Is it safe to keep using a 2013 Time Capsule in 2026?

Published: 2026-10-27 · Capsule Bridge

Short answer: it is fine to keep it as a quiet home disk for now, but not as your only copy of anything. Apple discontinued the AirPort line in 2018, the last firmware update was a security update in 2019, and the hard disk inside is old. Copy what matters to a modern drive soon.

What is the support situation?

Apple stopped selling AirPort products, including Time Capsule, in 2018. The last firmware, version 7.8.1, was released in June 2019 as a security update for the 802.11n base stations, which include the 2013 Time Capsule. As far as we know, Apple has not released anything since that adds modern file sharing. With macOS 27 the Mac itself can no longer connect to it over AFP.

What are the real risks?

• The hard disk. It has been spinning for many years. Disks do fail, often without warning.
• No new security fixes. Keep the Time Capsule inside your home network. Do not make it reachable from the internet.
• One copy only. Many people have years of photos and a Time Machine backup on that one disk.

What should you do?

1. Copy your important files to a modern drive now, while the disk still works.
2. Keep a second copy somewhere else (another drive, or a cloud backup).
3. Do not update the firmware or reset the device just to try to fix things. It will not bring AFP back to macOS, and a reset erases data.
4. Set up a new Time Machine disk for your Mac.

Next: a checklist for copying everything off safely.