This guide is for:
- Users with external Mac drives that were formatted on a Mac and are unreadable on Windows.
- Dual-boot users (using Boot Camp) who’ve lost access to their macOS partition.
- Anyone dealing with a corrupted or deleted Mac partition, whether on an internal or external drive.
- Solutions to Recover Mac Volumes/Partitions on Windows
- Method 1: Use Specialized Tools (DIY on Windows)
- Method 2: Retrieve Mac Partition on Windows
- Method 2: Boot Camp Partition Recovery (Dual-Boot Scenarios)
- Method 3: macOS Recovery Mode (If You Have Mac Access)
- Special Scenarios
- When to Consider Professional Recovery?
- Conclusion
You might face issues like:
- External Mac drive not showing: The drive appears in Windows but can’t be opened.
- Accidentally deleted Boot Camp partition: The macOS partition was removed in Windows Disk Management.
- Corrupted Mac partition: The partition exists but throws errors when accessed.
Understanding Mac File Systems on Windows
Mac volumes use APFS (Apple File System) or HFS+, while Windows primarily uses NTFS or FAT32. Because Windows lacks native support for APFS and HFS+, it cannot mount or read those partitions. As a result, the drive may show up as unallocated, RAW, or unknown in Disk Management, even though your data still exists on the disk sectors.
This limitation is why recovery tools are essential — they bypass Windows’ file system layer and access the drive at a sector level, interpreting APFS/HFS+ structures independently.
Solutions to Recover Mac Volumes/Partitions on Windows
These methods apply to both external and internal Mac-formatted drives connected to a Windows PC.
Method 1: Use Specialized Tools (DIY on Windows)
1: HFS Explorer
Download and install HFS Explorer (requires Java Runtime Environment).
This tool can access and extract files from HFS+ partitions in read-only mode, useful if your drive is intact but simply unreadable on Windows, but it can’t recover deleted Mac partitions.
Download HFS Explorer from catacombae.org and install it on your Windows PC.
- Connect your Mac drive to the Windows PC.
- Open Disk Management to ensure the drive appears, even as “unallocated.”
- Launch HFS Explorer > select your HFS+ partition.
- Browse, preview, and extract files to a Windows-compatible location.
Note: HFS Explorer supports only HFS+, not APFS, and if the drive is APFS or shows no structure, move to Remo Recover instead.
- Browse files and copy them to a Windows-compatible drive, and safely eject the drive.
Understanding RAW Scans and Missing Filenames
When a partition’s file system structure (like the volume header or catalog file) is missing or unreadable, recovery tools switch to RAW signature scanning.
In this mode, only files detected through their binary patterns (e.g., JPEG, DOCX, MOV headers) are displayed. Because the file system tree is hidden, tools cannot restore the original folder structure or filenames. Recovered items are given auto-generated names such as File0001.jpg or Document001.docx.
This behavior is normal, filenames and directories exist only in the file system metadata, not within the file data itself.
Method 2: Retrieve Mac Partition on Windows
2: Remo Recover (Windows)
For lost or deleted partitions, or when the drive is corrupted, use Remo Recover for Windows.
It supports both APFS and HFS+ and reads the drive at a raw sector level, bypassing Windows limitations.
With a free trial for scanning and previewing files, you can ensure that your files are safe before proceeding purchase. Ensuring minimal risk of further data loss. Whether it’s a Mac hard drive, SSD, or external storage.
- Download and install Remo Recover on your PC.
- Connect the Mac drive or select the affected partition and click on Start Scan.
- Run a “Quick Scan” for recently deleted files or “Deep Scan” for corrupted/lost partitions (Deep Scan is more thorough).
- Preview the recoverable files to confirm integrity.
- Save recovered files to a separate Windows-compatible drive to avoid overwriting data.
3: TestDisk
For advanced users, TestDisk (cgsecurity.org) can rebuild partition tables and recover deleted HFS+/APFS partitions.
However, APFS support in TestDisk is still experimental, so rely on it mainly for HFS+ recovery or structural partition fixes.
Method 2: Boot Camp Partition Recovery (Dual-Boot Scenarios)
If you deleted your macOS partition while using Boot Camp, you’ll be left with only Windows.
Data may still be recoverable unless the partition was overwritten.
Boot into Internet Recovery:
- Restart your Mac and hold Command + R during startup until the Apple logo appears.
- Connect to Wi-Fi when prompted.
Open Disk Utility:
- In Recovery Mode, select Disk Utility.
- Check if the macOS partition is visible but corrupted. Run “First Aid” to repair.
Reinstall macOS:
- If the partition is gone, select “Reinstall macOS” from Recovery Mode.
- This reinstalls macOS without erasing user data (if the partition is intact).
Restore from Time Machine:
- If you have a Time Machine backup, select “Restore from Time Machine” and follow prompts.
Recreate Boot Camp Partition:
- After restoring macOS, open Boot Camp Assistant (Applications > Utilities) to recreate the Windows partition.
Troubleshooting Tips:
- Boot Camp Assistant Errors: Common errors like “The startup disk cannot be partitioned” mean insufficient free space (ensure 50GB free) or disk errors. Run Disk Utility’s First Aid on the entire disk. See support.apple.com for error codes.
- No Internet Recovery: Try Command + Option + R for older Macs.
- Slow Wi-Fi: Ensure a stable connection for Internet Recovery.
Also read: How to “Your Mac has no Volumes to Recover”.
Method 3: macOS Recovery Mode (If You Have Mac Access)
If you can still access a Mac (or another Mac system):
- Boot into Recovery Mode (Command + R at startup).
- Open Disk Utility:
- Select the affected partition and run First Aid to fix file system errors.
- If repair fails, select Reinstall macOS to restore system files without data loss.
- Use Time Machine to restore user data from a backup.
- For advanced recovery, run Remo Recover (Mac version) from an external drive in Recovery Mode.
Special Scenarios
FileVault Encryption
If FileVault is enabled, you’ll need the encryption password or recovery key to access data. Recovery tools can detect the encrypted volume, but cannot decrypt it without credentials.
If you’ve lost the key:
- Check iCloud (if stored there) via iCloud.com under “Find My” settings.
- Contact Apple Support (support.apple.com) with your Mac’s serial number.
APFS Snapshots
APFS volumes may contain snapshots (lightweight backups). In macOS Recovery’s Disk Utility, use the Restore option to roll back to a previous snapshot version.
Snapshots are accessible only from macOS, not from Windows.
APFS partitions may have snapshots (automatic backups of the file system). In Disk Utility (Recovery Mode), check the “Restore” option for snapshots to roll back data.
External vs. Internal Drives
- External Drives: Use HFS Explorer for HFS+ (read-only) or Remo Recover for APFS/HFS+ recovery.
- Internal Drives: If part of a dual-boot setup, use macOS Recovery or TestDisk. Always check Disk Management to ensure the drive is physically detected before scanning.
When to Consider Professional Recovery?
Seek professional help if:
- Critical Data: Business files or irreplaceable personal data.
- Physical Drive Issues: Clicking noises or the drive not being detected.
- Complex Cases: FileVault-locked drives or severe corruption.
Professional labs perform clean-room recovery, which is necessary for physical or firmware failures.
Conclusion
Recovering a Mac partition from Windows is absolutely possible, but timing and tool choice are crucial.
Stop using the affected drive immediately, avoid initializing it in Windows, and use reliable recovery utilities designed for APFS/HFS+.
For Windows users, HFS Explorer (HFS+ only), Remo Recover (APFS/HFS+), and TestDisk (for advanced cases) are your best options.
If the issue involves a dual-boot setup, macOS Recovery and Time Machine remain the safest paths to restore your system and data.
