APFS or exFAT for storing both old and future Time Machine backups

I have a 16 inch 2019 MacBook Pro (before the M1 chip), and connected through WiFi right now I have one of the high tower Time Capsules (Model A1470 - 2TB bought in 2017). I also have an additional "high tower" Time Capsule (Model A1470 - 2TB bought in 2015) and the "flat" Time Capsule (Model A1409 - 2TB bought in 2012), plus a 500GB extern hard-drive from my PC days (prior to 2012) - which I have all three stored away.

Recently I got a Seagate Expansion Desktop 8TB hard-drive, USB 3.0 (with a USB-C adapter as my 2019 MacBook only have four Thunderbolt 3 ports). My plan is to transfer what I have on my MacBook (which is the same as the connected high tower Time Capsule), but also the two other Time Capsules and the 500GB external hard-drive (from PC) - over to my Seagate 8TB.

The Seagate Expansion Desktop 8TB hard drive is preformatted in exFAT, but it can be reformatted to APFS - which I would prefer as after the new big macOS Tahoe 26 update (I still have Sequoia 15.6 on my MacBook) will not go well with the Time Machine function to the Time Capsules. I do not know if this would mean that the Time Capsules will become useless or only a few basic long term file storage functions will remain functional....

However, if I reformat the Seagate 8TB hard-drive to APFS, then will I not be able to 1) get all the files (mostly photos, videos and PDF-files) from all of my three Time Capsules and the 500GB External hard-drive (from PC) ? Or 2) should go for the already preformatted exFAT format on my Seagate 8TB and transfer all of the three Time Capsules and the additional 500GB external hard-drive ? and 3) maybe there is an optional way to all this ?

My plan is to do regular "time machine" safety updates from my MacBook (for newly stored photos and video files) about 2 to 3 times a year on my Seagate 8TB and just store it away without it being on - for long time safety storage of my new and old pictures and photos...

I hope I make some sense, but in summery, my question is if should I go for exFAT or APFS on my new Seagate 8TB hard drive - with needing to transferring my three old Time Capsules and preferable the 500GB “from PC” hard drive and for future backups of new photos and videos ?

If there is anything I am missing or misunderstanding then please feel free to correct me.

1x Seagate Expansion Desktop 8TB hard-drive, USB 3.0

1x MacBook Pro 16 inch (2019)

2x "High Tower" 2TB AirPort Time Capsules Model A1470 bought in 2015 and 2017 (MacBook backup)

1x "Flat" 2TB Time Capsule Model A1409 bought back in 2012 (MacBook backup)

1x 500 GB external hard-drive (backup from PC)

[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: APFS or exFAT for storing both old and future backups - including three full "old" Time Capsules and for future backups...

Posted on Sep 23, 2025 5:16 PM

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John Galt

Level 10

159,144 points

Posted on Sep 23, 2025 7:16 PM

The Seagate Expansion Desktop 8TB hard drive is preformatted in exFAT, but it can be reformatted to APFS - which I would prefer as after the new big macOS Tahoe 26 update (I still have Sequoia 15.6 on my MacBook) will not go well with the Time Machine function to the Time Capsules.

To be clear Time Capsule support won't be going away until macOS 27, but the reason is that its network communication protocol is limited to Apple Filing Protocol (AFP).

Time Capsule has always used Mac OS Extended (HFS+) as its file format. It does not recognize disks formatted for APFS or anything else — its internal hard disk drive as well as any external hard disk drives connected to them use HFS+ for Time Machine backups.

That limitation is unrelated to a particular network attached storage device's file format, which can be anything. An NAS has its own operating system, its own storage system, etc and the disk formats they use do not matter.

For external storage devices connected directly to your Mac use APFS. TM cannot use disks formatted for legacy Windows PCs. Although you can still use Time Machine backup disks formatted for HFS+ Time Machine will silently convert them to APFS.

Your question implies that you have content (pictures and videos) stored on various Time Capsules, and that you anticipate a future need to retrieve that data. You will need to restore those items prior to upgrading to macOS 26. If it is your intent to archive those items be advised that Time Machine is a backup utility that was never intended to be an archival utility. You may have effectively pressed the TCs into service that way by placing them on a shelf for safekeeping, and that's ok, but Time Machine is not very well suited for that purpose. For example it would be a shame if you were to make one of those old TCs available to Time Machine only to have it immediately start a new backup of a device on which those items were deleted and no longer exist. If you allowed that to occur, there would be a significant likelihood TM would find many old "expired" backups and delete them to create sufficient storage space for a new backup. Connect the TCs as you find the time, restore the item(s) that you require, and store those items elsewhere.

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APFS or exFAT for storing both old and future Time Machine backups

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