: Open the software and select the drive. Use a "Fast Scan" to quickly locate your .vmdk files. Many of these tools allow you to "Mount as Disk," making the virtual machine files accessible like a standard folder. Method 2: Open Source VMFS Driver (Free / Legacy)
Never let Windows 10 "initialize," "format," or "create a simple volume" on a VMFS disk. Always use third-party tools that specifically recognize the VMFS signature. For production environments, consider using a separate Linux machine or VMware’s own vSphere Data Protection tools instead of direct Windows 10 access. windows 10 read vmfs
The implemented driver successfully enables Windows 10 to read VMFS. The driver provides a seamless experience for accessing and managing VMware virtual machines from within Windows 10. : Open the software and select the drive
(Free/Paid) This is the most popular tool for home users. The free version allows read-only access, letting you browse and recover files from VMFS 3, 5, and 6 (compatible with ESXi 5.x to 7.x). It integrates into Windows Explorer, so the VMFS drive appears as a regular drive letter. Method 2: Open Source VMFS Driver (Free /
For more technically proficient users, the Filesystem in Userspace (FUSE) architecture offers a robust alternative. While native to Linux, FUSE has been ported to Windows via tools like (Windows File System Proxy) and vmfs-tools .