Windows 11 New File System ReFS Is on the Way, Here We Go

What Is ReFS File System?

The full name of ReFS is Resilient File System. It is the newest file system, which was introduced with Windows Server 2012. It is the next-generation file system after NTFS.

ReFS has many advantages. For example, it can maximize data availability, scale efficiency to large data sets across diverse workloads and offer data integrity to the damaged resiliency. It can also resolve a series of expanding storage scenarios and lay a solid foundation for innovation in the future.

You can find more information about ReFS here: What Is Resilient File System (ReFS) and How to Use It.

What Is NTFS File System

When referring to ReFS, you also need to know NTFS, which was introduced in 1992. Currently, your Windows 10/11 computer is pre-formatted to NTFS. NTFS is still the mainly used file system on Windows.

You can find more information about NTFS here: What Is NTFS (Including Pros and Cons of It).

NTFS vs. ReFS

Compared with NTFS, ReFS wins in data availability and scalability. In addition, NTFS supports a maximum of 256 terabytes, while ReFS supports up to 35 petabytes. However, ReFS doesn’t support system compression and encryption.

You can find more comparison information about NTFS vs ReFS: ReFS vs NTFS: What’s the Difference Between Them?

Windows 11 Is Getting a New File System – ReFS

Previously, ReFS is only applied to Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows Server 2012.

Since Windows 11 Build 25276 (released in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program), Microsoft begins to introduce ReFS to Windows 11. This means that Microsoft begins to text this new file system on Windows 11 and Windows 11 new file system ReFS should be available in the future.

Windows 11 Build 25276 is an independent update. It is not tied to any specified Moment or feature updates. Windows 11 Build 25276 ISO download is also available via Microsoft. You can use the ISO file to upgrade Windows 11, 10, or even Windows 7 to this build.

If you want to use the ReFS file system on your Windows 11 computer, you can download and install Windows 11 Build 25276 now on your device.

Here is how to download Windows 11 Insider preview ISOs.

Convert ReFS to NTFS

Since ReFS is already available on Windows Server, some may ask this question: how to convert ReFS to NTFS?

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to convert ReFS to NTFS now. The only thing you can do is back up your files in the ReFS drive, reformat the drive to ReFS, and then restore your files to the NTFS drive.

ReFS support on Windows 11 Is Still Working in Progress

Microsoft is still working on ReFS support on Windows 11. This means Windows 11 ReFS is not widely used currently. Only Insiders in the Dev Channel and Windows Server users can use this file system now. This new file system could be the default file system on some new hardware by the end of the year. But changes may happen later. Let’s wait together.