Support for the encrypted Mac OS Extended (HFS+) format will come to an end with the release of macOS 28, expected in 2027. This change means that users will need to either reformat or decrypt any storage devices currently using the encrypted Mac OS Extended format in order to use them with the new operating system. The reason for this change has not been explained, but it is likely due to the company's prioritization of the APFS format over HFS+. The deprecation of encrypted Mac OS Extended was first mentioned in the developer notes for the macOS 27 beta.
Apple Discontinues Support for Encrypted Mac OS Extended Drives: Implications for Users
