UGOS Pro does not support AFP (Apple Filing Protocol). UGOS Pro (Ugreen's NAS operating system, built on Linux) provides SMB and NFS file sharing for Mac users. AFP is not listed as a supported protocol and is not available in any current UGOS Pro release. This is not a gap that is likely to change. AFP has been deprecated by Apple and is being phased out across the NAS industry.
In short: UGOS Pro uses SMB for Mac file sharing, which works natively on every Mac running macOS 10.9 or later. AFP is not supported in UGOS Pro. If your Mac runs a current OS, you do not need AFP and the SMB connection works out of the box.
What AFP Is and Why It Still Comes Up
AFP, or Apple Filing Protocol, is the network file-sharing protocol Apple created for Mac-to-Mac and Mac-to-server connections. It was the default method for connecting Macs to NAS devices from roughly 2000 to 2013. Synology DSM, QNAP QTS, and other NAS platforms added AFP support to attract Mac users during that period.
Apple began phasing AFP out with macOS 10.9 Mavericks in 2013, which switched the default connection method to SMB 2 and later SMB 3. In macOS 11 Big Sur (2020), Apple formally deprecated AFP. Most NAS platforms still list AFP as an option for legacy compatibility, but it is no longer the recommended or default protocol for any modern Mac setup.
The reason AFP still appears in search queries is that older network guides and NAS setup tutorials still reference it. Anyone following a guide written before 2016 will encounter AFP instructions. Ugreen's NAS lineup launched in 2023, after AFP was already in deprecation. There was no reason to build AFP support into a new platform at that stage of the protocol's life.
How to Connect a Mac to a Ugreen NAS Running UGOS Pro
On a Mac running macOS 10.9 or later, connecting to a Ugreen NAS uses SMB. The steps below work on any current Mac OS:
Step 1: Open Finder. From the menu bar, select Go, then Connect to Server (keyboard shortcut: Command + K).
Step 2: In the address field, type smb://[NAS-IP-address] and click Connect. Replace [NAS-IP-address] with your NAS's local IP (visible in the UGOS Pro dashboard under Network).
Step 3: Enter your UGOS Pro username and password when prompted. The available shared folders will appear. Select the folder you want to mount.
To make the connection persist across reboots: In UGOS Pro, enable SMB in the File Services settings. On your Mac, after mounting the share, drag the server icon to your Login Items in System Preferences (System Settings on macOS Ventura and later) so it reconnects automatically on startup.
SMB version note: UGOS Pro supports SMB 2 and SMB 3. If you are on a Mac running macOS 10.15 or later, the connection will use SMB 3 by default, which gives you better performance and encryption than AFP ever provided. No configuration is needed to enable this.
UGOS Pro vs Synology DSM: AFP Support Compared
Synology DSM still includes AFP as a toggleable option, listed under File Services alongside SMB and NFS. QNAP QTS has a similar legacy AFP toggle. Both brands maintained AFP support because they have existing install bases that include older Macs and institutional setups where AFP was once configured.
UGOS Pro launched without AFP and has not added it. Given that Synology's own documentation now directs all Mac users to SMB rather than AFP, the practical gap between UGOS Pro and DSM on this point is minimal. Both platforms work the same way for any Mac running macOS 10.9 or later: you connect via SMB, and AFP is irrelevant.
Where AFP still has a real application is in environments running older Macs (pre-2013 hardware on OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion or earlier) or institutional setups that have not migrated SMB client configurations. UGOS Pro is not suitable for those environments. Synology DSM or QNAP QTS would be the appropriate choice where legacy AFP support is genuinely required.
Does This Affect Time Machine Backups on Ugreen NAS?
Time Machine on macOS Big Sur (11) and later uses SMB for NAS backups, not AFP. UGOS Pro supports Time Machine backups over SMB. In UGOS Pro, you can designate a shared folder as a Time Machine destination in the Backup Service settings. The Mac will discover it automatically once the folder is configured.
Time Machine AFP support was the reason many older NAS setup guides specified AFP over SMB for Mac deployments. That guidance is outdated. If you are setting up Time Machine on a Ugreen NAS today, use SMB. It works on all current Mac hardware and macOS versions.
For background on the full UGREEN NAS range and where to buy in Australia, see the UGREEN NAS Australia guide. For a full review of what UGOS Pro offers beyond file sharing, see our UGOS Pro review.
Does UGOS Pro support AFP for connecting Macs?
No. UGOS Pro does not support AFP. Mac file sharing on UGOS Pro uses SMB, which works natively on every Mac running macOS 10.9 or later. AFP is not needed for any current Mac setup.
Will UGOS Pro add AFP support in a future update?
This is unlikely. Apple deprecated AFP in macOS 11 (2020) and the protocol is being phased out across the NAS industry. Ugreen launched UGOS Pro in 2023, after the deprecation was already in effect. New AFP support would serve a shrinking user base and conflict with the direction Apple and most NAS platforms are moving.
I set up my old NAS using AFP. Will I need to reconfigure everything on a Ugreen NAS?
Yes, you will need to connect via SMB instead of AFP. The connection address changes from afp://[IP] to smb://[IP] in Finder's Connect to Server dialog. Shared folder names and access permissions transfer to SMB without other changes. Time Machine destinations need to be recreated on the new NAS regardless of protocol.
Does Synology DSM still support AFP?
Yes, Synology DSM includes a legacy AFP toggle under File Services. However, Synology's own documentation now directs all Mac users to use SMB. AFP on DSM is maintained for compatibility with older Mac setups, not as a recommended protocol for new deployments.
What protocol does UGOS Pro use for NFS (Linux and advanced Mac setups)?
UGOS Pro supports NFS alongside SMB. NFS is mainly used for Linux clients and advanced homelab setups. For standard Mac file sharing, SMB is the correct choice. NFS on a Mac is possible but requires manual configuration in the terminal and is not recommended for general use.
For a full breakdown of UGOS Pro features, limitations, and how it compares to Synology DSM and QNAP QTS, see our UGOS Pro review.
Read the UGOS Pro Review