Forum Discussion
Can I access mac formatted hard drive on Windows?
I’m trying to access mac formatted hard drive on windows and not sure what the safest way is. I have an external drive that was used on a Mac, but now I need to open it on my Windows laptop to copy ...
You can try using Apple’s official solution: by following this official method and utilising the free Windows drivers provided by Apple, you can access mac formatted hard drive on windows pc without the need for third-party tools.
How to access mac formatted hard drive on windows pc
Step 1: Visit the official website to download Apple Software Update for Windows.
Step 2: You can also download the Bonjour printing service.
Step 3: Install the software; it will provide HFS+ driver support.
Step 4: Restart your Windows computer.
Finally, the software will connect to your Mac’s hard drive.
Pros
Official release
Safe and reliable
- Simple installation process
Cons
- Only supports HFS+
- Does NOT work with APFS drives on newer Macs
- Limited functionality compared to dedicated third-party tools