Apple Removes the AFP Protocol in macOS 27

Apple has finally retired one of its oldest technologies. In the macOS 27 developer preview, the company stripped out built-in support for the Apple Filing Protocol, known as AFP. Consequently, this proprietary protocol of more than 40 years now exits the Apple ecosystem for good. Instead, Apple urges users to embrace modern file-sharing standards such as SMB3.

A Protocol Built for Another Era

AFP traces its roots back to 1988. Back then, Apple designed a native file-sharing protocol for the Macintosh. Its purpose was simple, namely seamless peer-to-peer file service for everyday users. Moreover, AFP grew out of two earlier technologies: AppleShare and AppleTalk. Over the following years, Apple nurtured the protocol with steady updates. As a result, AFP became an indispensable pillar of the Apple ecosystem.

Key Milestones in AFP’s History

The Rise: 2001 to 2012

In 2001, Mac OS X Server 10.0.3 Cheetah introduced AFP 3.0. From that point, AFP served as the core file-sharing protocol of early Mac OS X. Then, in 2012, Apple shipped AFP 3.4. This release added Unicode filenames, POSIX and ACL permissions, resource forks, extended attributes, and advanced file locking. However, it also marked Apple’s final major update to the protocol.

The Decline: 2013 to 2020

Apple’s priorities shifted in 2013. That year, the company made SMB the default file-sharing protocol. Therefore, AFP’s slow decline began in earnest. SMB, a Microsoft creation, offered stronger cross-platform compatibility. Later, in 2017, Apple launched the APFS file system. Unfortunately, AFP could not natively support this new format. As a result, Time Machine leaned on sparse bundles as a temporary bridge. By 2020, macOS 11 Big Sur dropped AFP Server entirely. Afterward, Mac hosts could no longer share files over AFP.

The Final Goodbye: 2025 to 2027

The end drew closer in May 2025. At that time, Apple officially deprecated the AFP client. Furthermore, the company promised to strip AFP from future macOS releases. Now, with macOS 27, that promise has arrived. The developer preview contains no AFP client at all.

Why Apple Chose SMB3 Over AFP

Apple’s decision makes complete sense. Old protocols struggle to meet modern security standards. They also become a maintenance burden over time. Meanwhile, SMB has matured into the de facto standard for file sharing. It shines especially in mixed Windows, Linux, and Mac environments. Because SMB3 is now highly polished, Apple gains little by keeping AFP alive.

What This Means for Your Backups

Many users still rely on AFP for Time Machine backups. Fortunately, the transition path is simple. Apple now recommends the more secure SMB3 protocol. SMB3 boasts excellent compatibility and broad platform support. For example, nearly every modern NAS already supports SMB3. As a result, you can point Time Machine at a NAS shared volume. None of this requires AFP at all.

If you own older Apple hardware, you still have options too. In fact, owners of legacy gear can keep their Time Capsule hardware alive even though its support has ended.

Moving Forward

AFP served Apple faithfully for four decades. Yet technology must evolve. By embracing SMB3, Apple aligns its ecosystem with the rest of the industry. Ultimately, users gain a safer and more flexible way to share their files.