Are there any reasons to stick with HFS+ over APFS on external SSDs?

[iAssimilated]

Like the title states, are there any reasons (as of today) to keep my external SSDs on HFS+ over APFS? I have a Samsung T5 as well as a T7. Both drives are connected via the TB3 ports on my 2018 mini. My T5 drive stores my Steam library as well as any cross platform apps via Crossover. My T7 stores my iTunes Library and is used for extra storage (currently downloaded application installers).

Any insights would be welcome!

 

[chabig]

There is no reason to keep SSDs on HFS+. APFS is designed to work well on SSDs and is the future of Apple file systems.

 

[chown33]

The only reason I can think of is if you might need to access the data using an older Mac, at some unexpected future time. That might not be entirely predictable, so it may be just a guess.

A similar reason is if the disk might need to be readable by non-Macs. There are HFS+ drivers for other platforms, but I'm not aware of any APFS drivers.

 

[allan.nyholm]

The only reason I can think of is if you might need to access the data using an older Mac, at some unexpected future time. That might not be entirely predictable, so it may be just a guess.

A similar reason is if the disk might need to be readable by non-Macs. There are HFS+ drivers for other platforms, but I'm not aware of any APFS drivers.

There APFS for Windows

APFS for Windows | Paragon Software

Read and write APFS-formatted HDD, SSD or flash drive on Windows computer.

www.paragon-software.com

 

[allan.nyholm]

@iAssimilated I would echo what other people have said. Go APFS for all SSD drives that are internal as well as external and also take external HDD's too. Make everything APFS muahahahahaaaaa.
I haven't yet looked for APFS Linux drivers as I have for Windows, but who even bothers with Linux anymore says the person looking at a tux avatar with a The Borg-overlay

Only nitpick I have with creating a Time Machine backup on Big Sur that automatically converts my external SSD drive to APFS is that when I roll back to Mojave or Catalina, then I am met with having to show hidden files and only given one backup to look through. That's of course entirely on me.

 

[chown33]

There APFS for Windows

APFS for Windows | Paragon Software

Read and write APFS-formatted HDD, SSD or flash drive on Windows computer.

www.paragon-software.com

Thanks, I didn't know that.

 

[iAssimilated]

@iAssimilated I would echo what other people have said. Go APFS for all SSD drives that are internal as well as external and also take external HDD's too. Make everything APFS muahahahahaaaaa.
I haven't yet looked for APFS Linux drivers as I have for Windows, but who even bothers with Linux anymore says the person looking at a tux avatar with a The Borg-overlay

Only nitpick I have with creating a Time Machine backup on Big Sur that automatically converts my external SSD drive to APFS is that when I roll back to Mojave or Catalina, then I am met with having to show hidden files and only given one backup to look through. That's of course entirely on me.

LOL! I use Syncthing to replicate my files between macOS and linux. That way I technically have a backup on at least two systems and I don't have to worry about file system compatibility.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

 

[Fishrrman]

I can only speak for myself.

I use HFS+ on ALL my drives and partitions, with the exception of boot partitions for versions of the OS that require APFS.

That way I can still connect a drive to an older Mac, if the need arises.