Next macOS turns off Time Capsule support
Apple's WLAN routers with hard disks have not been available for a long time. However, the final end of support for backups has not yet been reached.
Apple warning dialog for Time Capsule: Support for many years despite security gaps.
(Image: @StellaFudge / X)
Back in 2018, Apple said goodbye to the business with its Wi-Fi base stations, some of which could also be used in parallel as useful backup devices in the home network. Although there are no longer any updates, even for serious security vulnerabilities, the function of playing Time Machine backups on AirPort devices has remained available to users. This will even continue with macOS 26 alias Tahoe, which will be released in September. After that, however, it will be over for good. This information can be seen in the developer beta of macOS 26, as the X user with the handle @StellaFudge discovered.
Info in the macOS 26 beta
If you still have an old AirPort router with AirPort Disk or Time Capsule, you will see this in the Time Machine section of System Preferences in macOS 26. There is now a warning (see image above): “The next major release of macOS will no longer support AirPort Disk or other Time Capsule disks for Time Machine backups.” This is marked with an exclamation mark and the statement that the medium currently used for backups is “not recommended for backup”.
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A “Learn more…” link, which is still available, leads to a support page on the various backup disk options for Apple's Time Machine backup system (which itself remains available). In the “AirPort Extreme Base Station or Time Capsule” section, it is stated that “these solutions are no longer recommended”, even though the company continues to provide information on how this works. The “major version” obviously refers to macOS 27. This means that backups to Apple routers are still possible until at least next fall – or as long as you are still using macOS 27.
Reason: change of protocol
The main reason for the end of support for the old routers is the fact that Apple is withdrawing support for its old file sharing protocol, Apple File Protocol (AFP). The company has preferred SMB instead for years. However, the AirPort systems only support AFP. It can therefore be assumed that support for AFP will also finally end with macOS 27. macOS 27 is also the first Apple operating system that will only run on Apple Silicon machines; support for Intel Macs will then end.
Both the AirPort Extreme base station with 802.11ac (has AirPort Disk) and the AirPort Time Capsule router are affected by the Time Machine measure; as mentioned, the latter was on the market until 2018. The devices are still popular today and sometimes fetch high prices on eBay. However, they should no longer be used because, as mentioned, Apple no longer provides security updates. It is unclear whether the company will ever offer routers again.
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