Apple to drop encrypted HFS+ support in macOS 28

Apple has announced that future versions of its macOS operating system will no longer support encrypted storage drives using the older Mac OS Extended file system, a change that will require users to take action to maintain access to their data. In a support document published this week, the company stated that starting with macOS 28, expected to be released in 2027, the Mac OS Extended format, also known as HFS or HFS Plus, will only be supported for unencrypted volumes. Encrypted drives using this legacy format will become unreadable on Macs running the new software.

This move represents another step in Apple's long-term transition to its modern Apple File System (APFS), which was introduced in 2016 and became the default for Macs with macOS High Sierra in 2017. APFS offers native encryption, improved performance, and enhanced data integrity features. While Apple has not provided a specific reason for ending support for encrypted Mac OS Extended volumes, the decision is widely seen as an effort to simplify its software codebase and encourage adoption of the newer standard. Unencrypted Mac OS Extended volumes will continue to function in macOS 28 and beyond.