Dissed off and soon disappeared: Apple’s network protocol AFP flies from MacOS

Tschüss, Apple Filing Protocol: Apple throws the AFP client with an upcoming MacOS version from the operating system. The manufacturer has specifically promised this step in preliminary versions of MacOS 15.5 Sequoia for the first time. The AFP client is already de-lined in this version and “is removed from a future version of MacOS”, says the updated documentation for the mounting of AFP drives (mount_afp).

AFP users should change workflows

Apple shows users of the client to look around for alternatives and adapt their workflows early-before they carry out the upgrade to the next big MacOS version. What is meant is probably MacOS 16, which, as usual, should appear in autumn. In concrete terms, however, Apple has not yet mentioned the version in which the AFP client is then no longer supported. Of course, the option also remains to continue to operate an older MacOS version with the remaining APF support-at least as long as the manufacturer delivers security patches system.

MacOS 15.5-currently in the beta or release candidate stage-contains the AFP client together with the new reference to the upcoming end. The point update is expected to be published for the general public in the coming week, in parallel with iOS / iPados 18.5.

Vermin Apple Filing Protocol

The Apple Filing Protocol is a veteran in the Mac operating system that originally still on AppleTalk, later TCP/IP. It was not only intended for Classic-Macos, but was also integrated by Apple into the modern Mac OS X-today MacOS. A good ten years ago, however, it had practically had its day. AFP is designed for previous file systems such as HFS+, it can access drives that are formatted with Apple’s new APFs, but this quickly leads to problems – or does not work. Over 10 years ago, SMB finally took on the role of AFP in OS X or MacOS. Since then, the Apple Filing Protocol has not been further developed.