You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Steps Needed to Convert SDD from MacOS Extended (Journaled) to APFS

I have a MacBook Pro (mid 2012) that I changed out the HDD to SDD. I am trying to upgrade OS from Mojave 10.14.6 to Catalina 10.15.7. The issue is I get the message "The Volume is not Formatted as APFS".

I have read through different answers within the community threads and attempted what was suggested, but the option to edit the disc is disabled. I can't update my MS Office software because I need to update the software. Can someone provide instructions please? Thank you very kindly.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jan 17, 2022 10:49 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 18, 2022 7:45 AM

mfrancesslack wrote:

I have a MacBook Pro (mid 2012) that I changed out the HDD to SDD. I am trying to upgrade OS from Mojave 10.14.6 to Catalina 10.15.7. The issue is I get the message "The Volume is not Formatted as APFS".
I have read through different answers within the community threads and attempted what was suggested, but the option to edit the disc is disabled. I can't update my MS Office software because I need to update the software. Can someone provide instructions please? Thank you very kindly.


I was able to do this on the fly from DiskUtilty.

The process is non-distructive and completes within a matter of a minute—surprisingly fast.


Restart the Mac into Recovery Mode.

Recovery: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904


Launch Disk utility.

Click-select your named boot volume—the default name is "Macintosh HD" —(Not the physical drive above it.)

In the Disk Utility> Edit menu> select “Convert to APFS"



the whole enchilada:


If you download the Catalina installer, Quit the installer like any other app if it launches./

Here it will sit harmlessly in your Applications folder. You can make a bootable USB installer:

How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

Boot to this installer holding the option key and from the "Startup Disk Manager" select it for boot.

ref: How to select a different startup disk - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202796


The installer contains a DisK Utility.app among other Utilities/Tools—

Now that you are not mounted to your internal SSD— you can Convert to APFS on the fly (non-destructive.)

It is a surprising fast and efficient conversion.

Disk Utility>Edit>Convert to APFS

*please note from DU>View>Show All Devices for clarification—

You are selecting your "named boot volume" (not the physical drive above it.)


Always advised to have a current redundant backup plan before any update/upgrade/conversion—only in this way can you restore your User if something goes UN-expectantly sideways.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 18, 2022 7:45 AM in response to mfrancesslack

mfrancesslack wrote:

I have a MacBook Pro (mid 2012) that I changed out the HDD to SDD. I am trying to upgrade OS from Mojave 10.14.6 to Catalina 10.15.7. The issue is I get the message "The Volume is not Formatted as APFS".
I have read through different answers within the community threads and attempted what was suggested, but the option to edit the disc is disabled. I can't update my MS Office software because I need to update the software. Can someone provide instructions please? Thank you very kindly.


I was able to do this on the fly from DiskUtilty.

The process is non-distructive and completes within a matter of a minute—surprisingly fast.


Restart the Mac into Recovery Mode.

Recovery: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904


Launch Disk utility.

Click-select your named boot volume—the default name is "Macintosh HD" —(Not the physical drive above it.)

In the Disk Utility> Edit menu> select “Convert to APFS"



the whole enchilada:


If you download the Catalina installer, Quit the installer like any other app if it launches./

Here it will sit harmlessly in your Applications folder. You can make a bootable USB installer:

How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

Boot to this installer holding the option key and from the "Startup Disk Manager" select it for boot.

ref: How to select a different startup disk - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202796


The installer contains a DisK Utility.app among other Utilities/Tools—

Now that you are not mounted to your internal SSD— you can Convert to APFS on the fly (non-destructive.)

It is a surprising fast and efficient conversion.

Disk Utility>Edit>Convert to APFS

*please note from DU>View>Show All Devices for clarification—

You are selecting your "named boot volume" (not the physical drive above it.)


Always advised to have a current redundant backup plan before any update/upgrade/conversion—only in this way can you restore your User if something goes UN-expectantly sideways.

Jan 17, 2022 1:52 PM in response to mfrancesslack

You need to boot into Recovery Mode (Command + R) and launch Disk Utility. Select the "Macintosh HD" boot volume (or whatever name you gave it). Click the "Edit" menu and select "Convert to APFS". While the conversion should not destroy any data, I personally would make sure to have a good backup first just to be safe.

https://itectec.com/askdifferent/macos-how-to-convert-macos-extended-journaled-to-apfs/

Steps Needed to Convert SDD from MacOS Extended (Journaled) to APFS

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.