I have a USB HDD connected to the back of my Time Capsule which is connected to my router via ethernet. I use it for automatic Time Machine backups. I keep receiving messages from macOS saying the Time Capsule won't be supported in macOS27, but I'm not actually using the Time Capsule for backup, only the HDD. Will this continue to work in macOS27? I can't make sense of the Apple information.
Time Capsule
Time Capsule will no longer work starting with macOS 27 Golden Gate. It uses a deprecated format for networking (AFP), and while that format works with macOS 26 Tahoe, the format will no longer be supported by Apple starting with macOS 27. It has been over 7 years since the Time Capsule was last sold by Apple, and that means the product is now considered 'obsolete'.
It's not the drives (internal or external), it's the networking protocol used by the Time Capsule that will no longer work. Sad to say, you'll have a paperweight. You need a device that supports SMB, a current networking protocol.
The simplest method to continue using Apple’s Time Machine to back up your Mac(s) is to buy an external drive and connect it to the Mac(s) regularly to back them up (or leave the drive connected to a desktop Mac). External storage is relatively inexpensive, a 1 TB SSD or a 2-4 TB HDD can be purchased for <$200 (prices have gone up significantly in recent months, unfortunately).
To back up your Macs over WiFi, the most straightforward way is to use a network attached storage (NAS) device – essentially a box for hard disks that connects to your network. Ideally, choose one that offers turnkey support for Time Machine out of the box, both Synology (setup instructions) and QNAP (setup instructions) do so. Technically, you can stand up a Time Machine server in other ways (including using a Mac as a TM server), but an NAS is arguably the most straightforward way to set up network Time Machine backups.
Personally, I use a Synology DS223j with a pair of 10 TB HDDs installed to back up 5 Macs in the house with Time Machine (separate shared folder for each Mac sized at ~2.5x the internal storage), with the remaining space used as general file storage for everyone in the house.
Time Capsule will no longer work starting with macOS 27 Golden Gate. It uses a deprecated format for networking (AFP), and while that format works with macOS 26 Tahoe, the format will no longer be supported by Apple starting with macOS 27. It has been over 7 years since the Time Capsule was last sold by Apple, and that means the product is now considered 'obsolete'.
It's not the drives (internal or external), it's the networking protocol used by the Time Capsule that will no longer work. Sad to say, you'll have a paperweight. You need a device that supports SMB, a current networking protocol.
The simplest method to continue using Apple’s Time Machine to back up your Mac(s) is to buy an external drive and connect it to the Mac(s) regularly to back them up (or leave the drive connected to a desktop Mac). External storage is relatively inexpensive, a 1 TB SSD or a 2-4 TB HDD can be purchased for <$200 (prices have gone up significantly in recent months, unfortunately).
To back up your Macs over WiFi, the most straightforward way is to use a network attached storage (NAS) device – essentially a box for hard disks that connects to your network. Ideally, choose one that offers turnkey support for Time Machine out of the box, both Synology (setup instructions) and QNAP (setup instructions) do so. Technically, you can stand up a Time Machine server in other ways (including using a Mac as a TM server), but an NAS is arguably the most straightforward way to set up network Time Machine backups.
Personally, I use a Synology DS223j with a pair of 10 TB HDDs installed to back up 5 Macs in the house with Time Machine (separate shared folder for each Mac sized at ~2.5x the internal storage), with the remaining space used as general file storage for everyone in the house.
If I take that literally, it suggests I will not be affected because I am not using the TC disk at all.
You are using a Time Capsule disk — the one connected to the Time Capsule. Apple is correct in their wording.
I just have APFS HDDs plugged into the network, via the TC.
Adding to the confusion, a Time Machine backup disk's particular file storage format is another matter altogether. It too is irrelevant.
The bottom line is that a Time Capsule will cease to be useful due to the deprecation of AFP, leaving macOS Golden Gate users with no means to transfer files to or from the TC. Nothing else matters.
Ok thanks. I think Apple could work on their messaging. The message in Time Machine settings on my Mac says: "Time Capsule disks will not be compatible with macOS 27. It's recommended you use an SMB disk for network backups."
If I take that literally, it suggests I will not be affected because I am not using the TC disk at all. I just have APFS HDDs plugged into the network, via the TC.
As a side, I have plenty of storage, I just need to connect it to my network down the other end of the property.
Time Machine backups to USB HDD via Time Capsule in macOS27?
