How to Ensure Your Mac Hard Drive is Encrypted

Owned by Brian Hinds (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Mar 12, 2020
1 min read

Introduction

This page describes the process of how to ensure your Mac computer's hard drive is encrypted with FileVault. This is critical for data security as an unencrypted hard drive can be easily removed, connected to another computer and have its data copied. An encrypted hard drive cannot be accessed from another computer without the individual having the computer user's password.

How to Ensure Your Mac Hard Drive is Encrypted

StepWhat to doHow to do it
1Click on the Apple logo at the top-left of the menu bar and select System Preferences.



2

Click Security & Privacy.


3

Select FileVault from the menu tab options.


4

Confirm the words FileVault is turned on for the disk "Macintosh HD". appear on the FileVault window.

Note: You will need to turn FileVault on if it is not on already.

How to turn on FileVault to encrypt your drive:

  1. Click the padlock at the bottom-left of the Security & Privacy window.
  2. Type in your computer password.
  3. Click the Turn On FileVault button.