Apple File System (APFS): What You Need to Know about Apple New File System

Sue Wayne

Dec 21, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

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Apple released its new file system – APFS. The Apple File System is compatible with macOS, iOS, and a few other Apple devices. With a better encryption technique and faster processing, the file system is certainly making headlines this year. If you are new to APFS, then you have come to the right place. In this post, we will make you familiar with all the amazing features and benefits of the Apple File System (APFS).

Part 1: New Features of Apple File System (APFS)

Earlier, Apple devices were using a file system that was developed some 30 years ago. Needless to say, the new update in macOS 10.13 High Sierra and iOS 10.3 was due for a long time. Even though the Apple File System (APFS) has plenty of new features, we have covered the most evident ones here.

• The new file system fully supports 64-bit inode numbers, as compared to HFS+ which supported 32 bit IDs only. Therefore, it will lead to a more secure file storage system.
• The new Apple File System (APFS) also supports real-time cloning of files. This will make it easier for users to transfer data files or simply edit them on the go.
• The full disk encryption method is undoubtedly the most evident updates in the new APFS. It supports single as well as multiple key encryptions passes to provide more security to your data.
• Space sharing is another new feature of APFS that is being highly appreciated. Instead of breaking the space into different sections, it allows multiple users to share the same space easily.
• The maximum number of files that the file system can store has also been increased. As of now, the new APFS can support up to 9 quintillion files on a single volume.
• The data integrity feature for metadata has also been improved with the provision of using checksums. Though, the feature is not followed on user data.

Compatibility: The macOS High Sierra can automatically convert file systems to APFS. It is also compatible with watchOS 3.2, tvOS 10.2, and iOS 10.3 (that were earlier using an HFSV system).

Part 2: How to Get Apple File System (APFS)

Getting the new Apple File System (APFS) is pretty easy. All you need to do is to upgrade your Apple devices to the above-mentioned operating systems. For instance, if you want your iPhone to support APFS, then simply upgrade it to iOS 10.3 or a later version. The same is applied to a Mac. After upgrading it to High Sierra, your Mac will automatically start supporting APFS.

Upgrade your iOS devices

If you own an iOS device (like an iPad or iPhone), then you can easily upgrade it to experience the new file system. Beforehand, you need to make sure that your iOS device supports the 10.3 updates. To upgrade your device, simply unlock it and go to its Settings > General > Software Update. From here, you can view the latest version of iOS available.

Just tap on the "Download and Install" button and wait for a while as the new update will be downloaded. Later, your device will automatically be restarted and upgrade to iOS 10.3 with a new file system.

Update your Mac to High Sierra

After upgrading your system to macOS 10.13 High Sierra, the file system will automatically be converted from HFS+ to APFS. Needless to say, the automatic conversion will support internal SSD drives. Though, the external storage units (like SD cards or USB drives) won't be automatically converted.

Before you proceed and upgrade your Mac, make sure that you meet the prerequisites. For instance, you can only get the High Sierra upgrade on your Mac if it is running on OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 or later versions. Ideally, devices manufactured after late 2009 supports the update. Additionally, there should be at least 15 GB of free space on your system to complete the upgrade.

After meeting all the needed prerequisites, just go to macOS High Sierra's official website right here. Click on the "Upgrade Now" button to get the update. Once it is downloaded, it will automatically start installing the update. If not, you can manually launch the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for a while as your Mac would be restarted to High Sierra.

Note: Too many times, users take a backup of their data before an upgrade via Time Machine. In this case, the Time Machine on your Mac can't be formatted to APFS as of now. It can back up data from APFS, but the destination should be HFS+. Therefore, it is recommended to not convert the Time Machine disk manually. Let your macOS take care of it automatically.

The Benefits of APFS

After upgrading your system to Apple File System (APFS), you will experience a radical change. Your smartphone or Mac experience will be improved a lot with these benefits.

• Copying and modification of the files would become faster than ever with the integration of clone features.
• Your entire disk will be encrypted. This means that your data will stay protected and can't be misused by any perpetrator.

• With the support of snapshots in APFS, you can easily create read-only and point in time instances of the system.
• The crash protection feature of APFS is certainly one of its major advantages. Since it creates new records instead of overwriting old ones, it recovers from failure and prevents an unforeseen crash.
• You can also make various logical files with its space sharing feature.
• The creation of a sparse file has also been improved with a faster speed of allocating the space for the file.

• It also has a new automatic safe-save feature to protect your files from an unwanted crash.

With better data integrity, reliability, and encryption features, the Apple File System (APFS) is certainly a winner. If your Apple device is compatible with it, then you should upgrade it to the new OS. It comes with lots of benefits that will make your Mac or iOS device experience pretty smooth. Go ahead and give it a try and share your experience with us in the comments.