Mount a Windows 10 or 8 Drive on Linux

Mounting a Windows 10 or Windows 8 system drive lets Linux read its files, and sometimes write to them, without starting Windows. You will need the drive connected to your Linux computer, permission to use administrative commands, and a clean Windows shutdown; hibernation or Fast Startup can leave the disk in an unsafe state.

What You’ll Need

• A Linux computer with the Windows drive connected internally or through a suitable USB enclosure or adapter.
• A terminal and an account with sudo privileges.
• The NTFS tools for your distribution. Many Linux systems include them; otherwise install the package named ntfs-3g using your distribution’s package manager.
• Enough free space on Linux if you plan to copy files from the Windows drive.

Step-by-Step

1. Shut Windows down completely. If you can still start Windows, disable Fast Startup in Control Panel under Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do, then choose Change settings that are currently unavailable and clear Turn on fast startup. Also turn off hibernation from an elevated Command Prompt with powercfg /h off. Save your work and select Shut down, not Sleep or Hibernate. If Windows is inaccessible, do not force a write mount; start with read-only access below.
2. Find the correct partition. Open a terminal and run lsblk -f. Look for a partition with filesystem type ntfs, its size, and its label. A Windows disk often has several small system or recovery partitions; the large NTFS partition usually holds Windows and user files. Match by size and, if needed, inspect sudo fdisk -l. Do not assume the partition is /dev/sda1: device names vary. In the examples below, replace /dev/nvme0n1p3 with your actual NTFS partition.
3. Check for BitLocker. If the partition is encrypted, Linux cannot read its contents as ordinary NTFS. You will need the recovery key and a compatible unlocking method; do not format or repair the partition. If you do not know whether it is encrypted, use lsblk -f and look for an encrypted volume or an unrecognized filesystem, then check from Windows if possible.
4. Create a mount point. Choose a directory where the drive will appear and create it, for example: sudo mkdir -p /mnt/windows. The mount point must be an empty directory. You can choose another path, but use it consistently in the following commands.
5. Try a read-only mount first. This is the safer choice if Windows did not shut down cleanly, you are unsure of the disk’s condition, or you only need to retrieve files. Run sudo mount -t ntfs-3g -o ro /dev/nvme0n1p3 /mnt/windows. On systems using the kernel NTFS driver, sudo mount -o ro /dev/nvme0n1p3 /mnt/windows may work instead. If the command succeeds, open /mnt/windows in your file manager or list its contents with ls /mnt/windows.
6. Mount read-write only after a clean shutdown. If you need to change files, first verify that Windows is fully shut down and the volume is not hibernated or flagged as needing recovery. Then run sudo umount /mnt/windows if it is already mounted, followed by sudo mount -t ntfs-3g -o rw /dev/nvme0n1p3 /mnt/windows. Do not override a warning about hibernation or an unsafe volume just to gain write access. Use Windows to shut down cleanly, or keep the Linux mount read-only.
7. Use the files and unmount when finished. Copy needed files to a Linux-owned location. Before disconnecting an external drive or shutting down, close files and applications using it, then run sudo umount /mnt/windows. If you see “target is busy,” close the file manager window and any terminal whose current directory is inside the mount, then try again. Unmounting flushes pending writes and reduces the risk of filesystem damage.

Common Mistakes

• Choosing the wrong partition: Mounting an EFI or recovery partition will not show your usual Windows folders. Confirm the filesystem and size with lsblk -f.
• Guessing a device name: Disk names can change between computers and boots. Identify the partition each time rather than copying an example literally.
• Writing to a hibernated volume: Windows Fast Startup is a partial hibernation. Writing from Linux while Windows has saved a suspended state can cause lost changes or filesystem damage. Do not force the mount.
• Expecting Linux permissions to match Windows permissions: NTFS ownership and access controls may be presented through mount options rather than as native Linux file permissions. A successful mount does not guarantee every file is accessible or editable.
• Unplugging without unmounting: This can interrupt pending writes. Always unmount first and wait for the command to finish.

Tips

• Use read-only mode for recovery, inspection, or when the Windows installation is not available to shut down cleanly.
• Prefer copying files to Linux over editing Windows system files. Changes to boot, registry, or system files can prevent Windows from starting.
• If the drive is external, connect it directly where possible and avoid unplugging it during a copy.
• For repeated access, a file manager may offer the drive in its sidebar. Confirm the partition carefully before clicking; graphical tools can still mount it read-write.
• Do not add a permanent mount entry to /etc/fstab until you can identify the volume reliably and understand the options. A removable or encrypted drive may not be available at boot.

Troubleshooting

• “Unknown filesystem type ‘ntfs’” or missing driver: Install your distribution’s NTFS support package, commonly ntfs-3g, using its normal package manager. Retry the mount command afterward.
• “The NTFS partition is in an unsafe state” or “hibernated”: Do not force a write mount or run repair tools casually. If possible, boot Windows, disable Fast Startup and hibernation, then shut down fully. If Windows cannot start, mount read-only to copy important files, if Linux permits it, and consider professional help for valuable data.
• “Wrong fs type,” bad superblock, or mount failure: Recheck the device path and filesystem using lsblk -f. Make sure you selected the NTFS data partition, not the whole disk or a small system partition.
• Permission denied while opening files: Check whether the mount succeeded with findmnt /mnt/windows, and inspect the file’s Windows access restrictions. Do not use broad permission-changing commands on the Windows volume as a workaround.
• “Target is busy” on unmount: Close applications and file-manager windows using the mount. Run sudo fuser -vm /mnt/windows to identify processes that may be holding it, then close them normally and retry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Linux read a Windows system drive?
Usually, yes. Linux distributions commonly support NTFS, but encryption, filesystem damage, or Windows hibernation can prevent access or limit it to read-only.

Is mounting the drive the same as booting Windows?
No. Mounting makes its files available within Linux; it does not start Windows or run Windows applications.

Can I write files to the Windows drive?
Usually, if the volume is healthy, unencrypted or unlocked, and Windows was fully shut down. Use read-only mode when those conditions are uncertain.

What if the drive uses BitLocker?
You need the recovery key and a compatible way to unlock it before accessing files. Do not format the volume or attempt an ordinary NTFS mount as a substitute.

Will mounting erase or change the drive?
A read-only mount should not write file changes. A read-write mount can change the volume, so use it only when needed and unmount cleanly.

How do I know which partition contains Windows?
Use lsblk -f to compare filesystem type, label, and size. The main Windows partition is commonly the large NTFS partition, but verify rather than relying on its device name.

Related

• Fix Windows Upgrade Error 0x80090011
• Fix Microsoft Store Apps Not Updating
• v0 Alternatives: Which Fits Your Web App Build?