How to Mount and Access Ext4 Partition in Mac Guide

Accessing Ext4 Partitions on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you frequently work with Linux and need to access data from Ext4-formatted drives on your Mac, you'll encounter a significant hurdle since macOS does not natively support Ext4 filesystems. However, there are several methods to overcome this limitation.

Method 1: Using MacFUSE and ext4fuse

To access Ext4 partitions on your Mac, you can use the open-source tools MacFUSE and ext4fuse. Here’s how to set it up:

Install MacFUSE:
- Go to the MacFUSE website and download the latest version for macOS.
- Double-click the installer to open it, then double-click the icon labeled “Install macFUSE” to start the installation.
- Near the end of the installation process, you’ll get a message saying that a system extension was blocked. Click the lock icon in the bottom left, then click “Allow” to proceed.
Install ext4fuse:
- If you don’t already have Homebrew installed, you need to install it first. Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that simplifies the installation of software.
- Once Homebrew is installed, run the following command in your Terminal to install ext4fuse:
```
brew install ext4fuse
```
Identify the Drive:

Plug in the hard disk drive and run the following command to list all available drives:
```
diskutil list
```
Take note of the ID for your Ext4 partition, which will be something like /dev/disk3s1.

Mount the Drive:
- Use the following command to mount the Ext4 partition. Replace /dev/disk3s1 with your partition ID and ~/tmp/MY_DISK_PARTITION with your desired mount point:
```
sudo ext4fuse /dev/disk3s1 ~/tmp/MY_DISK_PARTITION -o allow_other
```
- Navigate to the /tmp/ directory in Finder, and you should see the contents of your partition listed.

Important Considerations

Stability Warning: While these tools can help you read from Ext4-formatted drives, they are not very stable. It is recommended to use these tools in read-only mode to avoid risking data loss. If you need to write to the Ext4 drives, consider using a different filesystem like ExFAT or a commercial solution.
Permissions: You may need to add your user to the _lpoperator group to get read access to the data. You can do this by running:
```
sudo /usr/sbin/dseditgroup -o edit -a your_username -t user _lpoperator
```
Replace your_username with your actual username.

Method 2: Using Paragon ExtFS

For a more stable and user-friendly solution, you can use Paragon ExtFS, a commercial software that provides read-write access to Ext4 drives.

Download and Install Paragon ExtFS:
- Download the Paragon ExtFS software from the official website.
- Follow the installation instructions, and restart your Mac when prompted.
Mount the Drive:
- Launch Paragon ExtFS from the Applications folder.
- The Ext4 volumes will appear in the Paragon ExtFS interface, allowing you to read, write, modify, and transfer data seamlessly.

Alternative Solution: Using a Linux Virtual Machine

If you prefer not to install additional software on your Mac, you can use a Linux virtual machine to access Ext4 partitions.

Install VirtualBox:
- Download and install VirtualBox from the official website.
Install a Linux Distribution:
- Install a Linux distribution of your choice within the virtual machine.
Mount the Drive:

Mount the Ext4 drive inside the virtual machine. Since Linux natively supports Ext4, you can safely read and write to the disk.

Unmounting the Drive

To unmount the Ext4 partition, you can use the following command if you used the MacFUSE and ext4fuse method:

umount ~/tmp/MY_DISK_PARTITION

Alternatively, you can click on the small "eject" button in Finder to unmount the drive.

Additional Tips

Ejecting Drives: To safely eject external drives, you can use the "eject" button in Finder or run the following command:
```
diskutil eject /dev/diskXsY
```
Replace /dev/diskXsY with your drive's identifier.
Showing Hidden Files: If you need to see hidden files in Finder, you can run the following command:
```
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -boolean true; killall Finder;
```
This will show all hidden files in Finder by default.