diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 40eb843..ab66fe3 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ set(META_PUBLIC_STATIC_LIB_DEPENDS c++utilities_static)
 set(META_PRIVATE_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS LEGACY_API)
 
 # find c++utilities
-find_package(c++utilities 4.0.0 REQUIRED)
+find_package(c++utilities 4.4.0 REQUIRED)
 use_cpp_utilities()
 
 # find 3rd party libraries
diff --git a/abstractattachment.h b/abstractattachment.h
index a693d80..ae62038 100644
--- a/abstractattachment.h
+++ b/abstractattachment.h
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 
 #include <string>
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
 
diff --git a/backuphelper.cpp b/backuphelper.cpp
index ad5c9b1..86e0271 100644
--- a/backuphelper.cpp
+++ b/backuphelper.cpp
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ string &backupDirectory()
  * \brief Restores the original file from the specified backup file.
  * \param originalPath Specifies the path to the original file.
  * \param backupPath Specifies the path to the backup file.
- * \param originalStream A std::fstream instance for the original file.
- * \param backupStream A std::fstream instance for the backup file.
+ * \param originalStream Specifies a std::fstream instance for the original file.
+ * \param backupStream Specifies a std::fstream instance for the backup file.
  *
  * This helper function is used by MediaFileInfo and container implementations
  * to restore the original file from the specified backup file in the case a Failure
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ string &backupDirectory()
  *
  * \throws Throws std::ios_base::failure on failure.
  */
-void restoreOriginalFileFromBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, const std::string &backupPath, std::fstream &originalStream, std::fstream &backupStream)
+void restoreOriginalFileFromBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, const std::string &backupPath, NativeFileStream &originalStream, NativeFileStream &backupStream)
 {
     // ensure the orignal stream is closed
     if(originalStream.is_open()) {
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ void restoreOriginalFileFromBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, const st
  *
  * \throws Throws std::ios_base::failure on failure.
  */
-void createBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, std::string &backupPath, std::fstream &originalStream, std::fstream &backupStream)
+void createBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, std::string &backupPath, NativeFileStream &originalStream, NativeFileStream &backupStream)
 {
     // determine the backup path
     const string &backupDir = backupDirectory();
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ void createBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, std::string &backupPath,
  *                     no backup file has been created.
  * \param context      Specifies the context used to add notifications.
  */
-void handleFailureAfterFileModified(MediaFileInfo &fileInfo, const std::string &backupPath, std::fstream &outputStream, std::fstream &backupStream, const std::string &context)
+void handleFailureAfterFileModified(MediaFileInfo &fileInfo, const std::string &backupPath, NativeFileStream &outputStream, NativeFileStream &backupStream, const std::string &context)
 {
     // reset the associated container in any case
     if(fileInfo.container()) {
diff --git a/backuphelper.h b/backuphelper.h
index aa01a24..f2260d6 100644
--- a/backuphelper.h
+++ b/backuphelper.h
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "./global.h"
 
-#include <string>
-#include <fstream>
+#include <c++utilities/io/nativefilestream.h>
 
 namespace Media {
 
@@ -13,9 +12,9 @@ class MediaFileInfo;
 namespace BackupHelper {
 
 TAG_PARSER_EXPORT std::string &backupDirectory();
-TAG_PARSER_EXPORT void restoreOriginalFileFromBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, const std::string &backupPath, std::fstream &originalStream, std::fstream &backupStream);
-TAG_PARSER_EXPORT void createBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, std::string &backupPath, std::fstream &originalStream, std::fstream &backupStream);
-TAG_PARSER_EXPORT void handleFailureAfterFileModified(MediaFileInfo &mediaFileInfo, const std::string &backupPath, std::fstream &outputStream, std::fstream &backupStream, const std::string &context = "making file");
+TAG_PARSER_EXPORT void restoreOriginalFileFromBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, const std::string &backupPath, IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &originalStream, IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &backupStream);
+TAG_PARSER_EXPORT void createBackupFile(const std::string &originalPath, std::string &backupPath, IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &originalStream, IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &backupStream);
+TAG_PARSER_EXPORT void handleFailureAfterFileModified(MediaFileInfo &mediaFileInfo, const std::string &backupPath, IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &outputStream, IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &backupStream, const std::string &context = "making file");
 
 }
 
diff --git a/basicfileinfo.cpp b/basicfileinfo.cpp
index 4ef9590..2ca214e 100644
--- a/basicfileinfo.cpp
+++ b/basicfileinfo.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ BasicFileInfo::BasicFileInfo(const std::string &path) :
     m_size(0),
     m_readOnly(false)
 {
-    m_file.exceptions(fstream::failbit | fstream::badbit);
+    m_file.exceptions(ios_base::failbit | ios_base::badbit);
 }
 
 /*!
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void BasicFileInfo::reopen(bool readOnly)
  */
 void BasicFileInfo::close()
 {
-    if(m_file.is_open()) {
+    if(isOpen()) {
         m_file.close();
     }
     m_file.clear();
diff --git a/basicfileinfo.h b/basicfileinfo.h
index 2b2bbb9..536e7fb 100644
--- a/basicfileinfo.h
+++ b/basicfileinfo.h
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 #include "./global.h"
 
 #include <c++utilities/conversion/types.h>
+#include <c++utilities/io/nativefilestream.h>
 
 #include <string>
-#include <fstream>
 
 namespace Media {
 
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ public:
     bool isReadOnly() const;
     void close();
     void invalidate();
-    std::fstream &stream();
-    const std::fstream &stream() const;
+    IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &stream();
+    const IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &stream() const;
 
     // methods to get, set path (components)
     const std::string &path() const;
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ protected:
 
 private:
     std::string m_path;
-    std::fstream m_file;
+    IoUtilities::NativeFileStream m_file;
     uint64 m_size;
     bool m_readOnly;
 };
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ inline bool BasicFileInfo::isReadOnly() const
 /*!
  * \brief Returns the std::fstream for the current instance.
  */
-inline std::fstream &BasicFileInfo::stream()
+inline IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &BasicFileInfo::stream()
 {
     return m_file;
 }
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ inline std::fstream &BasicFileInfo::stream()
 /*!
  * \brief Returns the std::fstream for the current instance.
  */
-inline const std::fstream &BasicFileInfo::stream() const
+inline const IoUtilities::NativeFileStream &BasicFileInfo::stream() const
 {
     return m_file;
 }
diff --git a/genericfileelement.h b/genericfileelement.h
index 11bd2b4..e1ba5f9 100644
--- a/genericfileelement.h
+++ b/genericfileelement.h
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 #include <initializer_list>
 #include <memory>
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 #include <string>
 
 namespace IoUtilities {
diff --git a/matroska/matroskacontainer.cpp b/matroska/matroskacontainer.cpp
index 515440c..9352c96 100644
--- a/matroska/matroskacontainer.cpp
+++ b/matroska/matroskacontainer.cpp
@@ -1375,8 +1375,8 @@ nonRewriteCalculations:
 
     // -> define variables needed to handle output stream and backup stream (required when rewriting the file)
     string backupPath;
-    fstream &outputStream = fileInfo().stream();
-    fstream backupStream; // create a stream to open the backup/original file for the case rewriting the file is required
+    NativeFileStream &outputStream = fileInfo().stream();
+    NativeFileStream backupStream; // create a stream to open the backup/original file for the case rewriting the file is required
     BinaryWriter outputWriter(&outputStream);
     char buff[8]; // buffer used to make size denotations
 
diff --git a/mediafileinfo.cpp b/mediafileinfo.cpp
index bc20da9..810c355 100644
--- a/mediafileinfo.cpp
+++ b/mediafileinfo.cpp
@@ -1601,8 +1601,8 @@ void MediaFileInfo::makeMp3File()
         // setup stream(s) for writing
         // -> define variables needed to handle output stream and backup stream (required when rewriting the file)
         string backupPath;
-        fstream &outputStream = stream();
-        fstream backupStream; // create a stream to open the backup/original file for the case rewriting the file is required
+        NativeFileStream &outputStream = stream();
+        NativeFileStream backupStream; // create a stream to open the backup/original file for the case rewriting the file is required
 
         if(rewriteRequired) {
             if(m_saveFilePath.empty()) {
diff --git a/mp4/mp4container.cpp b/mp4/mp4container.cpp
index 8d5a01c..7a4b6dc 100644
--- a/mp4/mp4container.cpp
+++ b/mp4/mp4container.cpp
@@ -520,8 +520,8 @@ calculatePadding:
 
     // -> define variables needed to handle output stream and backup stream (required when rewriting the file)
     string backupPath;
-    fstream &outputStream = fileInfo().stream();
-    fstream backupStream; // create a stream to open the backup/original file for the case rewriting the file is required
+    NativeFileStream &outputStream = fileInfo().stream();
+    NativeFileStream backupStream; // create a stream to open the backup/original file for the case rewriting the file is required
     BinaryWriter outputWriter(&outputStream);
 
     if(rewriteRequired) {
diff --git a/ogg/oggcontainer.cpp b/ogg/oggcontainer.cpp
index cb5d68f..8225dac 100644
--- a/ogg/oggcontainer.cpp
+++ b/ogg/oggcontainer.cpp
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ void OggContainer::internalMakeFile()
     updateStatus("Prepare for rewriting OGG file ...");
     parseTags(); // tags need to be parsed before the file can be rewritten
     string backupPath;
-    fstream backupStream;
+    NativeFileStream backupStream;
 
     if(fileInfo().saveFilePath().empty()) {
         // move current file to temp dir and reopen it as backupStream, recreate original file
diff --git a/tag.h b/tag.h
index 25103bb..f443e7d 100644
--- a/tag.h
+++ b/tag.h
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 #include <c++utilities/conversion/types.h>
 #include <c++utilities/io/binaryreader.h>
 
-#include <fstream>
 #include <type_traits>
 #include <string>
 
diff --git a/wav/waveaudiostream.h b/wav/waveaudiostream.h
index 66403d6..6d5640b 100644
--- a/wav/waveaudiostream.h
+++ b/wav/waveaudiostream.h
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@
 
 #include "../abstracttrack.h"
 
-#include <fstream>
-
 namespace Media
 {