Microsoft updates ReFS support for Windows 10, 11 and Server 2025

Microsoft is implementing changes to how its Resilient File System (ReFS) interacts with different Windows environments. For Windows 10 and Windows 11, the company is tightening support for ReFS on removable media, such as USB drives and external SSDs. Starting with October cumulative updates, the system will enable auditing for these devices, logging event ID 524 when ReFS volumes are connected to removable media. Microsoft plans to move to a mandatory enforcement phase in January 2027, where mounting ReFS volumes on removable media will be blocked by default, though administrators will retain the ability to override this setting via group policy.

In contrast, Microsoft is expanding ReFS capabilities within Windows Server 2025. Through the Windows Server Insider Preview, ReFS can now be used as a boot file system for the first time. This allows the operating system to be installed directly onto an ReFS volume, removing a long-standing limitation that previously restricted the file system to data volumes. This update aims to integrate ReFS more deeply into server production scenarios by leveraging its data integrity features during the boot process.