---
id: external-drives.can-an-older-mac-read-my-apfs-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-an-older-mac-read-my-apfs-drive
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Using drives with PCs, iPads and other Macs"
question: "Can an older Mac read my APFS external drive?"
alt_questions:
  - "APFS drive on old Mac"
  - "High Sierra read APFS external"
  - "Old Mac can't see my new external drive"
  - "share drive between new and old Mac"
  - "apfs not supported older macos"
short_answer: "Only Macs running macOS High Sierra or later read APFS. For a drive that must work on an older Mac, format it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or exFAT. Newer Macs — Apple silicon or Intel — share APFS drives freely."
tags: ["apfs", "older mac", "compatibility"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-format-should-my-external-drive-be", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-is-ignore-ownership-on-this-volume", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-read-a-drive-from-my-old-mac"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Can an older Mac read my APFS external drive?

Only if it runs macOS High Sierra or later — earlier versions can't read APFS. For a drive you need to plug into a Mac that old, use **Mac OS Extended (Journaled)**, which every Mac can read, or exFAT.

Between Macs that are new enough, an APFS drive moves back and forth freely, including between Apple silicon and Intel Macs. If files show odd owners on the other Mac, see [Ignore ownership on this volume](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-is-ignore-ownership-on-this-volume).