NTFSFIX(8)

📦
version 2026.9.28 · 6 versions
, in arch rolling, nixpkgs unstable

💅 NTFSFIX — bestie edition (man page NTFSFIX(8), System Manager's Manual)

okay so you found ntfsfix and you're like "omg is this Linux chkdsk??" — no babe. let me tell you everything. this is section 8 of the system manager's manual, and we're gonna get through it together 🫶

✨ NAME ✨

ntfsfix — fixes the common oopsies and forces Windows to actually check its NTFS. no cap.

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

ntfsfix [options] device

that's it. options, then a device. slay.

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

so ntfsfix is this little utility that fixes some common NTFS problems. and i need you to hear me on this one, bestie: ntfsfix is NOT a Linux version of chkdsk. like, not even close. it only repairs some fundamental NTFS inconsistencies, resets the NTFS journal file, and schedules an NTFS consistency check for the first boot into Windows. that's the whole job. it's giving "damage control," not "full glow-up."

you may run ntfsfix on an NTFS volume if you think it was damaged by Windows or some other way and it cannot be mounted. yes, we're blaming Windows, it's fine, it's a thing we do 😭

🎀 OPTIONS 🎀

below is a summary of all the options ntfsfix accepts. nearly all options have two equivalent names — the short name is preceded by - and the long name is preceded by --. any single letter options that don't take an argument can be combined into a single command, e.g. -fv is equivalent to -f -v (iykyk). long named options can be abbreviated to any unique prefix of their name. iconic behavior honestly ✨

  • -b, --clear-bad-sectors — clears the list of bad sectors. this is useful after cloning an old disk with bad sectors to a new disk 🤍 new disk, clean slate, no baggage.
  • -d, --clear-dirty — clears the volume dirty flag if the volume can be fixed and mounted. if the option is not present, or the volume cannot be fixed, the dirty volume flag is set to request a volume checking at next mount. so basically: try to un-dirty it, but if it's still messy, we flag it for a check. no shortcuts, periodt.
  • -h, --help — shows a list of options with a brief description of each one. the classic.
  • -n, --no-action — does not write anything, just shows what would have been done. it's giving manifesting — you see the vision, you just don't commit 💭
  • -V, --version — shows the version number, copyright and license. the receipts, bestie.

💀 BUGS 💀

there are no known problems with ntfsfix. truly a main character with zero scandals. but if you do find a bug, please send an email describing the problem to the development team:

ntfs-3g-devel@lists.sf.net

they want to know. spill the tea, respectfully 🙈

👑 AUTHORS 👑

ntfsfix was written by Anton Altaparmakov, with contributions from Szabolcs Szakacsits. it was ported to ntfs-3g by Erik Larsson and Jean-Pierre Andre. legends, all of them. we stan 🌈

⭐ AVAILABILITY ⭐

ntfsfix is part of the ntfs-3g package and is available from:

https://github.com/tuxera/ntfs-3g/wiki/

go get it, it's free 💖

🧚 SEE ALSO 🧚

mkntfs(8), ntfsprogs(8)

a gentle reminder before you go: this thing fixes some fundamental stuff and flags the rest for Windows. it is not a miracle worker and it is not chkdsk. manage your expectations and maybe back up your data, bestie 💜

okay that's the whole page!! this was ntfs-3g 2026.9.28, dated January 2013, and it is now officially read to filth 💅✨

📦 where this page comes from