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In context: Microsoft introduced the original version of ReFS in 2012 alongside the enterprise-focused Windows Server 2012. At the time, the company stated that the new file system was intended to replace NTFS. However, NTFS remains the de facto standard for storage and file management in modern Windows versions.
At last, Microsoft appears to be taking action with its Resilient File System (ReFS) technology. Despite being 14 years old, the storage format remains largely unfamiliar to most Windows users. However, it is now being offered as an optional choice in a recent Windows 11 preview build.
Discovered by a prolific Windows insider, the new option appears in Windows 11 Build 27823. According to him, a hidden menu – accessed via an invisible button – allows users to format partitions and unallocated disk space using a new “Flexible Storage” option. A pop-up menu then provides two file system choices: the default NTFS format or the ReFS technology.
I was unable to find any particularly relevant information about the “Flexible Storage” moniker on Google, so it’s unclear exactly what Microsoft means by this term. Meanwhile, Redmond provides a basic overview of ReFS on its Microsoft Learn network. The new file system is designed to support larger storage capacities, improve efficiency in scaling large datasets, and offer greater resiliency against data corruption.
Designed as the “next generation” of Windows file systems and a potential replacement for NTFS, ReFS offers significant improvements over the aging storage technology, which dates back to Windows NT 3.1. A ReFS partition can be formatted up to 35 petabytes and can even contain a single file as large as the entire volume. In contrast, NTFS volumes max out at 256 terabytes.
The button for it is in a very normal place. pic.twitter.com/CftyJzWNfv
– phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) March 26, 2025
ReFS introduces advanced features such as block cloning, file-level snapshots, and more. However, it lacks traditional NTFS capabilities (see a comparison table here), including bootable volumes, file compression, encryption, short file names, and support for removable media. Microsoft states that these features are unavailable “at this time,” suggesting they may be added in the future… or perhaps not.
Despite being a highly advanced storage technology, ReFS remains an enterprise and server-focused solution for now. The hidden menu discovered in Windows 11 Build 27823 could indicate Microsoft’s intent to bring ReFS to consumer versions of Windows.
Meanwhile, the open-source community is working on unofficial ReFS documentation, and the German company Paragon Software offers its own closed-source ReFS driver.
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