a recognized file system, that message is expected for HFS+ and APFS disks.

Fix #3: Extract files from an HFS+ drive with HFSExplorer

HFSExplorer provides free, read-only access to many unencrypted HFS+ volumes. It copies files to Windows without modifying the Mac drive, but it doesn’t handle APFS.

1. Download HFSExplorer from its official project page.
2. Install the program on Windows.
3. Connect the HFS+ drive to your PC.
4. Select Cancel if Windows offers to format it.
5. Open HFSExplorer.
6. Select File > Load file system from device.
7. Choose the detected HFS+ volume.
8. Select Load.
9. Select the files or folders you need.
10. Choose Extract and select a folder on your Windows drive.

The extracted files should appear in the destination folder. Your Mac drive may remain unreadable in File Explorer because HFSExplorer accesses it through its own interface.

Fix #4: Open APFS or HFS+ drives with commercial software

MacDrive and APFS for Windows by Paragon add Mac file-system support to Windows. MacDrive supports HFS+ and APFS, while Paragon’s product focuses on APFS.

I’d use read-only access for an archive or the only copy of important data. Writing through a third-party driver adds risk if Windows crashes, the cable disconnects, or the PC loses power.

1. Confirm whether the drive uses APFS or HFS+ with Fix #2.
2. Download MacDrive or APFS for Windows from the developer’s official website.
3. Check the current product requirements and supported volume types before purchasing.
4. Install the software.

5. Restart Windows if the installer requests it.
6. Connect the Mac-formatted drive.
7. Open the installed management app and confirm that it detects the volume.

8. Select the detected volume and review its available access options.

9. Open File Explorer and select the assigned drive letter.

10. Open a folder and copy a test file to your Windows drive.

11. Verify that the copied file opens before transferring the rest.
12. Review the drive information in the management app if you need to confirm its size or free space.

The Mac volume should behave like a regular drive in File Explorer. Keep write access disabled when the software offers that choice and you only need to recover files.

An APFS (Encrypted) volume or FileVault-protected disk may remain inaccessible. Connect it to a Mac, unlock it there, and copy the files to an exFAT drive.

Fix #5: Format a shared drive as exFAT on a Mac

Use exFAT when you need one external drive for regular transfers between macOS and Windows. Both systems can read and write it without extra drivers.

Formatting erases every file on the selected drive. Copy anything you need somewhere else before continuing.

1. Connect the external drive to the Mac.
2. Open Disk Utility through Spotlight.
3. Select View > Show All Devices.
4. Select the physical external drive in the sidebar.
5. Select Erase.
6. Enter a name for the drive.
7. Set Format to exFAT.
8. Set Scheme to GUID Partition Map.

9. Select Erase.
10. Wait for Disk Utility to report that the operation completed.
11. Select Done.
12. Eject the drive and connect it to Windows.

The drive should appear under This PC in File Explorer. Create a test folder, eject the drive, and confirm that the same folder appears in Finder on the Mac.

Fix #6: Format a shared drive as exFAT in Windows

Windows can also prepare a blank or backed-up drive for Mac and PC sharing. Check the disk number and capacity carefully because formatting the wrong volume destroys its data.

1. Connect the external drive to Windows.
2. Right-click Start and select Disk Management.
3. Find the external drive by matching its capacity.
4. Right-click its existing volume.
5. Select Format.
6. Enter a volume label.
7. Set File system to exFAT.
8. Leave Allocation unit size set to Default.

9. Select OK.
10. Confirm the deletion warning only after checking that you’ve selected the correct drive.
11. Wait for the volume status to show Healthy.
12. Open File Explorer and create a test folder.

Connect the drive to a Mac after ejecting it from Windows. The test folder should appear in Finder, and you should be able to add another file from macOS.

Which format should you use?

Format	Windows access	macOS access	Best use
exFAT	Read and write	Read and write	Shared Mac and Windows external drives
NTFS	Read and write	Read only without extra software	Windows-only drives
APFS	Requires a Mac or third-party software	Read and write	Current Mac-only drives and SSDs
HFS+	Requires a Mac or third-party software	Read and write	Older Mac drives and some backups
FAT32	Read and write	Read and write	Older devices; individual files are limited to 4 GB

For an existing APFS or HFS+ disk, copy its files before changing formats. Formatting converts the drive by erasing it; it doesn’t preserve the current files.

When the fixes don’t work

A Mac that can’t mount the drive either may indicate file-system corruption, a failing cable, or disk damage. Try another compatible cable and USB port, then connect the drive to a second Mac if one is available.

If the disk clicks, disconnects repeatedly, or contains the only copy of valuable data, stop testing it. A data-recovery service has a better chance before repeated reads make the failure worse.

Conclusion

Fix #1, copying the files through a Mac, usually solves a one-time transfer with the least risk. For ongoing Mac and Windows sharing, an exFAT drive fixes the workflow; repeated disconnects or mounting failures point to hardware trouble rather than a format mismatch.