Diskferry

Open an encrypted APFS drive on Windows

A Mac can encrypt an external drive with a password: Disk Utility calls the format "APFS (Encrypted)" (Apple). On Windows such a drive needs an app that understands APFS encryption and asks for the password.

Unlock it with Diskferry

  1. Find Mac drives

    The encrypted volume is listed with the others on the drive.

  2. Browse and enter the password

    Diskferry shows an unlock panel. Passwords are case-sensitive. The password is used only to read the drive and is never saved.

  3. Browse and copy as usual

    Folders, previews and verified copies work as on any other volume.

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What cannot be unlocked

  • The internal SSD of a Mac with a T2 or Apple silicon chip. Its encryption is tied to that Mac's hardware. Diskferry does not support it; Paragon says T2 volumes "aren't supported" (Paragon) and apfs-fuse lists "Hardware-encrypted volumes (internal drives of Macs with T2 chip)" as unsupported (apfs-fuse).
  • Encrypted .dmg disk images. Not supported in this version. Disk images on Windows
  • A forgotten password. Without the password the data cannot be read; there is no way around the encryption.

Other options for encrypted APFS

  • MacDrive 12 advertises "Full read/write access for encrypted APFS volumes with password authentication", $59.99 with a five-day trial.
  • Paragon APFS for Windows says it "Detects volumes encrypted by FileVault"; it does not say on that page whether it can unlock them.
  • DiskInternals Linux Reader lists encrypted APFS as "Preview only" in the free version and "Read and save files" in Pro, from $29.95.
  • 7-Zip could not open a password-protected APFS volume in our test ("Cannot open the file as [APFS] archive", 7-Zip 26.03, 27 October 2026).

Vendor quotes checked 30 October 2026.

Questions

Is my password sent anywhere?

No. Diskferry has no account and does not upload anything. The password is used on your PC to read the volume and is not stored.

Does Diskferry read FileVault?

FileVault encrypts a Mac's startup disk. On Macs with a T2 or Apple silicon chip that disk is the internal SSD, which Diskferry does not support. Password-encrypted external APFS volumes are supported.

Last updated 30 October 2026. Still stuck? Support replies in person.

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