{"id":40724,"date":"2025-12-30T17:30:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T09:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/?p=40724"},"modified":"2026-10-14T10:38:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T02:38:51","slug":"ntfs-master-file-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html","title":{"rendered":"Master File Table (MFT): Was sie ist und wie NTFS sie nutzt"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"40724\" class=\"elementor elementor-40724\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4psrvq dtec-docx-root dtec-post-40724 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b4psrvq\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-jtcodn0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"jtcodn0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The <strong>Master File Table (MFT)<\/strong> is an NTFS system file containing records that describe the files and folders on a volume. These records hold metadata, such as filenames and timestamps, and information needed to retrieve file contents. Windows uses the table to locate and manage files on NTFS-formatted storage.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>NTFS Master File Table<\/strong> belongs to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/what-is-ntfs-file-system.html\">NTFS file system<\/a>. It connects the names visible in File Explorer with the records and storage locations behind them. It is essential file-system metadata, not a file that users normally open or maintain themselves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-jfu1yrv elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"jfu1yrv\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:&quot;.faq-no-toc, h2:contains(Data Recovery Assessment)&quot;,&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__jfu1yrv\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Apri l&#039;indice dei contenuti\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__jfu1yrv\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Chiudi l&#039;indice dei contenuti\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__jfu1yrv\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-m6grz5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"m6grz5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Master File Table: Quick Facts<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ltta24y elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ltta24y\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Item<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td><p><strong>Explanation<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Abbreviation<\/p><\/td><td><p>MFT<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>System filename<\/p><\/td><td><p>$MFT<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Technical category<\/p><\/td><td><p>NTFS metadata file<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Scope<\/p><\/td><td><p>One NTFS volume<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Main purpose<\/p><\/td><td><p>Describe files, directories, and how their contents are stored<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Record coverage<\/p><\/td><td><p>At least one record for each file or directory, including the table itself<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Data storage<\/p><\/td><td><p>File contents can be resident inside a record or nonresident elsewhere on the volume<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Routine maintenance<\/p><\/td><td><p>No manual deletion or editing is required<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-grnu2sp elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"grnu2sp\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NTFS-Master-File-Table-543x1024.webp\" title=\"\" alt=\"Master File Table (MFT)\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-u8914v0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"u8914v0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Master File Table Explained in Plain English<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef8ky9u elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ef8ky9u\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Think of an NTFS volume as a library. Documents, photos, and videos are the books; the <strong>Master File Table<\/strong> is the catalog that identifies them and helps locate them.<\/p>\n<p>The analogy has one important limit. A sufficiently small file can have its contents stored inside its record. The table therefore does more than point to other locations: sometimes it contains the data itself.<\/p>\n<p>A filename such as <code class=\"dtec-inline-code\">report.docx<\/code> is useful to a person, but NTFS also needs to know which directory contains it and how to retrieve its contents. The table supplies the records that describe those relationships.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qqiqlqz elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"qqiqlqz\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How the Master File Table Works<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-gt4oi27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"gt4oi27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The easiest way to understand the mechanism is to follow a file through creation, opening, updating, and deletion.<\/p>\n<h3>Creating a File<\/h3>\n<p>When an application creates a file, NTFS assigns a base file record and stores its attributes. Those attributes describe different aspects of the file, including its name and data.<\/p>\n<p>If all attributes cannot fit into the base record, NTFS can use additional records. An attribute list identifies where the file&#8217;s attributes are located. Consequently, one file does not always correspond to exactly one record in the <strong>Master File Table<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Opening a File: A Simple Example<\/h3>\n<p>Suppose an application opens <code class=\"dtec-inline-code\">C:\\Projects\\report.docx<\/code>. At a simplified level, NTFS follows these relationships:<\/p>\n<ol><li><strong>Resolve the directory path.<\/strong> Directory indexes identify the entries along the requested path.<\/li><li><strong>Find the file reference.<\/strong> The entry for <code class=\"dtec-inline-code\">report.docx<\/code> refers to its base file record.<\/li><li><strong>Read the file&#8217;s attributes.<\/strong> NTFS interprets the record and any associated extension records.<\/li><li><strong>Retrieve the requested data.<\/strong> The $DATA attribute either contains the contents or describes their storage outside the record.<\/li><\/ol>\n<p>This illustrates the role of the <strong>Master File Table<\/strong> in file access. It is not a claim that every open operation physically rereads the whole table; Windows can cache file-system information.<\/p>\n<table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Data form<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td><p><strong>Where the contents are stored<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td><p><strong>How NTFS retrieves them<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Resident<\/p><\/td><td><p>Inside the file record<\/p><\/td><td><p>Reads the attribute value<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Nonresident<\/p><\/td><td><p>In clusters elsewhere on the volume<\/p><\/td><td><p>Uses the attribute&#8217;s mapping information<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<p>A cluster is an allocation unit on the volume. These mappings describe logical storage locations, not the physical arrangement of flash cells inside an SSD. Microsoft&#8217;s documentation explains the distinction through <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/win32\/devnotes\/attribute-record-header\" rel=\"nofollow\">resident and nonresident attribute structures<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Updating a File<\/h3>\n<p>Saving changes can alter file contents, file size, timestamps, or allocation information. NTFS updates the relevant data and metadata to reflect those changes. The exact changes depend on the operation: renaming a file and appending data affect different attributes.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Master File Table<\/strong> is therefore an active structure used during normal file operations, rather than a catalog created once and left unchanged.<\/p>\n<h3>Deleting a File<\/h3>\n<p>Once a file is actually deleted from the file system, its records can become available for reuse. Moving a file to the Recycle Bin is not the same as completing this deletion.<\/p>\n<p>The record header includes a sequence number that changes when a record is freed. Together with the record number, it helps distinguish a current file reference from an obsolete one. A reusable record should not be interpreted as a permanent archive of the deleted file.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8xjs9qd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8xjs9qd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Does a Master File Table Record Contain?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-zxkzdk6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"zxkzdk6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Each record starts with a header and contains attributes. The header describes the record; the attributes describe aspects of the file.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-s0rt6kv elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"s0rt6kv\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/what-is-mft.webp\" title=\"\" alt=\"Master File Table Record Contain\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ew1lj3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8ew1lj3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Component or information<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td><p><strong>Purpose<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Record header<\/p><\/td><td><p>Describes record status and information needed to interpret it<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>$STANDARD_INFORMATION<\/p><\/td><td><p>Holds basic metadata, including timestamps and file flags<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>$FILE_NAME<\/p><\/td><td><p>Stores a filename and a reference to its parent directory<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>$DATA<\/p><\/td><td><p>Represents file contents, either resident or nonresident<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>File size and allocation information<\/p><\/td><td><p>Describes the data stream&#8217;s logical length and allocated storage<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>$ATTRIBUTE_LIST, when required<\/p><\/td><td><p>Locates attributes distributed across multiple records<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Security identifier<\/p><\/td><td><p>Connects the file to its security information<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<p>These are selected components, not an exhaustive list. For a deeper explanation, see the guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/windows-fix\/master-file-table-records.html\">Master File Table records<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>File Size Is Different From Allocated Size<\/h3>\n<p>File size is the logical length of a data stream. Allocated size describes the storage allocated to it. For an ordinary nonresident, uncompressed file, allocation occurs in whole clusters, so allocated storage may exceed the logical file length.<\/p>\n<p>For example, on a volume with 4,096-byte clusters, an ordinary 5,000-byte nonresident data stream needs two clusters, or 8,192 bytes of allocated storage. This is an illustrative calculation, not a universal rule for resident, compressed, or sparse data.<\/p>\n<h3>A Filename Is Different From a Full Path<\/h3>\n<p>The $FILE_NAME attribute contains a name and a parent-directory reference. It does not simply store <code class=\"dtec-inline-code\">C:\\Projects\\report.docx<\/code> as one complete path field.<\/p>\n<p>A parser can reconstruct a path through directory relationships. This explains why a report may show a full path even though that path is not stored as a single attribute in the <strong>Master File Table<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Permissions Use Related Security Metadata<\/h3>\n<p>In NTFS 3.x, $STANDARD_INFORMATION includes a security identifier, while the $Secure metadata file stores security descriptors. Each record does not need to contain a separate, complete copy of every permission setting.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1mgagmv elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1mgagmv\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why the Master File Table Matters<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-sky8j7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"sky8j7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Understanding the <strong>Master File Table<\/strong> helps distinguish a file&#8217;s identity from its contents. A filename found in a metadata report does not, by itself, establish that the complete document remains readable.<\/p>\n<p>It also helps interpret technical output. For example, an MFT starting cluster identifies where the table begins on a volume. It does not identify the location of every user file or prove that the table is healthy.<\/p>\n<p>The practical lesson is to read each field for what it actually describes. Names, parent references, data mappings, and timestamps answer different questions; none is a substitute for a separate backup.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-yi4q65x elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"yi4q65x\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Master File Table vs NTFS and FAT<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-x5hglgh elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"x5hglgh\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>NTFS is the file system; the Master File Table is one of its central structures.<\/strong> The terms describe different levels of the storage system.<\/p>\n<table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Term<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td><p><strong>Meaning<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>NTFS<\/p><\/td><td><p>The file system organizing files and directories on a volume<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>MFT<\/p><\/td><td><p>The table of records describing those objects<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>$MFT<\/p><\/td><td><p>The NTFS metadata file containing the table<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>MFT record<\/p><\/td><td><p>An individual record within that table<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>FAT<\/p><\/td><td><p>A File Allocation Table used by FAT-family file systems to track cluster chains<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/what-is-fat32-file-system.html\">FAT32<\/a>, directory entries hold file information, while the FAT links the clusters allocated to files. NTFS uses file records and attributes, including mappings for nonresident data. The MFT is therefore not simply another name for a FAT.<\/p>\n<p>NTFS has other bookkeeping structures too. The volume&#8217;s $Bitmap tracks cluster allocation, while $MFT has its own bitmap for tracking record use. These answer different questions: which storage clusters are allocated, and which records are occupied.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1j5cm7i elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1j5cm7i\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Where Is the Master File Table Located?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-971652c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"971652c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The <strong>Master File Table<\/strong> resides on the NTFS volume it describes. Its special filename is $MFT, represented at the volume root\u2014for example, <code class=\"dtec-inline-code\">C:\\$MFT<\/code> for a volume mounted as C:.<\/p>\n<p>That is a logical location, not a fixed physical address shared by every drive. NTFS volume information exposes the starting logical cluster number through <code class=\"dtec-inline-code\">MftStartLcn<\/code>.<\/p>\n<p>The MFT zone is space reserved to accommodate table growth. It is distinct from the allocated records inside $MFT. For more detail about logical paths and cluster locations, read the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/master-file-table-location.html\">Master File Table location guide<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5wk9hkv elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5wk9hkv\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to View Master File Table Information in Windows<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-mpsn6xl elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"mpsn6xl\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>On Windows 10 or Windows 11, open an administrator Command Prompt or Terminal and run:<\/p>\n<ol><li>fsutil fsinfo ntfsinfo C:<\/li><\/ol>\n<p>Replace <code class=\"dtec-inline-code\">C:<\/code> with the appropriate NTFS drive letter. This command queries volume information; it does not repair or rebuild the table.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on the Windows version, the output can include these fields:<\/p>\n<table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Field<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td><p><strong>What it tells you<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Bytes Per FileRecord Segment<\/p><\/td><td><p>The record size used on this volume<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Mft Start Lcn<\/p><\/td><td><p>The starting logical cluster number of the table<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p>Mft Zone Start \/ End<\/p><\/td><td><p>The boundaries of the reserved growth zone<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<p>For example, a record size of 1,024 bytes describes one record segment. It does not mean every file is 1,024 bytes long or that the entire table occupies that amount of space.<\/p>\n<p>Microsoft documents the query in its <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows-server\/administration\/windows-commands\/fsutil-fsinfo\" rel=\"nofollow\">fsutil fsinfo command reference<\/a>. Viewing these summary fields is different from parsing individual records and checking file contents.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-yoodyor elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"yoodyor\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Common Misconceptions and Safety<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6q9zcf6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6q9zcf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>The MFT Is Not a Complete Backup<\/h3>\n<p>$MFTMirr duplicates a limited initial portion of the table, not every file record. Neither it nor the <strong>Master File Table<\/strong> provides a separate backup of all user files.<\/p>\n<h3>Its Presence Does Not Indicate Malware<\/h3>\n<p>$MFT is an expected NTFS metadata file. However, an unrelated downloaded file with \u201cMFT\u201d in its name should not automatically be treated as this system object. Identify the context before drawing conclusions about an unfamiliar filename.<\/p>\n<h3>Do Not Delete or Disable It<\/h3>\n<p>Manually deleting, overwriting, or editing $MFT can prevent NTFS from interpreting files correctly. It is not a cleanup target or an optional feature that can be switched off.<\/p>\n<p>If a drive becomes inaccessible, protect important data before choosing a repair workflow. CHKDSK repair options modify the file system; they are different from the information query shown above.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-esvls21 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"esvls21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Happens If the Master File Table Is Corrupted?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-huxgc65 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"huxgc65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A corrupted <strong>Master File Table<\/strong> can prevent NTFS from locating or interpreting files correctly. Files or folders may become inaccessible even when some underlying contents remain on the drive. However, a RAW volume or startup failure alone does not prove that the MFT is damaged.<\/p>\n<p>If important files are affected, prioritize data protection before attempting repairs. Avoid formatting the volume or immediately running <code class=\"dtec-inline-code\">chkdsk X: \/f<\/code>, which modifies the file system. Where possible, secure a backup or disk image first. For further guidance, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/disk-issue-fix\/chkdsk-raw-drive.html\">RAW drive troubleshooting guide<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qxe22j7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"qxe22j7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When to Use a Related Guide<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63pzg65 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"63pzg65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If the goal is to understand the <strong>Master File Table<\/strong>, no maintenance action is required.<\/p>\n<p>For genuinely deleted files, continue with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/deleted-file-recovery\">deleted file recovery guide<\/a>. For a RAW volume or a related CHKDSK message, use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/disk-issue-fix\/chkdsk-raw-drive.html\">RAW drive troubleshooting guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Detailed repair, table size, disk usage, fragmentation, and mirror analysis remain separate topics. They should be evaluated against the actual symptoms rather than added to a general definition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hc7cykb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"hc7cykb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9zhhacw elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9zhhacw\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The <strong>Master File Table<\/strong> supplies the records NTFS needs to describe files and retrieve their contents. Its attributes connect names, directory relationships, and data storage. Understanding those connections makes technical reports easier to interpret and explains why metadata, file contents, and backups serve different purposes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bpody7l elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bpody7l\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Master File Table FAQs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0fsmrj faq-no-toc dtec-faq elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-faq\" data-id=\"f0fsmrj\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-faq.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\n                <div class=\"elementskit-single-faq elementor-repeater-item-kp25qnf\">\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-header\">\n                <h3 class=\"elementskit-faq-title\">Is $MFT an Ordinary File With a .mft Extension?<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-body\">\n                No. $MFT is the special filename of an NTFS metadata file, not a document extension. A file named <code>example.mft<\/code> may belong to an unrelated application. Check its context and role before assuming that it is part of the NTFS Master File Table.            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"elementskit-single-faq elementor-repeater-item-lug6ajo\">\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-header\">\n                <h3 class=\"elementskit-faq-title\">Does Each NTFS Volume Have Its Own Table?<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-body\">\n                Yes. Each NTFS volume has its own Master File Table. Two NTFS volumes on the same physical disk therefore have separate tables. Drive letters are mount assignments used by Windows; the relevant boundary is the file-system volume, not the enclosure or the physical device.            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"elementskit-single-faq elementor-repeater-item-l3cx5pq\">\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-header\">\n                <h3 class=\"elementskit-faq-title\">Do Folders Have MFT Records Too?<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-body\">\n                Yes. Directories have records as well as regular files. Their attributes support indexes that organize directory entries. The table therefore represents the file-system hierarchy, including folders and metadata files, rather than only the documents, pictures, or videos that users open in applications.            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"elementskit-single-faq elementor-repeater-item-llw1ar2\">\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-header\">\n                <h3 class=\"elementskit-faq-title\">Can Multiple Filenames Refer to the Same File?<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-body\">\n                Yes. NTFS hard links allow multiple paths on the same volume to reference one underlying file. They do not create independent copies of its contents. A change made through one hard link affects the file accessible through the other links, which matters when interpreting names in metadata reports.            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"elementskit-single-faq elementor-repeater-item-pmauouq\">\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-header\">\n                <h3 class=\"elementskit-faq-title\">What Identifies a File&#039;s Entry in the Table?<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-body\">\n                An NTFS file reference identifies the base record through a record number and a sequence number. The sequence component helps distinguish a current reference from an obsolete one after the record is freed and reused. It is different from a filename or a reconstructed directory path.            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"elementskit-single-faq elementor-repeater-item-gyav21n\">\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-header\">\n                <h3 class=\"elementskit-faq-title\">Is the MFT the Same as the Windows Search Index?<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-body\">\n                No. The Master File Table is essential NTFS metadata used to describe and access files. The Windows Search index is a separate structure that supports searching. Rebuilding a search index does not rebuild the MFT, and a search problem does not automatically indicate damaged file-system records.            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"elementskit-single-faq elementor-repeater-item-07c3hb7\">\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-header\">\n                <h3 class=\"elementskit-faq-title\">Does a Listed Filename Prove That a File Is Recoverable?<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-body\">\n                No. A filename is metadata, while successful recovery also depends on the underlying contents being available and readable. A metadata listing alone cannot establish that a complete document or video survives. A recovered file must be checked in its application before it can be considered intact.            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"elementskit-single-faq elementor-repeater-item-c01kvri\">\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-header\">\n                <h3 class=\"elementskit-faq-title\">Can a Timestamp Prove When Someone Opened a File?<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elementskit-faq-body\">\n                Not by itself. NTFS has different timestamp fields, and their interpretation depends on the field and system behavior. Last-access information may not reflect every individual open operation. A single timestamp should not be treated as a complete record of user activity without supporting evidence.            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                                <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is $MFT an Ordinary File With a .mft Extension?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. $MFT is the special filename of an NTFS metadata file, not a document extension. A file named <code>example.mft<\/code> may belong to an unrelated application. Check its context and role before assuming that it is part of the NTFS Master File Table.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does Each NTFS Volume Have Its Own Table?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Each NTFS volume has its own Master File Table. Two NTFS volumes on the same physical disk therefore have separate tables. Drive letters are mount assignments used by Windows; the relevant boundary is the file-system volume, not the enclosure or the physical device.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do Folders Have MFT Records Too?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Directories have records as well as regular files. Their attributes support indexes that organize directory entries. The table therefore represents the file-system hierarchy, including folders and metadata files, rather than only the documents, pictures, or videos that users open in applications.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can Multiple Filenames Refer to the Same File?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. NTFS hard links allow multiple paths on the same volume to reference one underlying file. They do not create independent copies of its contents. A change made through one hard link affects the file accessible through the other links, which matters when interpreting names in metadata reports.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What Identifies a File&#039;s Entry in the Table?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"An NTFS file reference identifies the base record through a record number and a sequence number. The sequence component helps distinguish a current reference from an obsolete one after the record is freed and reused. It is different from a filename or a reconstructed directory path.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is the MFT the Same as the Windows Search Index?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. The Master File Table is essential NTFS metadata used to describe and access files. The Windows Search index is a separate structure that supports searching. Rebuilding a search index does not rebuild the MFT, and a search problem does not automatically indicate damaged file-system records.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does a Listed Filename Prove That a File Is Recoverable?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. A filename is metadata, while successful recovery also depends on the underlying contents being available and readable. A metadata listing alone cannot establish that a complete document or video survives. A recovered file must be checked in its application before it can be considered intact.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can a Timestamp Prove When Someone Opened a File?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Not by itself. NTFS has different timestamp fields, and their interpretation depends on the field and system behavior. Last-access information may not reflect every individual open operation. A single timestamp should not be treated as a complete record of user activity without supporting evidence.\"}}]}<\/script>\n                \n    <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Master File Table (MFT) is an NTFS system file containing records that describe the files and folders on a volume. These records hold metadata, such as filenames and timestamps, and information needed to retrieve file contents. Windows uses the table to locate and manage files on NTFS-formatted storage. The NTFS Master File Table belongs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":57515,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[725],"tags":[738],"class_list":["post-40724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wiki","tag-wiki"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.0 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Master File Table (MFT) | Amagicsoft<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what the Master File Table (MFT) stores, how NTFS uses its records, where $MFT is located, and how to view basic MFT info safely.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"de_DE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Master File Table (MFT): What It Is and How NTFS Uses It\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn what the Master File Table (MFT) stores, how NTFS uses its records, where $MFT is located, and how to view basic MFT info safely.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Amagicsoft\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/amagicsoft.2024\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-30T09:30:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-14T02:38:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"760\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Vasilii\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Amagicsoft\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Amagicsoft\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Verfasst von\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Vasilii\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Gesch\u00e4tzte Lesezeit\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11\u00a0Minuten\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Vasilii\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5cc725a7bfa9bc0e962db26a19dfb8c2\"},\"headline\":\"Master File Table (MFT): What It Is and How NTFS Uses It\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-30T09:30:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-14T02:38:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html\"},\"wordCount\":2310,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"WiKi\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Wiki\"],\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html\",\"name\":\"Master File Table (MFT) | Amagicsoft\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-30T09:30:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-14T02:38:51+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn what the Master File Table (MFT) stores, how NTFS uses its records, where $MFT is located, and how to view basic MFT info safely.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"de\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"de\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp\",\"width\":1350,\"height\":760,\"caption\":\"Learn what the Master File Table (MFT) stores\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wiki\\\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Master File Table (MFT): What It Is and How NTFS Uses It\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/\",\"name\":\"Amagicsoft\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Amagicsoft\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"de\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/cropped-logo_512x512-1.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/cropped-logo_512x512-1.webp\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Amagicsoft\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/amagicsoft.2024\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/Amagicsoft\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/zh\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5cc725a7bfa9bc0e962db26a19dfb8c2\",\"name\":\"Vasilii\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"de\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/12fbd3cf5c3fd435565e0ee05fea6fb3ae89413aafdccfb30c0c821c69a44d12?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/12fbd3cf5c3fd435565e0ee05fea6fb3ae89413aafdccfb30c0c821c69a44d12?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/12fbd3cf5c3fd435565e0ee05fea6fb3ae89413aafdccfb30c0c821c69a44d12?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Vasilii\"},\"description\":\"Vasilii is a data recovery specialist with around 10 years of hands-on experience in the field. Throughout his career, he has successfully solved thousands of complex cases involving deleted files, formatted drives, lost partitions, and RAW file systems. His expertise covers both manual recovery methods using professional tools like hex editors and advanced automated solutions with recovery software. Vasilii's mission is to make reliable data recovery knowledge accessible to both IT professionals and everyday users, helping them safeguard their valuable digital assets.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/vasilii-zaitsev-65894b376\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.amagicsoft.com\\\/de\\\/author\\\/vasilii\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Master File Table (MFT) | Amagicsoft","description":"Learn what the Master File Table (MFT) stores, how NTFS uses its records, where $MFT is located, and how to view basic MFT info safely.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html","og_locale":"de_DE","og_type":"article","og_title":"Master File Table (MFT): What It Is and How NTFS Uses It","og_description":"Learn what the Master File Table (MFT) stores, how NTFS uses its records, where $MFT is located, and how to view basic MFT info safely.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html","og_site_name":"Amagicsoft","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/amagicsoft.2024\/","article_published_time":"2025-12-30T09:30:02+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-10-14T02:38:51+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1350,"height":760,"url":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"Vasilii","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Amagicsoft","twitter_site":"@Amagicsoft","twitter_misc":{"Verfasst von":"Vasilii","Gesch\u00e4tzte Lesezeit":"11\u00a0Minuten"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html"},"author":{"name":"Vasilii","@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/person\/5cc725a7bfa9bc0e962db26a19dfb8c2"},"headline":"Master File Table (MFT): What It Is and How NTFS Uses It","datePublished":"2025-12-30T09:30:02+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-14T02:38:51+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html"},"wordCount":2310,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp","keywords":["WiKi"],"articleSection":["Wiki"],"inLanguage":"de"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html","url":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html","name":"Master File Table (MFT) | Amagicsoft","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp","datePublished":"2025-12-30T09:30:02+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-14T02:38:51+00:00","description":"Learn what the Master File Table (MFT) stores, how NTFS uses its records, where $MFT is located, and how to view basic MFT info safely.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"de","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"de","@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/master-file-table-mft-cover.webp","width":1350,"height":760,"caption":"Learn what the Master File Table (MFT) stores"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wiki\/ntfs-master-file-table.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Master File Table (MFT): What It Is and How NTFS Uses It"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/","name":"Amagicsoft","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"de"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/#organization","name":"Amagicsoft","url":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"de","@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/cropped-logo_512x512-1.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/cropped-logo_512x512-1.webp","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Amagicsoft"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/amagicsoft.2024\/","https:\/\/x.com\/Amagicsoft"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/person\/5cc725a7bfa9bc0e962db26a19dfb8c2","name":"Vasilii","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"de","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/12fbd3cf5c3fd435565e0ee05fea6fb3ae89413aafdccfb30c0c821c69a44d12?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/12fbd3cf5c3fd435565e0ee05fea6fb3ae89413aafdccfb30c0c821c69a44d12?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/12fbd3cf5c3fd435565e0ee05fea6fb3ae89413aafdccfb30c0c821c69a44d12?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Vasilii"},"description":"Vasilii ist ein Datenrettungsspezialist mit rund 10 Jahren praktischer Erfahrung in diesem Bereich. Im Laufe seiner Karriere hat er Tausende von komplexen F\u00e4llen mit gel\u00f6schten Dateien, formatierten Laufwerken, verlorenen Partitionen und RAW-Dateisystemen erfolgreich gel\u00f6st. Sein Fachwissen umfasst sowohl manuelle Wiederherstellungsmethoden mit professionellen Tools wie Hex-Editoren als auch fortschrittliche automatische L\u00f6sungen mit Wiederherstellungssoftware. Vasilii hat es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, zuverl\u00e4ssiges Wissen zur Datenwiederherstellung sowohl IT-Fachleuten als auch normalen Nutzern zug\u00e4nglich zu machen und ihnen dabei zu helfen, ihre wertvollen digitalen Ressourcen zu sch\u00fctzen.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vasilii-zaitsev-65894b376\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/author\/vasilii"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40724"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57520,"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40724\/revisions\/57520"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amagicsoft.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}