Apple to Drop Support for Encrypted Mac OS Extended Drives
Apple will stop supporting encrypted Mac OS Extended (HFS+) volumes in macOS 28, requiring users to decrypt or reformat affected external drives. This change, starting with macOS 26, aims to nudge users toward the newer APFS file system, which has been the default since 2017. Users with incompatible drives will receive notifications before the update.
Key points
- Apple will drop support for encrypted Mac OS Extended (HFS+) volumes in macOS 28.
- Affected users must decrypt or reformat their external drives before upgrading.
- The change will start showing up in macOS 26, with notifications for incompatible drives.
- Unencrypted Mac OS Extended volumes are not affected by this change.
- APFS, the default file system since 2017, natively supports encryption.
Apple's decision to drop support for encrypted Mac OS Extended (HFS+) volumes in macOS 28 has sparked concerns among users with incompatible external drives. The change, starting with macOS 26, will require users to decrypt or reformat their drives to maintain compatibility.
According to Apple's support document, users with encrypted HFS+ disks will receive notifications before the update, identifying the affected volume by name. Users can also check manually through Disk Utility to determine if their drives are compatible.
The move is seen as a further push toward retiring the older HFS+ format, with APFS, the default file system since 2017, natively supporting encryption. Unencrypted Mac OS Extended volumes are not affected by this change.
As users prepare for the transition, it remains to be seen how this change will impact those with incompatible drives. Apple has not given a specific reason for the change, leaving many to wonder about the implications of this decision.
Sources
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