How to Extract Files from a VHDX (Hyper-V) Disk Image on macOS
VHDX is the updated version of Microsoft's VHD virtual disk format, supporting disks up to 64 TB with better data corruption protection. Used by modern Hyper-V and Azure deployments, VHDX files require specialized tools on macOS.
The default way to open VHDX files on macOS
Tool: 7zz via Homebrew (third-party)
$ 7zz x disk.vhdxSteps
- Install 7-Zip via Homebrew: brew install 7zip
- Run: 7zz x disk.vhdx
Extract individual files from a VHDX archive
The default macOS tools extract everything — there's no way to pick individual files. MacPacker lets you browse VHDX archive contents, preview files, and extract only what you need — without unpacking the entire archive.
A better way: open VHDX files with MacPacker
MacPacker is a free, open-source macOS archive manager that supports VHDX and 30+ other formats. Unlike the default tools, MacPacker lets you:
- Browse archive contents like a folder
- Preview files with Quick Look without extracting
- Extract individual files via drag and drop
- Navigate nested archives (archives within archives)
- Enjoy a native SwiftUI interface that feels right at home on macOS
Get MacPacker
v0.15.1 · macOS 14+$ brew install --cask macpackerApp Store updates may lag a few days behind direct downloads due to Apple review.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between VHD and VHDX?
VHDX is the newer format supporting larger disks (up to 64 TB vs 2 TB for VHD) and better resilience. Both can be opened on macOS with MacPacker or 7-Zip.
Related formats
VHD is Microsoft's virtual disk format used by Hyper-V and Azure. Contains a complete filesystem image.
VMDK is VMware's virtual disk format. Contains the filesystem of a virtual machine.
VDI is VirtualBox's native virtual disk format. Contains the filesystem of a VirtualBox virtual machine.
QCOW2 is QEMU's disk image format with copy-on-write support, snapshots, and compression. Used in KVM/QEMU virtualization.