How to Use FileVault on Mac
If you have dug around all the available Mac features and utilities, you may have noticed the name FileVault. This exciting name belongs to a very important service that, unfortunately, many people tend to ignore. The FileVault is a disk-encryption feature, which can keep your data private in your device gets stolen, lost, or compromised by hackers. The encryption standard that FileVault uses is very secure, and it would be impossible for anyone to reach the data once you secure it.
The FileVault disk encryption feature is not for anyone. You should certainly consider using it if your device stores sensitive information that must not fall into the wrong hands. Furthermore, frequent travelers might also want to consider activating FileVault – this way, their data will be safe in case the laptop gets misplaced or lost. Once active, FileVault will prompt you for a password once you boot up your Mac – you will not be able to access your files without submitting the correct password.
Check if FileVault is Active
There is a chance that you might be using FileVault already, but you are not aware of it. By default, newer Mac versions (Yosemite 10.10 and above) prompt users to active FileVault during the setup process. You might have accepted this offer and forgotten about it. To check if FileVault is active:
- Go to Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Privacy & Security.
- Select the FileVault tab and see whether is on or off.
Is FileVault active? If it is, then there is nothing to worry about, and you can stop reading. If, however, it is turned off, then learn how to activate it now.
How to Turn on FileVault on your Mac
To turn on FileVault, you will need to head to Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> FileVault. Click the lock icon at the bottom and enter your administrator password – this is required to unlock this menu.
Select the Turn On FileVault button, and then choose whether you want to link iCloud to FileVault in order to save the password and recovery key. We advise you to agree to this. Finally, select Restart when prompted to do so. Keep in mind that FileVault might need a lot of time to encrypt your disk's contents – it may take up to several hours depending on the amount of data you store and whether you are using an SSD or not.
Last but not least, we advise you to keep your FileVault recovery key on a piece of paper, which is stored in a safe place. If you lose this piece of information, you may be unable to recover your data. Learn more about How to Secure Your Mac.
