It’s official: with macOS 15.5, Apple has officially deprecated AFP (Apple Filing Protocol). When checking the mount_afp man page, users are now presented with the following message:
AFP client is deprecated in the current version and will be removed in a future version of macOS. We encourage users to explore alternatives and migrate their workflows before upgrading to the version which removes support for the AFP client.
This means that we can no longer expect bug fixes for AFP and will soon have to do without it altogether. While Apple hasn’t confirmed when exactly the AFP client will be removed from macOS, it’s likely to disappear as early as version 16, expected this fall. We can expect this change to only affect future versions of macOS, so users can buy some time by simply postponing their OS updates.
ELEMENTS environments
The discontinuation of AFP has minimal impact on ELEMENTS systems as macOS users have always been able to mount workspaces using SMB or NFS. We actually know of many cases in which our users have decided to use SMB as their default network protocol across both Windows and Macs. To change the mounting protocol, navigate to any workspace’s settings, open the Mount tab, select SMB and save the settings. Currently, AFP is still the default Mac protocol for new workspaces. This will of course change in the future. Until then you can set a different default protocol, along with any other workspace settings, by using workspace templates.
Though not necessary, if wanted, the AFP service can be stopped altogether in the node settings in the status page. Simply open the Services tab and stop the AFP service.
Test your workflows
With AFP still available, now is the perfect time to test your workflows using SMB. We suggest checking workspace mounting behavior, application compatibility, and overall performance. While issues aren’t expected, if you experience any disruptions in your workflow after switching to SMB, feel free to reach out to our support team—we’re here to help.
