This article explains how to access, write, and modify files on a Windows partition while in Linux, when using a computer that dual-boots Linux and Windows.
The Issue
The issue is that while you can view, access, and open files on the Windows storage partition from Linux (I’m using Linux Mint), you can’t modify anything. For instance, I can open a demonstration file, but I can’t rename it—it’s locked down. I also cannot copy and paste new files from Linux into the Windows partition. This is the problem we’ll fix.
The Fix
Ironically, to solve this, you must boot into Windows.
Once in Windows (I’m using Windows 11), we need to disable Fast Startup. To do this, you must use the Control Panel, not the newer Windows Settings.
To open the Control Panel, hit the Windows key and type “Control Panel” in the search bar. Open it. For the simplest navigation, ensure the View By option (near the top right) is set to “Category”.
- Click Hardware and Sound.
- Click Power Options.
- Click Choose what the Power button does, found on the left.
- We want to “Disable Turn on Fast Startup”. This feature, which helps your PC start faster after shutdown, is what prevents modification from Linux. You most likely need to click the “Change settings that are currently unavailable banner” before you can disable Fast Startup.
- Once Fast Startup has been disabled, click “Save” at the bottom.
- Reboot into Linux.
Honestly, using a modern computer with an SSD (Solid State Drive), disabling Fast Startup will likely only change your boot time by one or two seconds. The exact change also depends on your machine’s startup services. I have another article explaining how to make Windows bootup speed faster, more on that here.
Evidence of Successful Change
After rebooting:
-I can now rename the demonstration file on the Windows partition.
-I can copy a file (a PDF in this example) from my Linux partition into the Windows partition.
Why Fast Startup Causes the Problem
Even if your computer is set to boot Linux first, Windows can still “take priority” and lock the partition. The simplest way to think of this is that the Fast Startup feature acts like a VIP card for Windows. Even if Linux is “first in line,” for OS boot option during power up, Fast Startup lets Windows skip the line and get in immediately, effectively maintaining a “locked” state on the partition that prevents Linux from writing to it. By removing the Fast Startup VIP card, we unlock the partition, allowing you to write to the Windows files.
