Linux 7.1 introduces a new NTFS driver, significantly improving support for Microsoft’s widely used filesystem. The code is merged for the 7.1 cycle, while the existing read-only NTFS driver and the separate NTFS3 driver remain in the kernel tree.
Kernel developer Namjae Jeon submitted the new driver, which is now merged into Linus Torvalds’ tree for Linux 7.1. Jeon described it as the result of four years of work focused on full write support, modern kernel integration, improved stability, and enhanced utility support for NTFS on Linux.
“Ever since Kari Argillander’s 2022 report regarding the “orphan” state of the ntfs3 driver, I have spent the last 4 years working to provide full write support and current trends(iomap, no buffer head, folio), enhanced performance, stable maintenance, utility support including fsck for NTFS in Linux.”
The previous in-kernel NTFS code was limited to read-only access. As you can see from Jeon’s message, the new implementation adds full write support and builds on the existing NTFS driver by extending it with delayed allocation, iomap support, folio conversion, and the removal of the buffer_head dependency.
On top of that, the new driver aligns with current kernel infrastructure, supporting buffered I/O, direct I/O, extent mapping, readpages, and writepages through iomap. The conversion also eliminates the CONFIG_BUFFER_HEAD requirement from the driver’s Kconfig dependency. Testing results are notable: the new NTFS driver passes 326 xfstests, compared to 273 for NTFS3.
The pull request also highlights broader functionality beyond basic read and write operations. The new driver adds support for fallocate, idmapped mounts, and permissions, and introduces a userspace utility suite called ntfsprogs-plus, which includes fsck-related tools for NTFS.
This development is important for Linux users, as NTFS is common in dual-boot systems, removable storage, and mixed Linux-Windows environments. In light of this, native kernel support for reading and writing NTFS volumes remains essential for many users and administrators transferring data between systems.
Finally, when can we expect it? Linux kernel 7.0 was released recently, on April 12. If the usual release schedule continues, Linux kernel 7.1 is expected in mid-to-late June 2026.
