Apple 文件系统(Apple File System)( APFS ) 是用于运行 macOS 10.13 High Sierra及更高版本的(High Sierra)Mac设备的文件系统，而旧版Mac OS 扩展(Mac OS Extended)文件系统可用于旧版 macOS。您仍然可以将任一文件系统用于硬盘驱动器和附加的存储设备，两者各有优缺点。
如果您无法在驱动器的APFS与Mac OS Extended之间做出决定，则应首先考虑您的用例。较新的APFS格式更适合某些类型的驱动器，包括SSD(SSDs)，而Mac OS Extended更适合旧驱动器和 macOS 版本。以下是两者的利弊概览，以帮助您做出决定。
此外，请务必查看(check out the quick video )我们在姊妹网站YouTube 频道上创建的快速视频，我们将在其中了解(YouTube Channel)Mac磁盘的格式。
何时使用Apple 文件系统(Apple File System)( APFS )
大多数用户对他们的驱动器使用的文件系统类型不感兴趣——他们只是希望它能够工作。这正是Mac设备自 2017 年推出 macOS 10.13 (Mac)High Sierra以来一直使用的现在默认的Apple 文件系统(Apple File System)( APFS ) 所获得的。它也可用于包括 iOS 在内的其他Apple操作系统。
(APFS)HFS+APFS提供了许多速度和优化改进，以及对数据处理的改进。例如，与Mac OS Extended相比，文件损坏显着减少。
您还会注意到，与旧版HFS+相比， macOS 使用APFS驱动器处理文件元数据的方式有所改进，因此在APFS驱动器上复制和粘贴文件几乎可以立即进行。
使用APFS的最大缺点是具有旧 macOS 版本（macOS 10.12.6 Sierra和更早版本）的(Sierra)Mac(Macs)无法读取、写入或以其他方式访问使用它的驱动器。如果您使用的是较旧的Mac，则需要继续使用Mac OS Extended或使用ExFAT等替代品。
如果您使用 Time Machine 备份您的 Mac(back up your Mac using Time Machine)，您也将无法使用APFS。macOS 暂时继续为Time Machine驱动器使用HFS+文件系统。如果您尝试使用APFS格式的驱动器，macOS 会先将其格式化为HFS+，然后才能继续。
除了APFS和Mac OS Extended（也称为HFS+），您还有其他可用于外部驱动器的文件系统，包括ExFAT等跨平台选项。但是，对于大多数用户而言，APFS是他们需要或想要使用的唯一文件系统——但前提是他们（仅）使用现代Mac设备。
为硬盘(Hard Drives)选择Mac OS Extended ( HFS+ )
虽然Mac OS Extended ( HFS+ ) 不再是 macOS 安装的默认文件系统，但它并没有被Apple完全放弃，在某些条件下它仍然是 macOS 用户的有用选项。
正如我们所提到的，HFS+是 macOS Time Machine备份驱动器的默认文件系统选择。如果您计划格式化第二个硬盘驱动器或便携式闪存驱动器以用作Time Machine备份，则需要使用HFS+ - APFS 驱动器将无法工作。
如果您同时使用较旧和较新的Mac(Macs) ，您还需要考虑Mac OS Extended，因为旧版本的 macOS 不支持APFS。但是，除了功能之外，您仍然有一些正当理由选择HFS+而不是APFS——(APFS—the)最大的原因取决于您使用的驱动器类型。
APFS带来的许多速度和性能增强都依赖于使用高速SSD或便携式闪存驱动器。如果您使用的是带有磁盘盘片的较旧的机械驱动器，那么这些增强功能可能看起来很少或根本不存在。
考虑到这一点，并且为了交叉兼容性，您可能决定使用HFS+而不是APFS。您可以使用 macOS磁盘工具应用程序使用(Disk Utility app)format a drive with HFS+该应用程序可以从启动板(Launchpad)（Other > Disk Utility）启动。
在 macOS 和 Windows 上使用 ExFAT
虽然您只能将APFS和Mac OS Extended等(Mac OS Extended)Apple文件系统用于主系统驱动器，但另一个文件系统也值得考虑用于外部驱动器 - ExFAT。
ExFAT是Microsoft的一个较旧的文件系统，旨在替换Windows XP中切换到NTFS之前用于Windows系统驱动器的更旧的(Windows)FAT32文件系统。它消除了FAT32(FAT32)驱动器的 4GB 文件大小限制和 2TB 分区大小限制，通常被认为是闪存存储的更好替代方案。
如果您正在考虑使用ExFAT，您可能会有一个目标——跨平台共享文件。ExFAT应该只真正用于您计划与 macOS 和Windows设备一起使用的驱动器，因为它是两个操作系统本机支持的唯一文件系统。
Windows可以读取APFS和HFS+驱动器，但需要外部软件才能这样做。同样(Likewise)，macOS 可以读取较新的Windows NTFS驱动器，但不能写入它们。
对于拥有Windows和 macOS 设备的所有者，将ExFAT用于外部驱动器是一个不错的选择，但也有其他选择，例如设置自己的云存储(setting up your own cloud storage)或通过本地网络在设备之间共享文件。
APFS与Mac OS 扩展(Mac OS Extended)：哪个(Which)是最好(Best)的？
APFS与Mac OS 扩展(Mac OS Extended)之战没有赢家，因为这取决于您使用的驱动器。较新(Newer)的macOS 安装应默认使用APFS，如果您正在格式化外部驱动器(formatting an external drive)，APFS对大多数用户来说是更快更好的选择。
Mac OS Extended（或HFS+）对于较旧的驱动器仍然是一个不错的选择，但前提是您计划将它与Mac一起使用或用于Time Machine备份。如果您需要跨平台选项，请考虑将ExFAT用于您的驱动器——Windows和 macOS 无需任何额外软件即可读取这些驱动器。
APFS vs Mac OS Extended – Which Mac Disk Format Is Best?
The Apple File System (APFS) is the file system υsed with Mac devices running macOS 10.13 High Sierra and later, while the older Mac OS Extended fіle system is available for older versions of macOS. You cаn still use either file systеm for your hard drives and attached ѕtorage deνices, with both having their own pros and cons.
If you can’t decide between APFS vs. Mac OS Extended for your drive, you should consider your use case first. The newer APFS format is better for some types of drives, including SSDs, while Mac OS Extended is great for older drives and macOS versions. Here’s a run-through of the pros and cons of both to help you decide.
Also, be sure to check out the quick video we created on our sister site YouTube Channel where we go through the formats for Mac disks.
When to Use the Apple File System (APFS)
Most users aren’t interested in the type of file system their drive uses—they just expect it to work. That’s exactly what you get with the now-default Apple File System (APFS) that Mac devices have been using since macOS 10.13 High Sierra was launched in 2017. It’s also used with other Apple operating systems including iOS.
APFS offers a number of speed and optimization improvements compared to HFS+, as well as improvements to data handling. For example, file corruption is significantly reduced compared to Mac OS Extended.
You’ll also notice that copying and pasting files on an APFS drive works almost instantly, thanks to improvements in the way macOS handles file metadata with APFS drives compared to the older HFS+.
The biggest downside to using APFS is that Macs with older macOS versions (macOS 10.12.6 Sierra and older) can’t read, write, or otherwise access drives that use it. If you have an older Mac, you’ll need to keep using Mac OS Extended or use an alternative like ExFAT instead.
If you back up your Mac using Time Machine, you won’t be able to use APFS, either. macOS continues to use the HFS+ file system for Time Machine drives for the time being. If you attempt to use an APFS-formatted drive, macOS will want to format it to HFS+ before you can proceed.
Along with APFS and Mac OS Extended (also called HFS+), you also have other file systems that can be used for external drives, including cross-platform options like ExFAT. However, for most users, APFS is the only file system they’ll need or want to use – but only if they’re (only) using modern Mac devices.
Choosing Mac OS Extended (HFS+) for Hard Drives
While Mac OS Extended (HFS+) is no longer the default file system for macOS installations, it hasn’t been completely abandoned by Apple, and it’s still a useful option for macOS users under certain conditions.
As we’ve mentioned, HFS+ is the default file system of choice for macOS Time Machine backup drives. You’ll need to use HFS+ if you plan on formatting a second hard drive or portable flash drive for use as a Time Machine backup—APFS drives won’t work.
You’ll also need to consider Mac OS Extended if you’re using older and newer Macs together, as older versions of macOS won’t support APFS. Other than functionality, however, there are still a few legitimate reasons why you’d choose HFS+ over APFS—the biggest reason depends on the type of drive you use.
Many of the speed and performance enhancements that APFS brings rely on using a high-speed SSD or portable flash memory drive. If you’re using an older, mechanical drive with a disk platter, those enhancements may seem largely minimal or non-existent.
With that in mind, and for cross-compatibility, you may decide to use HFS+ over APFS. You can format a drive with HFS+ using the macOS Disk Utility app, which you can launch from the Launchpad (Other > Disk Utility).
Using ExFAT on macOS and Windows
While you can only use an Apple file system like APFS and Mac OS Extended for your main system drive, another file system is also worth considering for external drives—ExFAT.
ExFAT is an older file system from Microsoft, intended to replace the even older FAT32 file system used with Windows system drives before the switch to NTFS in Windows XP. It removes the 4GB file size limit and the 2TB partition size limit of FAT32 drives and is generally considered a better alternative for flash storage.
If you’re thinking about using ExFAT, you’ll likely have a single objective in mind—sharing files across platforms. ExFAT should only really be used for drives that you plan on using with both macOS and Windows devices, as it’s the only file system that both operating systems support natively.
It is possible for Windows to read APFS and HFS+ drives, but it requires external software to do so. Likewise, macOS can read newer Windows NTFS drives, but not write to them.
For owners with Windows and macOS devices, using ExFAT for an external drive is a good option but there are alternatives, such as setting up your own cloud storage or sharing files between your devices over your local network instead.
APFS vs Mac OS Extended: Which Is Best?
There’s no winner in the APFS vs Mac OS Extended battle, as it depends on the drive you’re using. Newer macOS installations should use APFS by default, and if you’re formatting an external drive, APFS is the faster and better option for most users.
Mac OS Extended (or HFS+) is still a good option for older drives, but only if you plan on using it with a Mac or for Time Machine backups. If you need a cross-platform option, consider using ExFAT for your drive instead—both Windows and macOS can read these drives without any additional software.
