Time Capsule Support Cut in macOS 27: A Definitive End to Apple’s Network Backup Era
Apple’s strategy of moving beyond legacy hardware has reached a new milestone. With macOS 27 scheduled for release in 2025, support for Time Machine backups using AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Disk devices will be officially discontinued—a change closely tracked by Apple-focused observers and reported by sources including 9to5Mac, AppleInsider, and MacRumors.
End of Native Backup over AirPort Hardware
Time Capsule, once celebrated for enabling seamless wireless backups for Mac users, has remained a quiet staple in many Apple-centric homes and offices, even years after its discontinuation in 2018. However, the upcoming macOS 27 signals the definitive end of its practical lifecycle. According to system warnings in macOS 26 beta builds, as cited by leaker @StellaFudge and corroborated by multiple outlets, users are explicitly advised that AirPort Disk and Time Capsule support in Time Machine is not recommended and will be fully disabled in the next major OS release.
Technical Rationale: Protocol and Platform Shifts
The technical shift is rooted in Apple’s phased deprecation of legacy networking protocols. Both Time Capsule and AirPort Disk depend on the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP), which Apple documented as deprecated in macOS Sequoia 15.5 enterprise release notes. More recent Time Machine implementations rely on SMBv2 or SMBv3, which offer improved security and broader enterprise compatibility compared to the aging AFP and SMBv1 protocols still used by Time Capsule hardware.
By requiring modern file sharing standards, Apple is further aligning macOS backup infrastructure with contemporary networking and security practices—part of a broader industry trend seen across consumer and professional storage solutions.
Strategic Context: Apple’s Departure from Networking Hardware
Apple’s phased withdrawal from the router market dates to 2016, when the company disbanded its wireless networking division. The Time Capsule, as a combined router and backup appliance, was officially discontinued in 2018. Since then, Apple has encouraged customers to use third-party NAS solutions, or direct-attached storage, for their Time Machine workflows.
This shift is reminiscent of Apple's broader trend toward streamlining hardware offerings and focusing on services and platforms, as observed in the company’s public documentation and product strategy. Similar transitions have taken place with the sunset of support for 32-bit applications in macOS Catalina and the gradual phasing out of Intel-based code following the Apple silicon transition.
What’s Next for Mac Backup Users?
According to current beta documentation and industry reporting, Time Machine will require backup destinations supporting modern SMB protocols from macOS 27 onward. Devices running HFS+ filesystems or leveraging AFP will no longer be compatible. Apple has not announced any first-party hardware replacements or specific migration incentives.
Power users who wish to retain network backup functionality comparable to the retired Time Capsule are increasingly turning to NAS vendors—such as Synology or QNAP—that offer SMB and Time Machine compatibility. Local, directly connected disks remain supported as Time Machine destinations.
Transitional Timeline and Takeaways
While no direct executive commentary has been offered, Apple’s messaging and software updates underscore a clear directive: users relying on AirPort Time Capsule should migrate their backups to SMB-capable storage before macOS 27’s arrival, expected in late 2025. No pricing or Apple-branded alternatives have been revealed. The company’s documentation and system alerts provide ample notice to the technically astute.
For Apple enthusiasts, this milestone marks the final sunset of one of the Mac ecosystem’s most distinctive, if quietly fading, hardware conveniences.