Apple plans to drop AFP support in macOS 27, affecting Time Capsule and older NAS devices that lack SMB3. Users on Apple silicon will lose the ability to upgrade unless they replace their storage. AFP has been deprecated since Mavericks switched to SMB, but removal never had a firm date until now. This shift forces IT departments to audit backup strategies and consider newer Apple‑branded storage alternatives.

Apple also warned that upcoming releases will require TLS 1.2 or higher for connections to servers handling MDM, app distribution, and software updates. The change could appear in the next major release, but Apple may delay it if enterprise impact is severe. Administrators must audit server logs with Apple’s diagnostic profile to verify ATS‑compliant cipher suites and certificates, or update them to meet ATS standards.

For teams still relying on AFP, the drop is not retroactive; macOS 26 will continue to support existing shares, allowing migration to SMB3. Content‑caching servers remain unaffected, and the TLS requirement does not touch caches. Enterprises should test SMB3 compatibility now to avoid a forced hardware refresh with macOS 27. Workers using Mac minis may encounter connectivity errors until their devices are reconfigured.