Windows 11 Is Getting ReFS Support for Enhanced Data Proteciton
Key Points:
- Microsoft is introducing the ReFS file system on Windows 11. This article will take you through the differences between NTFS and ReFS.
- ReFS is likely to be supported only on the Enterprise, Education, and Workstation editions of Windows 11 for now. In the future, it is expected to become the default version of Windows.
- The ReFS file system is a hidden feature and must be enabled manually. You cannot convert NTFS to ReFS as you convert FAT.
Microsoft launched Resilient File System (ReFS) in September 2012, the next-generation file system after NTFS, which is based on the NTFS code and solves some of the problems encountered with NTFS.
ReFS is used in Windows Server to maximize data availability. However, Windows 11 is getting ReFS support. A user on Twitter revealed that he enabled the hidden option to install a clean copy of Windows 11 using ReFS. Continue to read, and Qiling will analyze ReFS and what it means for Windows 11 to get ReFS support.
ReFS VS NTFS: Why Windows 11 Is Getting ReFS Support
Before we start diving into Windows 11 is getting ReFS support, let's take a brief look at ReFS and how it differs from NTFS and figure out why Windows 11 introduced the ReFS file system:
- NTFS is the default file system in Windows 11/10 and earlier versions, and it can be used to efficiently store, organize and retrieve files on your hard drive.
- ReFS was first introduced in Windows Server 2012, and it is the technology that can meet the current needs and overcome the limitations of NTFS.
Here are the main features of the two file system formats:
| Features of NTFS | Features of ReFS |
|---|---|
|
|
Compared to NTFS, ReFS wins in data availability and scalability but does not support system compression and encryption. ReFS is well suited for large-scale data storage solutions. With built-in support for deduplication, real-time detection and correction of data corruption using advanced algorithms, and the ability to save space on storage devices, ReFS is attractive to users of the enterprise version. This is probably the reason why Windows 11 is getting ReFS support.
If you already know why Windows 11 is getting ReFS support, you can also click the buttons below to share this passage with your friend. And next, we will talk in more detail about ReFS on Windows 11.
Windows 11 Is Getting ReFS Support: What Does It Mean
ReFS was previously only available for Windows Server. However, ReFS was introduced in Windows 11 Build 25276, found in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program. This means that ReFS breaks the Windows Server version limit, and Microsoft introduces a new file system on Windows 11.
ReFS is designed to replace NTFS and prevent data corruption. The Twitter user who revealed support for ReFS was using Windows 11 Professional, and the file system is likely only supported on the Enterprise, Education, and Workstation editions of Windows 11.
Windows 11 can be installed and booted from the ReFS partition, but it is not widely available on Windows 11. Microsoft is still working on ReFS support on Windows 11 at this time. However, Dev Channel's Insiders and Windows Server hint at the possibility of this new file system becoming the default file system on some hardware. All changes are likely to happen later.
Bonus Tip: Can I Convert NTFS to ReFS
ReFS settings can be enabled on Windows through registry editing. Since ReFS has started to be used on Windows 11, Microsoft may say goodbye to NTFS in the future, and some may wonder: can I convert NTFS to ReFS? Unfortunately, Windows does not provide the ability to convert NTFS to ReFS directly. You can only back up the files of a ReFS drive and reformat it.
Windows usually provides several tools to perform formatting tasks. ReFS, a new file system, do not yet support Disk Management. To format the drive to ReFS, it's better to use a professional third-party tool - Qiling Disk Master Free, which fully supports all Windows systems and several file formats.
This tool has a simple interface and is easy to use. You can easily change the format to ReFS or any other format you want, even if you are a novice.
Step 1. Launch Qiling Disk Master, right-click the partition you intend to format and choose "Format".
Step 2. In the new window, enter the Partition label, choose the FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 file system, and set the cluster size according to your needs.
Step 3. Click the "Proceed" button to start formatting the partition to FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4.
Step 4. Then you will see a warning window, click "Yes" in it to continue.
Qiling Disk Master is a powerful disk format tool. It can solve the problem of not being able to format disks in Windows 10. It even allows you to easily convert FAT32 to NTFS without deleting data.
Conclusion
ReFS is designed to replace Microsoft's aging NTFS file system. Windows 11 is getting ReFS support does not mean that it will immediately replace NTFS, which is still widely used as an old and excellent file system. Despite its many advantages, only a few organizations adopted it when it was first introduced.
It is unclear when Microsoft will replace NTFS with ReFS, but seeing that Windows 11 can be installed and booted from the ReFS partition, it seems NTFS's time is running out. The option of converting NTFS to ReFS is not feasible. But you can format your drive to ReFS with Qiling Disk Master, and you can download this powerful partition manager tool and try it out.
FAQs About Windows 11 Is Getting ReFS Support
This part will offer more questions and answers related to Windows 11 is getting ReFS support; I hope it can solve more of your confusion.
1. How can I enable ReFS in Windows 11?
The ReFS file system is hidden in Windows 11. You can use the Registry Editor or enable the new settings to create drives with ReFS on Windows 11:
Step 1. Open GitHub and download ViveTool-vx.
Step 2. Use File Explorer to open the zip file and extract it.
Step 3. Copy the extracted file and open the command prompt.
Step 4. Enter the command in order and press enter:
- cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x
- vivetool /enable /id:42866187
2. Is ReFS better than ReFS in Windows 11?
ReFS has better performance in protecting data. It supports larger volumes and is suitable for handling large amounts of data. And it can automatically repair data in case of file corruption. While NTFS is designed for various configurations and common uses in the workplace. Compared to NTFS, ReFS is more innovative, but it still has a lot of room for improvement.
3. What Windows system supports ReFS?
Starting with Windows 8.1 and Windows 2012, Microsoft has added ReFS file system support. It supports Windows Server 2022/ 2019/2016/2012 and higher versions of Windows 8.1. (Windows 10 removed ReFS support in the Fall 2017 Creators Update.)
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