Disk Utilities vs macOS 10.13 High Sierra: Updates Required (+ Addendum)

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There is zero indication that any current disk repair and recovery utilities with which I'm acquainted are going to be compatible with macOS 10.13 High Sierra. Instead, I'm reading reports that they're throwing errors when run on 10.13 beta.

Therefore!

I personally suggest holding onto your money before buying or upgrading ANY disk utility application. Within a month from now we'll know what's going on, so it's no big wait. Blowing dough on current disk utility software is likely to be a total waste.

The situation is that macOS 10.13 High Sierra formally introduces a new file system called Apple File System (APFS). It is foreign to ALL current disk utilities. As such, I'd count on them not working with the new OS.

Disk Repair and Recovery Utilities I've checked:

• Alsoft DiskWarrior: No mention of 10.13 High Sierra on their website.*
• Micromat TechTool Pro: No mention of 10.13 High Sierra on their website.
• Prosoft Engineering Drive Genius and DataRescue: No mention of 10.13 High Sierra on their website.
• 508 Software (CleverFiles) Disk Drill (Pro): They very kindly have provided a webpage describing their current work on updating their software for High Sierra HERE. Thank you!
• MacWare DiskTools Pro: Abandonware. I'd personally advise tossing it into the trash.

Other Disk Utilities?

I expect there are going to be compatibility updates for a lot of other disk related utilities. Off the top of my head, I can imagine updates to such utilities as:

CCleaner
Cocktail
DaisyDisk
Deeper
EtreCheck
GrandPerspective
MacPilot
Maintenance
Onyx
Yasu

It's possible Apple will provide an API layer to help these higher level utilities to continue to work on 10.13 High Sierra.

I have access via AppleSeed to macOS 10.13 betas, but I've avoided it due to my concern about being able to repair disk problems that may arise. Otherwise, I'd have tested all these apps directly. If readers have conducted disk utility tests on 10.13 and would like to share results, please post!

*My sympathies and best wishes to Alsoft, who were affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. 😿

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ADDENDUM

I've received a reply comment from Christianp at Micromat regarding both TechTool Pro and MacCheck:

[TechTool Pro] 9.5.2 is a maintenance update, while 10.13 compatibility will arrive in a future update. We never release an update with new OS compatibility until *after* the OS update is released, as Apple sometimes makes last minute changes.

Also, note that APFS is still in development, and Apple has yet to release a spec to developers, which will delay full APFS support from third-party utility makers. Nonetheless, basic APFS support in MacCheck should be available shortly after 10.13 is officially released.

Hopefully this helps.

I’ve verified that this is indeed the case, as per Apple’s statements at their developer website:

Apple File System Guide: Introduction

Important: This documentation contains preliminary information about an API or technology in development. This information is subject to change, and software implemented according to this documentation should be tested with final operating system software.

IOW: For a number of weeks after the official release of macOS 10.13 High Sierra, the ONLY disk utility we’re going have to repair 10.13 volumes is Apple’s own Disk Utility. I find that to be of considerable concern. It’s a motivator to WAIT to upgrade Macs to 10.13, IMHO.

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