The world's first APFS reader for Windows for free!
Now DiskInternals products support the APFS file system. Transferring and viewing files from the APFS on Windows can be performed for free!
Troubleshooting DFU Mode & Firmware Update Problems; 1. Updates – Article Updated 3/17/21. UPDATE 3/17/21 – I’ve added a new video that shows you how to use Apple configurator 2 to install macOS on multiple M1 Macs. UPDATE 1/14/21 – Apple has released Apple Configurator 2 Version 2.13.3, be sure to update. Jun 29, 2020 APFS in macOS 11 changes volume roles substantially. The System volume within a boot Volume Group is now sealed using a tree of cryptographic hashes, as I have detailed here. New roles include: Update, used by macOS updates; Xart, used by iOS to manage OS access to secure user data; Hardware, used for firmware data. Just download and install DiskInternals Linux Reader. DiskInternals' support of APFS. DiskInternals software, along with its main functions and options, offers support for the APFS file system, which is created by: macOS 10.15 Catalina, macOS 10.14 Mojave, macOS 10.13 High Sierra.
What is APFS?
A couple of years ago, Apple introduced the Apple File System (APFS), which is used on Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Apple Watches, and other Apple products.
The file system structure is quite stable and very rarely undergoes radical changes.
Until now, there was no way to open files on APFS-formatted drives from Windows.
But everything has changed: now you can get access to APFS drives from Windows and read necessary files.
Moreover, it is completely free of charge.
Just download and install DiskInternals Linux Reader.
DiskInternals' support of APFS
DiskInternals software, along with its main functions and options, offers support for the APFS file system, which is created by:
- macOS 10.15 Catalina,
- macOS 10.14 Mojave,
- macOS 10.13 High Sierra,
- macOS 10.12 Sierra,
- OS X 10.11 El Capitan,
- and previous versions of macOS.
You are welcome to use the following DiskInternals products, both commercial and free, that support APFS:
- VMFS Recovery is a specialized application for recovering files stored on VMware® VMFS, as well as for reading and restoring VMDK files.
- RAID Recovery is also a unique application for recovering any data from different versions of arrays.
- Partition Recovery is a software tool that restores damaged, lost or deleted partitions and files.
- Uneraser is a universal file recovery software tool, since it is possible to recover files of virtually any type (documents, pictures, music, etc.) on any internal or removable storage media, including SSD, HDD, SD, flash drives, etc.
- Linux Reader is a unique free product, allowing you to read files on Linux from Windows. Purchase Linux Reader Pro and get the maximum number of options and features.
- Reader for TC is an application for Total Commander. It is absolutely free and it also provides read-only access to APFS disks.
The following DiskInternals applications support encrypted files on APFS drives (in read-only mode, available after purchase of a license):
- VMFS Recovery
- RAID Recovery
- Partition Recovery
- Uneraser
- Linux Reader Pro
Why should you trust DiskInternals software?
For more than 15 years, we have gained the trust of thousands of businesses, and have recovered terabytes of files. Our products have:
- excellent software performance
- reduced overhead costs
- an easy-to-use interface
- support of multiple file systems (APFS, HFS, HFS +, NTFS, exFAT, ZFS, Reiser4, UFS, etc.)
- support of various storage types (SSD, HDD, flash drives, SD cards, etc.)
- works on Windows 7/8/10, 2008 Server, Vista, etc.
- read-only access prevents overwriting of original files – your data is kept intact
- easy preview of APFS files in plist, bplist, and sqlite3 formats
- support of APFS reader formats for no extra charge
You are welcome to try Diskinternals software right now.
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Apfs Firmware Update Ios
I purchased a 2015 Macbook Air 13. It came with Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite. I decide to install macOS 10.14 Mojave. (I am not ready to move to 64bit only with macOS 10.15 Catalina.)
After booting from my USB flash drive containing the macOS 10.14 Mojave installer, I run the “Disk Utility” and erase the internal drive, selecting APFS (Apple File System) as the target file system. APFS is the latest file system, first supported by macOS 10.13 High Sierra.
Unfortunately, formatting as APFS is a mistake when upgrading from a very old macOS version like Yosemite.
Mac os catalina worth the upgrade. When I proceed to install macOS 10.14 Mojave, the installer shows the internal drive as a greyed-out option. The pop-up tip on it reads “Your Mac needs a firmware update in order to install to this volume. Please select a Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume instead”.
No problem, I think. I quit the installer and run “Disk Utility”. However, when I attempt to erase the internal drive, the only file system options shown are APFS variations.
Note: Below, “HFS+” is “Mac OS Extended” and “JHFS+” is “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)”.
A quick google search leads me to this page, How to Revert a drive from APFS back to HFS+. The main point is that if the “Disk Utility” application fails to do something, the “diskutil” (disk utilities) command line is almost always the solution.
I quit “Disk Utility” and launch the Terminal. I then run the diskutil commands below:
# Note the identifier for the Apple_APFS partition, which is 'disk0s2'.
[-bash-3.2# diskutil list
/dev/disk0 (internal, physical)
#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER
0: GUID_partition_scheme *121.3 GB disk0
1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1
2: Apple_APFS Container disk1 121.1 GB disk0s2
/dev/disk1 (synthesized):
..
# Delete the APFS partition, which will reformat it to JHFS+ format
[-bash-3.2# diskutil apfs deleteContainer /dev/disk0s2
Started APFS operation on disk1
Deleting APFS Container with all of its APFS Volumes
Unmounting Volumes
Unmounting Volume 'macOS' on disk1s1
Deleting Volumes
Deleting Container
Wiping former APFS disks
Switching content types
Reformatting former APFS disks
Initialized /dev/rdisk0s2 as a 113 GB case-insensitive HFS Plus volume with a 16384k journal
Mounting disk
1 new disk created or changed due to APFS operation
Disk from APFS operation: disk0s2
Finished APFS operation on disk1
Firmware Update Lg Phone Not Working
Just to be sure, I quit the Terminal and launch the “Disk Utility” application. The internal drive is now named “Untitled”. This time, I am allowed to select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” when erasing the internal drive. I do so.
Mac Mini Apfs Firmware Update
Finally, the macOS 10.14 Mojave installer allows me to select the internal drive and the installation proceeds successfully. At the end of the process, the internal drive is formatted as APFS. Evidently, the Mojave installer updates the firmware and then converts the internal drive to APFS as part of the installation process.