How to enable new ReFS Dev Drive creation settings on Windows 11

Windows 11 hides a new feature to create ReFS Dev Drives, and here's how to enable it on the Settings app.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
Pureinfotech Logo
Windows 11 Dev Drives with ReFS
Windows 11 Dev Drives with ReFS

On Windows 11 build 25324 (Canary Channel), you can enable an early preview of a new experience to create Dev Drives with the ReFS file system.

Microsoft is experimenting with a new feature that allows you to create drives using the Resilient File System (ReFS). The feature is currently hidden on build 25324 and was first spotted by @PhantomOfEarth on Twitter. Once enabled, you will find a new “Dev Drives” entry in the “For developers” page that takes you to the “Disks & volumes” page, where you can create a Dev Drive with ReFS.

If you want to get hands-on with the new feature, you can use a third-party tool called “ViveTool,” created by Rafael Rivera and Lucas on GitHub, to enable the option on your computer.

This guide will teach you the steps to turn on this new feature on Windows 11.

Enable new ReFS Dev Drive creation settings on Windows 11

To enable the new settings to create drives with ReFS on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open GitHub website.

  2. Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable the Dev Drive creation settings.

  3. Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.

  4. Click the Extract all button.

    Extract ViveTool files

  5. Click the Extract button.

  6. Copy the path to the folder.

  7. Open Start.

  8. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  9. Type the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder and press Enter:

    cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x

    In the command, remember to change the path to the folder with your path.

  10. Type the following command to enable the new settings to create drives with ReFS and press Enter:

    vivetool /enable /id:42866187

  11. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, on the “For developers” page, you will find new “Dev Drives” settings to access the “Disks & volumes” pages to create a new Dev Drive with ReFS.

If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but on step 10, make sure to use the vivetool /disable /id:42866187 command and then restart the computer.

Update April 10, 2023: The feature appears to be working in the latest preview of Windows 11 available through the Canary Channel. If you want to create a drive using this feature, you have to make the equal or larger than 50GB.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].