Is a firmware update required to read APFS volumes in Startup Manager in not so young Macs?

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Is a firmware update required to read APFS volumes in Startup Manager in not so young Macs?

Last week I plugged an SSD with a bootable APFS volume with macOS into the USB port of a Macbook Pro 2010.
It wasn’t seen in startup manager, as I had suspected.
This macbook had never been used as it had been stored in an exposition, so its firmware had never been updated.
It had its original and never used macOS 10.6 Snow Leopard installed.

Please correct me if this assumption is not correct:

Any mac whose firmware was never updated after APFS was first launched by Apple won’t see APFS volumes in startup manager because the logic board firmware wouldn’t be able to read APFS.
If any mac with installed macOS releases such as Yosemite, El Cap, Sierra can see a bootable APFS volume in startup manager, it’s because it’s firmware has been updated to be able to read and write APFS.
Is this correct???

The 2010 macbook mentioned above admits macOS up to the latest release (now High Sierra).

Any clarification much welcome.

Posted on Sep 20, 2018 1:50 PM

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Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,314 points

Sep 20, 2018 4:13 PM in response to AntonioMS

A Mac running Sierra can use an APFS volume, but it cannot boot from one. Only High Sierra and later can boot from APFS. There is a firmware update that comes with the High Sierra upgrade. That probably provides the bootable support. However, I don't believe even after doing the firmware update will a Sierra Mac be able to boot from APFS. Someone else may have tried and know for sure. I'm pretty sure Sierra didn't require a firmware update to read/write to APFS.

I don't believe anything before Sierra can use an APFS volume, regardless of firmware. Again, never tried so can't confirm for myself.

That Mac would require you first upgrade to El Capitan, then to High Sierra: How to download OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

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Is a firmware update required to read APFS volumes in Startup Manager in not so young Macs?

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