In this guide, we will walk through the steps involved in converting the APFS (Apple File System) format to the Mac OS Extended (HFS+) format on a Mac computer. This can be helpful if you need to access files or applications that are not compatible with the newer APFS format, or if you want to revert to the previous file system. We will explain how to backup your important files, erase your disk, and format it with a new file system using the Disk Utility tool. Let’s get started!

Understanding APFS and Mac OS Extended

Before delving into how to change APFS to Mac OS Extended, let us first understand what these two file systems are. APFS, or Apple File System, is Apple’s latest file system that was introduced in 2017. It replaced the previous HFS+ file system and is designed to work with flash and SSD storage. APFS is optimized for modern storage systems and offers features such as encryption, snapshots, and cloning. On the other hand, Mac OS Extended, also known as HFS+, is the file system that was used by Apple prior to APFS. It is still supported by macOS and is ideal for traditional hard drives.

Reasons to Convert APFS to Mac OS Extended

There are several reasons why you might want to convert APFS to Mac OS Extended. One of the most common reasons is compatibility. Some older Macs and third-party software are not compatible with APFS, and therefore, you might need to convert to Mac OS Extended to ensure compatibility. Another reason is if you are experiencing performance issues with APFS. While APFS is designed to be faster than HFS+, some users have reported slower performance with APFS. Finally, you might want to convert to Mac OS Extended if you need to use a third-party data recovery tool that does not support APFS.

Key takeaway: APFS and Mac OS Extended are two different file systems used by Apple. Compatibility, performance issues, and third-party data recovery tools are some of the reasons why one might want to convert from APFS to Mac OS Extended. The conversion can be done using Disk Utility or the command line, but it will erase all the data on the volume, so it’s important to back up any important data before proceeding.

Compatibility Issues with Older Macs and Third-Party Software

If you are using an older Mac that does not support APFS or if you are running third-party software that is not compatible with APFS, then you might need to convert to Mac OS Extended. For example, some Macs that were released prior to 2017 do not support APFS. Similarly, some third-party software, such as some versions of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, do not work well with APFS.

Performance Issues with APFS

While APFS is designed to be faster than HFS+, some users have reported slower performance with APFS. This is particularly true if you are using an older Mac or if you are working with large files. In such cases, converting to Mac OS Extended might help improve performance.

Third-Party Tools for Data Recovery

If you need to use a third-party data recovery tool, then you might need to convert to Mac OS Extended. Many of the data recovery tools available in the market do not support APFS, and therefore, you will need to convert to Mac OS Extended before using such tools.

How to Convert APFS to Mac OS Extended

Now that we have understood why you might want to convert APFS to Mac OS Extended let us look at how to do it. There are two ways to convert APFS to Mac OS Extended: using Disk Utility and using the command line.

Using Disk Utility

Using Disk Utility is the easiest way to convert APFS to Mac OS Extended. Here are the steps:

  1. Open Disk Utility
  2. Select the volume that you want to convert
  3. Click on the “Erase” button
  4. Select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” as the format
  5. Click on the “Erase” button

Disk Utility will now erase the volume and convert it to Mac OS Extended. Note that this process will erase all the data on the volume, so make sure to back up any important data before proceeding.

Using the Command Line

If you prefer to use the command line, then you can also convert APFS to Mac OS Extended using the diskutil command. Here are the steps:

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Type “diskutil list” and press enter to list all the available disks and volumes
  3. Identify the volume that you want to convert
  4. Type “diskutil eraseVolume JHFS+ ‘Volume Name’ diskXsY” and press enter, where ‘Volume Name’ is the name that you want to give to the volume, and X and Y are the disk and volume numbers, respectively.

FAQs: How to Change APFS to Mac OS Extended

What is APFS?

APFS (Apple File System) is a modern file system introduced by Apple in 2017. It is optimized for SSDs and flash storage, and it includes features such as cloning, snapshots, and encryption.

Why would I want to change from APFS to Mac OS Extended?

There are several reasons why you may want to change from APFS to Mac OS Extended. One reason is compatibility issues: some older Macs or software may not be able to recognize or use APFS drives. Another reason is that Mac OS Extended supports file sharing with Windows PCs, while APFS does not. Additionally, some users have experienced data corruption or other issues with APFS, which may prompt them to switch back to Mac OS Extended.

How do I change from APFS to Mac OS Extended?

To change from APFS to Mac OS Extended, you will need to reformat your drive. Before doing so, make sure you have a backup of all your important data, as reformatting will erase everything on the drive. To reformat your drive, follow these steps:
1. Open Disk Utility, which you can find in the Utilities folder (within the Applications folder).
2. Select your APFS drive from the list on the left side of the Disk Utility window.
3. Click the Erase button on the top toolbar.
4. In the Erase window, choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format.
5. Give your drive a name, if desired.
6. Click the Erase button. This will reformat your drive as Mac OS Extended.

Will changing from APFS to Mac OS Extended improve performance?

It is unlikely that you will notice a significant improvement in performance by switching from APFS to Mac OS Extended. In fact, APFS is generally faster than Mac OS Extended in most scenarios, especially when it comes to reading and writing small files. However, as mentioned earlier, there may be compatibility issues or other reasons why you may want to switch back to Mac OS Extended.

Can I switch back to APFS after switching to Mac OS Extended?

Yes, you can switch back to APFS after reformatting your drive as Mac OS Extended. However, this will also erase all data on the drive, so make sure you have a backup before making the switch. To switch back to APFS, follow the same steps as above, but choose APFS as the format instead of Mac OS Extended.

Post Views: 42

Categorized in:

Mac OS