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Apple Deprecates AirPort Utility and Ends Time Capsule Backups

The change removes App Store downloads and the file protocol Time Capsule uses, forcing users to migrate backups or rely on third-party workarounds.

Overview

  • Apple’s iOS/iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 beta 2 release notes, published June 22, 2026, formally deprecated AirPort Utility and said the app will no longer be available for new App Store downloads.
  • Users who previously downloaded AirPort Utility can still re-download it but Apple warns the app’s functionality is not guaranteed on iOS 27 or macOS 27 Golden Gate.
  • macOS 27 Golden Gate removes Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) file-sharing support, which prevents Time Machine from backing up to AirPort Time Capsule devices.
  • A Microsoft engineer has published a community workaround that can restore some Time Capsule compatibility, but Apple has not committed to long-term support or given a removal date for the app.
  • Apple discontinued the AirPort hardware line in 2018, so affected users should plan to migrate backups to modern network drives or cloud services to avoid losing Time Machine backups.