---
id: mac-storage-basics.apfs-or-mac-os-extended-which-should-i-use
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/apfs-or-mac-os-extended-which-should-i-use
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Disks, APFS and formats"
question: "Should I use APFS or Mac OS Extended for a drive?"
alt_questions:
  - "apfs vs mac os extended"
  - "apfs vs hfs+"
  - "which format for mac external drive"
  - "mac os extended journaled or apfs"
  - "best format for hard drive mac"
short_answer: "APFS for SSDs used with recent Macs; Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for spinning disks shared with older Macs. Use exFAT if Windows also needs the drive."
tags: ["apfs", "hfs plus", "formats", "external drive"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-apfs", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-format-works-on-both-mac-and-windows"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Should I use APFS or Mac OS Extended for a drive?

For an SSD used with Macs running a recent macOS, choose **APFS**. **Mac OS Extended (Journaled)**, also called HFS+, still makes sense for spinning hard drives used with older Macs, or when a drive must be read by a Mac older than macOS High Sierra.

If the drive also needs to work with Windows, neither is ideal — see [exFAT for Mac and Windows](https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-format-works-on-both-mac-and-windows). For drives used with Storage Studio, see [external drives](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/).