Apple is discontinuing support for encrypted Mac OS Extended (HFS+) volumes starting with macOS 28. Users with these encrypted drives must decrypt them or reformat them to APFS. This change means that Mac OS Extended will only be supported for unencrypted volumes in future macOS versions. Apple has not provided a specific reason for this decision. However, it is seen as a continuation of their shift towards the APFS file system. APFS, which offers native encryption, replaced Mac OS Extended as the default in macOS High Sierra. Starting with macOS 26, Macs may begin notifying users about incompatible encrypted HFS+ disks. These notifications will identify the specific volume by name. Users can manually check their volume's format and encryption status. Unencrypted Mac OS Extended volumes will remain compatible with macOS 28 and later releases.