Mac OS X: Mac OS Extended Format (HFS Plus) Volume And File Limits

A new Apple Knowledge Base article describes the limits for files and volumes on disks that use the Mac OS Extended format (HFS Plus) in Mac OS X, including journaled, encrypted, and case-sensitive volumes.

Volume and file limits in Mac OS X

• Maximum number of volumes (all Mac OS X versions)
– no limit

• Maximum number of files (or files and folders) in a folder (all Mac OS X versions)
– up to 2.1 billion

• Maximum volume size and file size (Mac OS X v10.0 – 10.1.5)
– 2 TB

• Maximum volume size and file size (Mac OS X v10.2 – 10.2.8)
– 8 TB

• Maximum volume size and file size (Mac OS X v10.3 – 10.5.2)
– 16 TB
• Maximum volume size and file size (Mac OS X v10.5.3 or later)
– close to 8 EB

For full details, see:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2422?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

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