Why can’t I access my Linux drive from Windows 10 in my dual boot setup?

Linux can read Windows files because it supports the NTFS file system, but by default, Windows doesn't support Linux file systems like ext4. So, while you can see your Windows drive in Linux, Windows will struggle to recognize your Linux drive and just view it as an unknown file system.

Windows typically provides minimal support for non-native file systems, so you might have trouble accessing your Linux partitions. To fix access issues, make sure to disable the fast startup option in Windows, as it may lock the drives, preventing Linux from writing to them.

If you want Windows to use ext4 partitions, you'll need to install additional drivers. However, I suggest sticking with NTFS or exFAT for any shared data partitions. That way, both systems can interact reliably without running into file system compatibility headaches.

For dual booting, it's best to have a separate partition for files to share between Windows and Linux. Using the exFAT file system for this partition will allow both operating systems to access it without issues. Just keep in mind that Windows tends to hibernate drives which can lock them out, so it might not be able to write to those drives while Linux is running.