$Mft is the NTFS "Master File Table" – it's the file which holds all information about what files you have and where they are physically.
You seem to have about 8 million files, so assuming a ~1 kB metadata entry per file, an 8 GB $Mft is entirely reasonable.
Answer from grawity on Stack ExchangeMicrosoft Learn
Master File Table (Local File Systems) - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn
September 5, 2024 - The NTFS file system contains a file called the master file table, or MFT. There is at least one entry in the MFT for every file on an NTFS file system volume, including the MFT itself.
How to view master file table.
r/windows • 4 • January 14, 2024
How to view master file table.
4
• January 14, 2024I don't believe there is a native way to do it, but I would use testdisk if I had to. Something to note is a modern window install will use GPT rather then MFT, sit wont exist in that case. More on reddit.com
$MFT where is it located???
forensicfocus.com • August 29, 2008
$MFT where is it located???
I am currently working on some new software and I am trying to locate the $mft, I was able to find information about Fat based systems but from what I... More on forensicfocus.com
windows - Location of MFT file? - Stack Overflow
stackoverflow.com
windows - Location of MFT file? - Stack Overflow
I have a partition, formatted as NTFS. I have studied that devices formatted as NTFS have a MFT (Master File Table) which contains a lot of information about the contents of a devices. Is MFT rea... More on stackoverflow.com
Windows 10: The master file table's (MFT) BITMAP attribute is incorrect.
r/techsupport • 7 • February 6, 2019
Windows 10: The master file table's (MFT) BITMAP attribute is incorrect.
7
• February 6, 2019From what I see, you need to check the system drive as well. Check this article for instructions. https://www.tekrevue.com/tip/fix-hard-drives-chkdsk-windows-10/ More on reddit.com
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ScienceDirect
Master File Table - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
The Master File Table (MFT) is the central metadata repository within the New Technology File System (NTFS), serving as the master list of files and containing metadata for every file object on the system, including files and directories. 1 2 Each file and directory on a Windows system has ...
Microsoft Learn
How NTFS reserves space for MFT - Windows Server | Microsoft Learn
January 15, 2025 - Describes how NTFS reserves space for its Master File Table (MFT).
Sygnia
The Forensic Value of MFT Slack Space in Modern Windows Systems
April 23, 2025 - Discover how MFT slack space in NTFS can reveal critical file metadata, even on modern Windows 10 and 11 systems. Learn its forensic significance, recovery techniques, and why it's often overlooked by standard digital forensics tools.
Microsoft Learn
Master File Table (Developer Notes) - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn
January 6, 2021 - A file may have one or more MFT records, and can contain one or more attributes. In NTFS, a file reference is the MFT segment reference of the base file record.
Flatcap
$MFT (0) - File - NTFS Documentation
In NTFS, everything on disk is a file. Even the metadata is stored as a set of files. The Master File Table (MFT) is an index of every file on the volume.
MCSI Library
Windows Master File Table (MFT) in Digital Forensics — MCSI Library
In a classroom, a teacher would have details of all the students who have enrolled in a particular course. Details about each student like student ID, name, enrolment date, etc. are stored in an or...
Velociraptor
Windows.NTFS.MFT :: Velociraptor - Digging deeper!
MFTPath: optional filter for offline MFT processing. NOTE: Generally more efficient to filter on filename. Multiple filters are cumulative. OSPath output now uses expected Windows backslash “\”.
Asdfed
Master File Table - MFT and Computer Forensics.
Get Access to the latest Digital - Computer Forensics and eDiscovery training materials in MP3 lectures and other materials.
Goanywhere
How Windows Works with GoAnywhere MFT | Fortra's GoAnywhere
October 7, 2021 - Improve your Windows secure file transfer when you use GoAnywhere MFT’s SFTP server. Learn how running managed file transfer (MFT) on Windows streamlines and simplifies your processes.
IDERA
Master File Table | IDERA
July 7, 2025 - To view a full list list of MFT attributes, just click on “View” in an open folder with at least one file or subfolder, and then select “Choose Details.” You can make attributes visible by checking or unchecking the boxes in the left column of the pop-up window.
Ten Forums
Master File Table ($MFT) size and speed - Windows 10 Help Forums
June 18, 2020 - Hello. Is there any relation to access speed and \\$MFT size? I am wondering because when you have one big partition only (C drive) the \\$MFT can grow pretty huge. I have seen \\$MFT sizes ranging from 600 to 1000MB in size. Is the \\$MFT loaded all the
Forensic Focus
$MFT where is it located???
August 29, 2008 - I am currently working on some new software and I am trying to locate the $mft, I was able to find information about Fat based systems but from what I...
Forensics
$mft -
In an NTFS volume the \$MFT metadata file keeps records of all file entries in the volume.
Wikipedia
MFT - Wikipedia
August 18, 2025 - Look up MFT in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikipedia
NTFS - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - Notably affected structures are the volume allocation bitmap, modifications to MFT records such as moves of some variable-length attributes stored in MFT records and attribute lists, and indices for directories and security descriptors. ... $LogFile versions implemented by Windows 8, Windows ...