---
id: mac-storage-basics.what-is-apfs
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-apfs
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Disks, APFS and formats"
question: "What is APFS?"
alt_questions:
  - "apple file system explained"
  - "apfs meaning mac"
  - "what does apfs do"
  - "is my mac using apfs"
  - "apfs features"
short_answer: "Apple File System, the format macOS uses for its startup disk and recommends for SSDs. It adds clones, snapshots, space sharing between volumes and built-in encryption."
tags: ["apfs", "file system", "formats"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/apfs-or-mac-os-extended-which-should-i-use", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-an-apfs-container-and-volume"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What is APFS?

**APFS (Apple File System)** is the format macOS uses for its startup disk and recommends for SSDs. It's designed for flash storage and brings features older Mac formats lacked: instant file copies (clones), snapshots, space sharing between volumes, and built-in encryption.

Every Mac running a recent macOS uses APFS for its internal drive. External drives can use APFS too, which is the best choice when the drive is only used with Macs running macOS 10.13 or later.