Raspberry Pi SD card on your Mac:
open rootfs, too
Insert the SD card into your Mac and only bootfs shows up—rootfs, where the system and your files live, is missing, and you get "The disk you attached was not readable by this computer." That's because rootfs uses Linux's Ext4 format. Follow the steps below to open it right in Finder.
Raspberry PiJetsonOrange PiLinux SD cardsLast updated
Two partitions on the SD card
| Formats | Mac read/write out of the box? | What's inside | |
|---|---|---|---|
| bootfs (boot) | FAT32 | ✓ | Boot files, config.txt, cmdline.txt |
| rootfs | Ext4 | No—requires CrossDriver Ext4 | The system, /etc config files, and personal files in /home |
Open your Raspberry Pi's rootfs on a Mac
- 1
Insert the SD card
Connect the SD card to your Mac with a card reader. When you see "The disk you attached was not readable by this computer," click "Ignore"—don't initialize it.
- 2
Open CrossDriver Ext4
rootfs appears in the sidebar; click "Open Disk." The free version lets you browse it read-only in Finder and copy photos and projects.
- 3
Edit files
Start a 7-day free Pro trial or upgrade to Pro to edit config files in /etc and add files to /home directly.
- 4
Eject before removing the card
Click "Eject" and wait for changes to be written to the SD card before removing it; then put it back in the Raspberry Pi and boot.
What you can do on a Mac
Edit configs
Change network, service, and other config files without hooking up a monitor and keyboard.
Back up your data
Copy projects, sensor data, and photos from /home to your Mac.
Repair after power loss
If the Pi fails to mount the card after a sudden power loss, fix it with "Check Disk" and "Repair Disk" (e2fsck).
Q&A
Why do I only see bootfs?
bootfs is FAT32, which a Mac can read and write directly; rootfs is Ext4, which macOS doesn't support, so it doesn't show up.
Can a Mac flash a Raspberry Pi OS image directly?
Yes—just use the official Raspberry Pi Imager; you don't need CrossDriver for that. CrossDriver is for opening and editing SD cards that already have a system installed.
What about SD cards from Jetson, Orange Pi, or other Linux devices?
Yes. Any Ext2, Ext3, or Ext4 partition can be opened with CrossDriver Ext4.
Can it open Steam Deck microSD cards?
Not yet. Steam Deck storage cards use the casefold (case-insensitive) feature, which isn't supported yet.
Mac says the SD card needs to be formatted?
Don't format it—that erases the system and data on the card. Click "Ignore," then open it with CrossDriver Ext4.
Related products and guides
CrossDriver Ext4
Read and write Ext2 / Ext3 / Ext4 disks and Raspberry Pi SD cards on a Mac.
How to open Ext4, XFS, and other Linux drives on Mac
Ways to open Ext4, XFS, Btrfs and other Linux drives on a Mac.
CrossDriver Omni
Read and write NTFS, Ext4, XFS, Btrfs, F2FS, and ZFS, all in one app.
Format an external drive as exFAT or NTFS on Mac
Format disks on a Mac: exFAT, NTFS, Ext4, and more.
Insert your SD card and try it free
Download CrossDriver Ext4 and open rootfs in Finder for free.
Download for Mac — Free preview