Apple updates macOS 28 guidance with direct encrypted HFS+ to APFS conversion

Skip to main content Users who rely on encrypted HFS+ drives will no longer need to decrypt them before converting them to APFS for macOS 28 compatibility. Here’s what that means. Apple revises macOS 28 migration guidance for encrypted HFS+ drives A few weeks ago, Apple published a support document explaining that starting with macOS 28, “the Mac OS Extended file system format will be supported only for volumes (disks and other storage devices) that aren’t encrypted.”

This basically meant that users who currently rely on encrypted HFS+ external drives or other encrypted legacy Mac-formatted volumes would need to “either decrypt or reformat any encrypted Mac OS Extended volumes,” as Apple explained. Previously, the support page provided step-by-step instructions for either decrypting the volume or erasing and reformatting it using APFS. Apple has now revised the page to add a third option, allowing users to convert an encrypted HFS+ volume directly to encrypted APFS without decrypting it first.

The company now provides the following instructions for the new process: Convert the volume to encrypted APFS Open Disk Utility, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder. Or use Spotlight to find and open it. From the View menu in the menu bar, choose Show Only Volumes.

In the sidebar of Disk Utility, select the name of the volume. From the Edit menu in the menu bar, choose Convert to APFS, then click Convert to confirm. Quit Disk Utility when done.

Apple notes, however, that “this solution doesn’t apply to encrypted Time Machine backup disks.” The company has also removed its previous instructions for decrypting the volume first, converting it to APFS without erasing it, and then optionally re-encrypting it. To check out the updated support page, follow this link.

Does this new option make it easier for you to prepare your drives for macOS 28? Let us know in the comments. Worth checking out on Amazon Geoffrey Cain – ‘Steve Jobs in Exile’ David Pogue – ’Apple: The First 50 Years’ MacBook Neo Logitech MX Master 4 AirPods Pro 3 AirTag (2nd Generation) – 4 Pack Apple Watch Series 11 Wireless CarPlay adapter FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.

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