how to install High Sierra and keep the HFS format (SSD drive)

[space-time]

Thanks

[ka jowct]

???

[WHiiP]

Glenn Fleishman:

Macworld reader Andrew wrote in asking about reformatting his High Sierra system, and wanting to choose HFS+ (Mac OS Extended, Journaled). However, after booting into macOS Recovery, the Disk Utility app only offers up APFS options. Why is that?

MacOS Recovery is in sync with High Sierra, and Apple converts a boot SSD volume into APFS when you install High Sierra. While that was optional during High Sierra’s public beta period, it became mandatory and unavoidable on release. As a result, even trying to erase a boot SSD volume only presents APFS options.

[ Further reading: Best NAS boxes for media streaming and backup ]
It’s possible you could force HFS+ on a boot SSD with High Sierra with some Terminal monkeying around, but I can’t see that would end well, and I’m not sure it offers any advantages. It’s too risky to recommend.

[space-time]

I read that MS Office 2008 does not run on APFS volumes, but runs on HFS. Also some utilities may not be ready for APFS.

[Marc Anthony]

How to Skip Converting to APFS When Installing macOS High Sierra

This AppleScript version of the Terminal command may also work, however, it's untested.

do shell script 
/Applications/Install\\ macOS\\ High\\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/startosinstall -converttoapfs NO

[modelamac]

Install it onto a spinning drive then clone it to the SSD.

space-time wrote:
Thanks

[RAMd®d]

I'm skipping High Sierra and eventually going to Mojave.

It will convert SSDs to APFS as well, I assume.

I've not paid enough attention to see the disadvantages of APFS, other then what's been noted in this thread.

[Gareth]

modelamac wrote:
Install it onto a spinning drive then clone it to the SSD.

Yup, I can confirm that I installed High Sierra on a USB Flash Drive and it remained HFS+ (it was an upgrade from Sierra, though, and not an initial install, should that make a difference).

[Sarcany]

RAMd®d wrote:
I'm skipping High Sierra and eventually going to Mojave.

It will convert SSDs to APFS as well, I assume.

I've not paid enough attention to see the disadvantages of APFS, other then what's been noted in this thread.

Can't access APFS vols from a Mac running any OS prior to High Sierra and it messes up "AFP" Apple file sharing, forcing users to use (unreliable, slow, and prone to errors from Mac file-names) Windows SMB file sharing instead.