macOS 27 drops AFP: what to do with an old Time Capsule or NAS

November 5, 2026 · Trystero Montevideo · 10base-t interactive

If there's an old Time Capsule still faithfully backing up your Mac every night without complaint, this is the moment it's finally going to need some attention. AFP, the Apple Filing Protocol, is the file-sharing protocol Macs used before Apple moved to SMB, the protocol Windows and most network storage use. macOS 27 is where Time Machine stops backing up over it. The device most affected is the Time Capsule, Apple's own Wi-Fi router with a backup disk inside, which Apple discontinued in 2018 but which is still running in a lot of closets. Some older network drives are in the same position. If one of them holds your backups, sort it out before you upgrade, while the old Mac can still reach the old disk.

TL;DR • AFP Removal

Apple's support note says Time Machine backups over AFP won't be supported in macOS 27 or later
A Time Capsule relies on AFP; its only alternative is SMBv1, which macOS 27's Time Machine rejects
Third-party NAS boxes that offer Time Machine over SMB keep working
AirPort Utility, the app that configures a Time Capsule, is missing from clean installs of macOS 27

What has Apple actually said?

The clearest statement is in Apple's support note on which disks Time Machine can use. It says that backing up to a NAS device over AFP is not recommended and won't be supported in macOS 27 or later, and that Time Machine can back up to a third-party NAS that supports Time Machine over the SMB protocol. The same note says that when either Mac is on an older macOS, a Mac-to-Mac network backup uses AFP, so those stop working in 27 too.

This was signposted a year ago. AppleInsider reported in June 2025 that the Time Machine settings in macOS 26 carried a message saying the next major version of macOS "will no longer support AirPort Disk, or other Time Capsule disks, for Time Machine backups." The macOS 27 release notes add a related line: Apple says AirPort Utility, the app that manages AirPort base stations and Time Capsules, is no longer included with new clean installations of macOS, and that where it survives an upgrade its functionality is not guaranteed starting in macOS 27.

Why can't a Time Capsule just switch to SMB?

A modern NAS speaks current versions of SMB, so for those devices the fix is a settings change. The Time Capsule is different. AppleInsider explains that the device relies on AFP for its connectivity, and while it does include support for SMBv1, that version was only supported in macOS 26 as a deprecated measure. From macOS 27 onwards, Time Machine requires SMBv2 or SMBv3. So there is no menu option on a stock Time Capsule that gets it past the cutoff.

That's the consequence of hardware that stopped getting attention long ago. Fortune reported on April 27, 2018 that Apple was officially discontinuing its router models, the AirPort, AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule, which would only be available while supplies lasted, and that the hardware division behind them had disbanded in 2016. The disk and the Wi-Fi still work, but the software is frozen.

There is one more route, for the technically inclined. TimeCapsuleSMB, an open-source project, installs a current Samba build on the Time Capsule itself and leaves Apple's firmware alone, so the box accepts SMB3 connections that Time Machine on macOS 27 can use. AppleInsider covered it in June 2026. The project's own page describes a macOS app and a terminal installer; setup enables SSH on the device, and the first four Time Capsule generations need a firmware patch so Samba starts again after a reboot. It is an independent project, so treat it as a tinkerer's option rather than the default fix.

Where should the backups go instead?

Apple's support note names the supported destinations, and there are two practical ones for a network backup. The first is a NAS with Time Machine over SMB. Once Time Machine support is switched on in the NAS settings, the share appears in System Settings under Time Machine when you choose a backup disk. If your existing NAS is only offering AFP, check its settings for SMB before assuming it needs replacing.

The second is another Mac. The Mac User Guide describes turning on File Sharing on the destination Mac, checking under Options that "Share files and folders using SMB" is turned on, adding a folder to the shared list, then choosing Advanced Options for that folder and turning on "Share as a Time Machine backup destination". Another Mac with a large external drive attached is one way to replace a Time Capsule without buying a NAS.

Either way, connect to the new share once by hand to be sure it works. Apple's guide to connecting to shared computers has the steps: in the Finder choose Go, then Connect to Server, and type the device's network address. If that mounts, Time Machine will find it too. Run a complete first backup to the new destination before installing macOS 27, and leave the Time Capsule powered on until you've confirmed you can browse the new backup.

Once that backup is confirmed, the Time Capsule has more than earned a quiet retirement from backup duty. Go check it before you tap Upgrade.

Frequently asked questions

Will macOS 27 delete the backups already on my Time Capsule?

No. The files on the Time Capsule's disk stay where they are, but an upgraded Mac loses the protocol it used to reach them, and the Time Capsule cannot offer a modern SMB share in return. Make a fresh, complete backup to the new destination before you upgrade, and if you want to keep the old history, copy it off from a Mac still on macOS 26 or earlier first.

Can I keep using my Time Capsule as a Wi-Fi router?

The change is about Time Machine and file sharing, so the router side of the device keeps routing. The catch is management: Apple's release notes say AirPort Utility is missing from clean installs of macOS 27 and not guaranteed to work where it carries over, so changing base station settings may need a Mac that still has the app installed. A router whose maker stopped updating it years ago is also a reasonable thing to retire on its own merits.

Does this affect a third-party NAS?

Only if the NAS is serving Time Machine over AFP. Apple's note says Time Machine can back up to a third-party NAS that supports Time Machine over SMB. Log in to the NAS, make sure SMB is enabled for the backup share, and then reselect the share in Time Machine on the Mac. Units set up years ago are the ones to check.

How do I tell whether a device on my network is offering AFP or SMB?

Look at the services it advertises. A Time Capsule, a NAS, or a Mac with File Sharing on announces its file services over Bonjour, and a scanner that reads those advertisements (our macOS scanning guide covers the built-in ways too) shows, per device, whether AFP, SMB, or both are on offer. That is enough to know which devices need attention and which already have an SMB share waiting. Download IP Scanner for Mac or iOS to see every device on the network and what each one is advertising.