Starting in January 2027, Microsoft will implement new restrictions on the Resilient File System (ReFS) within Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. The operating system will block access to external storage devices and USB drives formatted with this file system by default.
Microsoft notes that these changes are part of a broader initiative to enhance system security. Although ReFS was designed for corporate and server environments, the company later introduced ReFS-based developer drives in Windows 11 to improve performance for specific tasks.
While ReFS technically allowed the creation of volumes on removable media, the file system was never officially supported for such devices. Microsoft clarifies that the new policy will prevent users from accessing files on these drives, but the data stored on the media will not be deleted.
