#Mac os x encryption process how to#
#Mac os x encryption process mac os x#
#Mac os x encryption process install#
#Mac os x encryption process full#
#Mac os x encryption process software#

While the idea of giving Apple a key to unlock your system could make some users uneasy, for the average user it’s a great feature to have. However, forgetting your user password could prevent you from gaining access to your files, so Apple built in a “recovery key” that can be used to unlock the system.Ĭlicking the arrow next to “Show Recovery Key” will allow you to write the key down or copy it somewhere, but if you’re afraid you’ll lose that too, Apple has you covered.

The old FileVault preference area in System Preferences > Security has been replaced by a new Disk Encryption screen, offering just one button which allows you to turn on or off system encryption.Īpple’s system encryption implementation uses your existing user password to unlock the system during boot, which means you don’t have to set and remember a 2nd system password.

#Mac os x encryption process mac os x#

Setting it up is very simple, all you need is a working installation of Mac OS X 10.7 “Lion” and a few minutes to click through the assistant.

#Mac os x encryption process full#

Linux has also had full disk encryption for a long time, however enabling it requires the operating system to be installed in a specific way, and encrypting the system afterward is difficult if not impossible using common and easy to use tools.Īpple’s implementation, like Truecrypt and BitLocker before it, allows the user to turn system encryption on and off at any time, only a quick reboot is required to start the encryption or decryption process, which happens in the background while your machine is being used. While Apple is not the first to implement full system encryption, anyone running 10.7 will be able to use it, compared to Windows where an Ultimate or Enterprise edition of the operating system is needed to enable Microsoft’s system encryption feature called BitLocker ( Truecrypt is a free alternative). With 10.7 “Lion”, Apple intends to solve some of these flaws and significantly enhance security and privacy by turning FileVault into a disk level encryption system, not only for the main filesystem, but also for any external drive a user wants to protect with encryption. In Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5, FileVault could only be used to encrypt the “home folder” for each user, and it was widely criticized for a number of implementation flaws and security issues. It is only bootable partitions that need to follow the above sequence to avoid trouble.One of the most valuable changes in Mac OS X 10.7 “Lion” is a complete overhaul of FileVault, Apple’s disk encryption system for protecting private data such as stored pictures, emails, documents and home movies.

For non boot partitions, it is fine to format them as encrypted - e.g.

The encryption process is disk intensive so it is best to just let if finish before doing other disk intensive things. You can see the progress of the disk encryption by going to System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> FileVault.

#Mac os x encryption process software#

After you enable encryption, wait for the encryption process to finish before installing other software or making big changes.

Perhaps that bug has been fixed now, but I don't know so I would not risk it. I have had issues with disks formatted with multiple partitions when using encryption on one or more of the partitions.

I would also recommend to format it the disk as a single partition.

If you do it in this sequence then everything works.

#Mac os x encryption process install#

This can be done near the end of installing Sierra (it prompts you if you want encryption), or after the install is done. Finally, turn on disk encryption (called FileVault).

Install macOS Sierra on the fresh, unencrypted disk.

Format the target disk 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)' - but not encrypted.

I'm usually installing my Linux systems on fully encrypted disks, thus I am wondering whether this is also possible with macOS Sierra.

#Mac os x encryption process how to#

Is this desired behaviour? How to install macOS on a encrypted, journaled file-system? I was not able to install macOS onto a fully encrypted disk. Now my only option is reboot and remove the encryption via disk utility. MacOS could not be installed on your computer. I entered the password and the process continued until at some point it aborted with the following message: This told me it will check eligibility of my device and due to my encrypted disk it will ask for the password during installation.

I quit the disk utility and selected 'Install macOS'.

I erased the macOS partition and formatted it with journaled and encrypted file-system.

I restarted the system, pressed CMD+R to get into recovery mode and went into disk utility.

I just wiped my 500GB disk on my Mac Mini (2011 model) to freshly reinstall macOS Sierra.