PSA: macOS 28 will drop support for encrypted Mac OS Extended volumes
Apple has announced that starting with macOS 28, users will need to decrypt or reformat certain storage volumes to keep using them. Here are the details.
Apple has announced that starting with macOS 28, users will need to decrypt or reformat certain storage volumes to keep using them. Here are the detai
Read Full Story at 9to5Mac →Why This Matters
The elimination of support for encrypted Mac OS Extended volumes in macOS 28 marks another step in Apple’s long-term deprecation of legacy file systems. For enterprises and power users relying on encrypted HFS+ volumes for sensitive data storage, this shift could force costly migrations before the deadline—or expose critical gaps in backup and archival strategies.
Background Context
Apple first introduced Mac OS Extended (HFS+) in 1998, providing a foundation for encrypted storage with FileVault 2 in 2011. The move away from HFS+ aligns with Apple’s broader push toward APFS, which debuted in 2016 but initially lacked full encryption parity. Regulatory standards for data security have evolved since then, leaving older encrypted volumes potentially out of compliance in sectors like healthcare and finance.
What Happens Next
Users with encrypted HFS+ volumes will need to either decrypt them (risking exposure) or migrate to APFS before upgrading to macOS 28. Organizations should test migration tools and verify decryption processes, as third-party utilities may struggle with heavily fragmented or corrupted volumes. Apple’s silence on potential workarounds raises concerns about enforcement timing and backward compatibility.
Bigger Picture
This decision reflects Apple’s pattern of phasing out outdated technologies, from PowerPC to 32-bit apps, under the guise of security and performance. It also underscores the tension between long-term system stability and rapid innovation, particularly for users who prioritize data permanence over cutting-edge features.
