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FileVault for Mac computers

In this chapter we will go over how to use FileVault, Mac’s default encryption tool, to encrypt disks, files, and folders on a Mac computer.

FileVault should be available for Mac computers automatically (OS X 10.3 or higher).

Table of Contents

Encrypting the full boot disk

Step 1: Open up System Preferences and click “Security & Privacy.”

Step 2: Click the lock icon, then enter your user name and password when prompted.

Step 3: Select the FileVault tab.

Step 4: Click “Turn On FileVault”. Disk encryption should now be enabled on Mac OS. If prompted, store your encryption key in a safe place, like a password manager.

Note: If “Turn On FileVault” is greyed out, click the Lock icon in the bottom-left of the screen and enter your Mac password to authorize changes.

Encrypting an external drive

FileVault is only used on the boot disk. To encrypt other drives using Disk Utility, see Manual Encryption.

A workaround would be to format your external drive and turn it into a boot drive (see this post), but using Disk Utility is simpler.

Key considerations for FileVault

FileVault 2 (available on newer Macs) uses XTS-AES-128 encryption with a 256-bit key.

If you need to recover your encryption key or reset your password, Apple provides the following recommendations:

  • If you’re using OS X Yosemite or later, use iCloud FileVault for recovery.
  • If you don’t want to use iCloud FileVault for recovery, create a local backup of your password and/or store it in a password manager.
  • On older operating systems (e.g. Mavericks), create a local key by setting up three security questions – make sure the answers will be easy for you to remember!

If your computer ever crashes or becomes corrupted, you should still be able to boot your Mac in Recovery Mode if your drive is encrypted, as long as you enter the encryption key. If your computer won’t boot at all, you can use a Bootable USB drive.

Video tutorial

Reference pages