Linux File Systems for Windows by Paragon Software: Access Ext, Btrfs, XFS on Windows

Okay, so, a few days ago I got this idea stuck in my head. I wanted to read some files on my Linux partitions, but I was using my Windows 10 machine. Naturally, I started looking for ways to access those Linux file systems from Windows.

After some digging around, I stumbled upon this software called “Linux File Systems for Windows by Paragon Software“. Seemed promising, so I decided to give it a shot. I went ahead and downloaded the trial version from their website.

The installation process was pretty straightforward. Just a few clicks, accepted the terms, and it was done. I even had to reboot the system. After that, I plugged in my external hard drive with the Linux partitions. Guess what? There they were, right in my File Explorer, just like any other drive! I could open them, browse the files, and everything. This was pretty cool. I could see my home folder and all my old files in there. It was just like I was back in my Linux environment.

• I tried opening some text files, worked like a charm.
• Tried some images too, no issues there.
• Even played a couple of music files directly from the Linux partition.

I was impressed! Then, I got a bit more adventurous. I wanted to see if I could actually write data to these partitions. So, I created a new text file, typed some random stuff in it, and saved it. It worked! I could modify files too. It felt like I had full control over my Linux partitions from within Windows. I was able to copy files from the Linux partition to my Windows desktop without any problems. It was as easy as dragging and dropping them.

Wrap up

This “Linux File Systems for Windows” thing by Paragon Software is a lifesaver. I’m going to have to get the paid version, but that’s a no-brainer at this point. It’s way easier than constantly switching between operating systems or setting up virtual machines. This software is definitely something I’d recommend to anyone who deals with both Windows and Linux. It’s a simple solution that just works. I mean, accessing and working with my Linux files directly from Windows? That’s just awesome!