How to access Linux partitions from Windows 11: WSL, network, and apps

If you run Windows and Linux on the same computer or frequently move disks between machines, sooner or later you'll hit a wall: Windows 11 does not recognize EXT4/EXT3/EXT2 natively. Still, you are not doomed to forma tear; There are several safe and powerful ways to open, copy, and even write to these partitions from Windows.

In this guide you will find, gathered and sorted, all practical methods: from using WSL 2 with its wsl –mount command, to network solutions (RDP, Samba, FTP) and specialized programs (Linux Reader, Ext2Fsd, DiskGenius, Paragon, among others). We include step by step, pros and cons, warnings to avoid losing data and Tricks so that everything works the first time.

Before You Begin: Basic Safety and Preparation

Before you touch anything, do what you never want to do but always saves the day: a backup of your important documents. If something goes wrong during editing or writing, you won't be left without what really matters.

If the disk is still in Linux, make sure unmount the partition there first (umount) to avoid simultaneous access that could corrupt the file system. Don't work with the mounted drive at the same time in Linux and Windows.

Correctly identify what you are going to touch. A mistake in choosing the disk or partition can result in changes in the wrong volume. Confirm model, size and partition number before running commands.

Use reliable and up-to-date tools. In 2025, the most robust path is WSL 2 with wsl –mount, followed by third-party software with active EXT4 support. Avoid abandoned projects unless you only need read-only support and are aware of their limitations.

During any transfer or write, avoid interruptions: no you turn off abruptly the PC, do not disconnect USB without ejecting and always safely unmount or eject drives before returning to Linux.

Option 1: Access EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 with WSL 2 on Windows 11

WSL 2 is the cleanest way to open Linux drives from Windows 11. It allows mount EXT4 disks directly from PowerShell and use them within the WSL Linux environment, with access to the files from Explorer (\\wsl$…).

Previous requirements

You need Windows 11 (or Windows 10 21H2+ with updated WSL from the Microsoft Store), virtualization enabled in UEFI/BIOS and the “Virtual Machine Platform” and “Windows Subsystem for Linux” features enabled. Also install a distro (for example, Ubuntu LTS 22.04) from the Microsoft Store.

Check versions with: wsl.exe –version. Make sure you have the Linux kernel for WSL2 updated (Microsoft distributes it as a separate package).

Activate WSL (summary)

From the Windows search engine, open “Enable or disable Windows features” and select Windows Subsystem for Linux and Virtual Machine Platform. Reboot, go to the Microsoft Store and install your favorite distro (Ubuntu is a great option) and completes initial setup.

Key Differences: Drvfs vs. WSL –mount

To drives formatted for Windows (NTFS/FAT) accessible as C:, D:, etc., you can expose them to Linux with drvfs from WSL:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/d
sudo mount -t drvfs D: /mnt/d

To EXT4 drives (or other Linux systems) uses wsl –mount, which attaches the physical disk to WSL 2 and makes it visible as a block device within the distro.

Identify the disk from Windows

In PowerShell, list the disks and locate their DeviceID (usually \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE*):

Get-CimInstance -Query "SELECT * from Win32_DiskDrive"

Alternatively, in CMD you can use: wmic diskdrive list brief. Check size and model for don't make a mistake with the unit.

Mount a disk without partitions

If the disk has no partitions, you can mount it directly:

wsl.exe --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE0

WSL will try to set it up as ext4 by default. If it is another system, specify the type with –type.

Mount a disk with partitions

First attach the unmounted disk to inspect it from Linux:

wsl.exe --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE0 --bare

Within the distro (Ubuntu, for example) list devices and partitions:

lsblk

Identifies the device (e.g., / dev / sdb3). If you don't know the file system, consult:

blkid /dev/sdb3

Now you can mount the specific partition from Windows with the right type:

wsl.exe --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE0 --partition 3 --type ext4

Access path and options

Once mounted, the content appears in WSL under the prefix configured in automount.root (by default, /mnt/wsl). From Windows, use Explorer to access: \\wsl$\ \ to work comfortably.

You can add mounting options (e.g. writing order) with:

wsl.exe --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE0 --partition 3 --type ext4 --options "data=ordered"

Mount virtual disks (VHD/VHDX)

It is also possible mount VHD/VHDX files in WSL. First, mount it on Windows with administrator privileges and obtain its physical disk path:

Write-Output "\\.\PhysicalDrive$((Mount-VHD -Path <pathToVHD> -PassThru | Get-Disk).Number)"

Use the exit with wsl –mount just as you would with a real disc. Caution if interacting with ext4.vhdx from other WSL distros: run wsl –shutdown before touching those files to avoid damaging the data.

Unmount and release the drive

When you finish, unmount and detach the disk from WSL with:

wsl.exe --unmount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE0

If you omit the route, all disks are dismounted attached to WSL at that time.

Current limitations of wsl –mount

As of today, wsl –mount attaches entire disks (not just partitions), does not support USB/SD directly and only mounts filesystems supported by the kernel. For unsupported schemes, append with –bare and mount manually on Linux (or use FUSE).

If you want to browse your Linux files from Windows without mounting disks, within WSL you can launch explorer.exe in the desired directory or enter \\wsl$ from the Explorer; these are quick ways to open Linux folders with graphical interface.

Option 2: Access the Linux computer via the network (RDP, Samba, FTP)

If what you need is to enter another Linux machine and share files on the same network (or from the Internet with the right configuration), you can pull from remote desktop, SMB/Samba shared folders or a simple FTP server.

Remote Desktop (RDP)

It is the most direct way to control Linux remotely and move files. On Ubuntu, install the service:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install xrdp

In Windows, open “Remote Desktop Connection”, type the Linux machine IP and the user, and that's it. If you're connecting from outside your network, you'll need to do Forwarding of ports at the router. Write down the IP, port, and login credentials.

Samba (SMB)

To share a Linux folder that Windows sees as network resource, install Samba:

sudo apt-get install samba

In the Linux file manager, type “Share this folder”, assign a visible name in Windows and enable the options you need (create/delete, guest access if applicable). In Windows, open Explorer and type the Linux IP preceded by two backslashes to enter the shared resource.

FTP with vsftpd

He is a veteran but useful for transfer files quickly. On Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install vsftpd

Edit /etc/vsftpd.conf and adjust anonymous access if desired (anonymous_enable=YES/NO). If you expose FTP to the InternetWe advise against anonymous users; use accounts and encryption. Start the service:

sudo /etc/init.d/vsftpd start

On Windows, with fileZilla or another client, connect to the server IP on port 21. Moving files will be as simple as drag and drop.

Option 3: Programs to read (and sometimes write) EXT in Windows

If you prefer to avoid WSL or want a more familiar interface, there are very polished utilities for open Linux partitions from WindowsSome are read-only (more secure); others are write-enabled (more risky, but more versatile).

DiskInternals Linux Reader (Windows)

It is one of the most popular options for reading. It displays the mosaic or tree discs, lets you preview and export files/folders to a Windows location using its wizard.

Typical steps: download and install, open the app, Double-click the EXT4 partition, navigate to the data (e.g. your /home), right click > Save and choose whether to keep directory structure, dates, etc. It's ideal if you just want to copy data without touching the file system.

Ext2Fsd (driver)

This controller allows mount EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 assigning a drive letter in Windows. You can select read-only mode (recommended) or read/write mode. Note: the project has had periods without much maintenance, so it's advisable to take extreme precautions and avoid intensive writing.

Typical configuration: Start the service and select “Mount all volumes read-only”, apply and access from the Explorer as if it were any other drive.

Disk Genius

Very complete partition manager that reads EXT4 without problems and allows you to work with backups, recovery, partitioning, etc. Reading is free; writing to EXT usually requires paid features. Explorer-like interface and portable version available.

Paragon Linux File Systems for Windows

Commercial solution with active support: Reading and writing in Ext2/Ext3/Ext4, and reading for Btrfs/XFS. It offers a 10-day trial; after that period, speed will be reduced unless you purchase a license. Supports modern Ext features (64-bit, extents, journal, etc.) with some advanced exceptions.

If you often use Linux units on Windows and need stable writing, is one of the most recommended options. Paragon inherited and improved the old ExtFS for Windows.

UVS Explorer

Very complete tool, compatible with Linux and file systems macOS formats. In its proper edition it allows to explore and export data from EXT4; it is commonly used in read-only mode to minimize risks.

Ext2explore / Explore2fs / Ext2 IFS

Useful “old school” classics for punctual reading. Ext2explore should be started as administrator to view all partitions; it allows you to browse the contents and save files to another Windows path. Explore2fs and Ext2 IFS are very old; their biggest limitation is the lack of active support on modern systems, so use them only when other options are not available.

Option 4: Migrate data and convert to NTFS (with third-party utilities)

If your goal is to reuse the disk in Windows and you don't need to keep EXT, you can extract the data and format it to NTFSThe idea is: first view/recover files from the EXT4 partition (e.g., with Linux Reader, UFS Explorer, or recovery software), and then format it to NTFS with a partition manager.

Commercial tools like EaseUS Partition Master include features to view the content of EXT before formatting and converting in a guided manner. If there were deletions or corruption, solutions such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard or Wondershare Recoverit can help to recover before changing the file system.

Risks and best practices when opening EXT from Windows

Access to EXT4 on Windows is possible, but remember that it is supported non-native and you'll be dependent on external drivers/services. The most common problems are related to writing.

• EXT4 Journal DamagedPower outages or improper shutdowns can corrupt journaling. Always unmount before turning off or unplugging.
• Inconsistent permissions: Driver/WSL errors can mess up permissions. Fix on Linux with chmod or adjusts owners with chown if necessary.
• Intensive writings: Operations such as Git bulk commits may fail. It's better to work within WSL and run sync before disassembling.

Key Tips: Prioritize read only Whenever possible, have a backup, safely unmount, and use fsck if you find inconsistencies:

sudo fsck -y /dev/sdXN

WSL: Useful Tricks and Access from Explorer

If you are inside your WSL distro in a directory and type explorer.exe, Explorer will open right there. It's a quick way to Mix terminal and GUI without losing context.

Another way is to type in the Explorer bar \\wsl$, where you will see all your installed distros and you will be able to navigate through their paths as if they were network folders.