Apple Updates macOS 28 Guidance | Encrypted HFS+ Can Convert Directly to APFS
TL;DR
Apple updated macOS 28 migration guidance: encrypted HFS+ volumes can now convert directly to encrypted APFS, without decrypting and re-encrypting first.
Apple updated its macOS 28 migration support document, allowing users to directly convert encrypted HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) volumes to encrypted APFS, without first decrypting and re-encrypting.
Previously, in early July 2026, Apple said macOS 28 would no longer support encrypted HFS+ volumes, leaving users only with the option to decrypt or wipe and reformat to APFS — for old Mac users with large capacity and heavy encrypted content, that meant hours of decrypt + reformat + restore time. The updated guidance adds a third path: in Disk Utility, select the target encrypted volume, and execute "Convert to APFS" from the Edit menu to complete direct conversion.
Apple noted the option does not apply to encrypted Time Machine backup disks — that's the biggest practical gap, and a batch of users relying on external encrypted HFS+ for Time Machine still have to go through decrypt + reformat. macOS 28 fully dropping HFS+ compatibility is a settled direction; this update only patches the single-volume encrypted migration UX.
via 9To5Mac
Previously, in early July 2026, Apple said macOS 28 would no longer support encrypted HFS+ volumes, leaving users only with the option to decrypt or wipe and reformat to APFS — for old Mac users with large capacity and heavy encrypted content, that meant hours of decrypt + reformat + restore time. The updated guidance adds a third path: in Disk Utility, select the target encrypted volume, and execute "Convert to APFS" from the Edit menu to complete direct conversion.
Apple noted the option does not apply to encrypted Time Machine backup disks — that's the biggest practical gap, and a batch of users relying on external encrypted HFS+ for Time Machine still have to go through decrypt + reformat. macOS 28 fully dropping HFS+ compatibility is a settled direction; this update only patches the single-volume encrypted migration UX.
via 9To5Mac
