Apple has removed support for the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) in macOS 27, ending native compatibility for the long‑discontinued Time Capsule. The network‑attached storage unit once let Mac users back up via Time Machine over Wi‑Fi, and its AFP‑based sharing survived through macOS 26. With macOS 27 requiring SMBv2 or later, the device no longer appears as a viable backup target.

Developers on GitHub have responded with a community project called TimeCapsuleSMB, which swaps the old SMBv1 layer for a modern Samba 4.24.3 build while leaving Apple’s firmware intact. The script installs via Homebrew, Python 3.9+, and smbclient, then advertises the capsule via Bonjour for authenticated SMB3 connections. Early commits suggest the code is functional, though setup remains non‑trivial still for users.

For most owners, the practical path forward is to replace the Time Capsule with an SMBv2/v3‑compatible NAS or external drive. The community hack offers a lifeline but demands command‑line proficiency and a Mac on macOS 14 or later. As Apple pushes modern protocols, legacy hardware will increasingly rely on such workarounds to remain useful in 2026 for home backups today again.