> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://book.bsdcn.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://book.bsdcn.org/ask/flat/chapter-26-other-file-systems/di-26.3-jie-macos-wen-jian-xi-tong.md). # 26.3 macOS File Systems FreeBSD provides support for macOS file systems, including HFS/HFS+ and APFS, for accessing storage devices formatted for Apple systems. ## APFS File System Apple File System (APFS) is a next-generation file system developed by Apple, which has been the default file system for macOS since macOS High Sierra. On FreeBSD, read-only access to APFS partitions can be achieved through `libfsapfs`. ### Installing libfsapfs Install the libfsapfs package using pkg: ```sh # pkg install libfsapfs ``` Install using Ports: ```sh # cd /usr/ports/filesystems/libfsapfs/ # make install clean ``` ### Loading the fusefs Kernel Module Before using FUSE file systems, the fusefs(4) kernel module must be loaded: ```sh # kldload fusefs ``` Use sysrc(8) to configure the module to load automatically at boot: ```sh # sysrc kld_list+=fusefs ``` ### Identifying APFS Volumes After connecting a disk containing APFS volumes to the computer, use `gpart` to view partition information. APFS volumes are typically displayed as the `apple-apfs` type: ```sh # gpart show -p nda1 => 34 195286 nda1 GPT (95M) 34 6 - free - (3K) 40 195280 nda1p1 apple-apfs (95M) ``` The `file` command can be used to more precisely identify the file system type: ```sh # file -s /dev/nda1p1 /dev/nda1p1: Apple File System (APFS), blocksize 4096 ``` ### Mounting APFS Volumes Use `libfsapfs` to mount APFS volumes. Mount the APFS volume `/dev/nda1p1` to `/mnt`: ```sh # fsapfsmount /dev/nda1p1 /mnt ``` Verify the mount status and view contents: ```sh # ls /mnt/ /mnt/.DS_Store /mnt/.Trashes/ /mnt/evidence.json /mnt/README.md /mnt/.fseventsd/ /mnt/container/ /mnt/image/ ``` > **Note** > > Currently, `libfsapfs` only provides read-only support; write operations are not available. ## HFS/HFS+ File Systems > **Note** > > HFS/HFS+ was the primary file system for macOS before the introduction of APFS. Since macOS High Sierra (2017), APFS has replaced HFS+ as the default file system; since macOS Catalina, the system volume must use APFS. HFS+ now exists only on older Mac devices and external storage formatted with HFS+, and is only applicable for scenarios requiring access to such legacy storage. FreeBSD provides read-only support for HFS/HFS+ through the filesystems/hfsfuse package. To use HFS/HFS+ on FreeBSD, install the **filesystems/hfsfuse** package, load the FUSE kernel module, and mount the file system as follows: ### Installing the HFS/HFS+ Package Install using pkg: ```sh # pkg install fusefs-hfsfuse ``` Install using Ports: ```sh # cd /usr/ports/filesystems/hfsfuse/ # make install clean ``` ### Loading the fusefs Kernel Module Before using FUSE file systems, the fusefs(4) kernel module must be loaded: ```sh # kldload fusefs ``` Use sysrc(8) to configure the module to load automatically at boot: ```sh # sysrc kld_list+=fusefs ``` ### Identifying HFS/HFS+ Volumes The `file` command can be used to identify the file system type: ```sh # file -s /dev/ada0 /dev/ada0: Apple HFS Plus version 4 data (mounted) last mounted by: 'HFSJ', created: Thu Jan 29 17:33:30 2009, last modified: Thu Jan 29 17:33:36 2009, last checked: Thu Jan 29 17:33:30 2009, block size: 4096, number of blocks: 2560, free blocks: 444 ``` ### Mounting HFS/HFS+ Volumes Mount the HFS/HFS+ volume by specifying its FreeBSD partition name and a mount point (which must already exist). The following example mounts **/dev/ada0** to **/mnt**: ```sh # hfsfuse /dev/ada0 /mnt ``` Verify the mount status ```sh # mount /dev/ada0 on /mnt (fusefs.hfs, read-only) ……irrelevant output omitted…… # df -hl /dev/ada0 10M 8.3M 1.7M 83% /mnt ``` View contents: ```sh # ls /mnt .Trashes .fseventsd file1.txt file2.txt # cat file1.txt This is file 1 - snarf ``` > **Note** > > Currently, `fusefs-hfsfuse` only provides read-only support; write operations are not available, and there are currently no plans for write support. ## References * Apple. Apple File System Reference\[EB/OL]. \[2026-03-25]. . Apple's official APFS technical documentation. * FreeBSD Forums. Mounting APFS partition\[EB/OL]. \[2026-03-25]. . FreeBSD forum discussion on APFS mount support. * libfsapfs Project. GitHub Repository\[EB/OL]. \[2026-03-25]. . libfsapfs open source project repository. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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