Quick Fix: Open System Settings (macOS Ventura 13.5 or later) or System Preferences (older macOS), go to Privacy & Security > FileVault, unlock with your admin password, and click Turn Off FileVault. Decryption starts right away and runs in the background while your Mac stays awake and plugged in.
Yes—you can stop FileVault encryption by turning it off in System Settings or System Preferences.
FileVault turns on automatically during new macOS installations or when manually enabled.
FileVault turns on automatically during new macOS installations or when manually enabled.
FileVault is Apple’s built-in full-disk encryption that scrambles your drive so only people with your login password can access it. Once started, decryption can take anywhere from minutes to days depending on drive size and type. You don’t need to wait for it to finish before using your Mac again, but you can pause or cancel it anytime.
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault and click Turn Off FileVault.
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault and click Turn Off FileVault.
That depends on your macOS version:
- macOS Ventura 13.5 or later: Apple menu () > System Settings > Privacy & Security.
- macOS Monterey or earlier: Apple menu () > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > FileVault.
Your drive starts decrypting immediately in the background.
Your drive starts decrypting immediately in the background.
You’ll see a progress bar under the FileVault status. Decryption runs while your Mac is awake and plugged in, but you can keep using your computer normally.
Yes—decryption pauses if your Mac goes to sleep or loses power.
Yes—decryption pauses if your Mac goes to sleep or loses power.
Just plug it back in and wake it up to resume. (Honestly, this is the best way to control the process.)
Try using Terminal if the Settings panel is unresponsive.
Try using Terminal if the Settings panel is unresponsive.
Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal) and run sudo fdesetup disable. Enter your admin password when prompted. This disables FileVault immediately, though your drive remains encrypted until decryption completes in the background.
Restart and hold Command-R to enter macOS Recovery.
Restart and hold Command-R to enter macOS Recovery.
From there, open Terminal in the Utilities menu and run the same command. Once decryption finishes, FileVault will be off.
As a last resort, back up your data, erase the drive using Disk Utility, and reinstall macOS.
As a last resort, back up your data, erase the drive using Disk Utility, and reinstall macOS.
FileVault will be off by default after a fresh install. Just know this wipes everything, so don’t skip the backup step.
Absolutely—use Time Machine or another backup tool.
Absolutely—use Time Machine or another backup tool.
Decryption doesn’t corrupt data, but power loss during the process can. Apple recommends backing up before major disk operations.
It varies—anywhere from minutes to days.
It varies—anywhere from minutes to days.
The bigger your drive and the slower your storage, the longer it takes. Keep your Mac plugged in and awake to speed things up.
Not noticeably in most cases.
Not noticeably in most cases.
It runs in the background and shouldn’t impact everyday tasks. (Though if you’re doing heavy video editing, you might feel a slight slowdown.)
Yes—just keep it awake and plugged in.
Yes—just keep it awake and plugged in.
The decryption process happens in the background. Close the lid? Decryption pauses until you plug it back in and wake it up.
Plug in your Mac before you move it.
Plug in your Mac before you move it.
Decryption pauses when the battery drains or the system sleeps. A sudden power loss won’t corrupt your data, but it will pause the process until you reconnect power.
Updating first is a smart move.
Updating first is a smart move.
FileVault improvements and bug fixes roll out with system updates. As of 2026, FileVault 2 uses AES-256 encryption by default, which is secure and efficient on modern Macs with Apple silicon or T2 chips. Apple states encryption runs transparently once enabled.
No—stick with macOS’s built-in FileVault.
No—stick with macOS’s built-in FileVault.
Extra tools can conflict and slow down decryption or cause instability. Apple handles encryption natively, so there’s no need for extra managers.
Try restarting your Mac first.
Try restarting your Mac first.
If that doesn’t help, back up your data, erase the drive, and reinstall macOS. FileVault will be off by default, and you can start fresh.
For additional context on encryption best practices, see NIST’s cryptography guidelines.
Can I turn off FileVault encryption?
Sure can. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS). Then go to Privacy & Security > FileVault. Click the padlock, enter your admin password, and hit Turn Off FileVault. Decryption starts right away.
Can I turn off my Mac while FileVault is encrypting?
You can safely shut down, sleep, or restart your Mac during the process. The encryption or decryption keeps running in the background while your Mac stays awake and plugged in. Expect hours or days depending on your disk size and type. For more details, check out this guide on turning off your Mac during FileVault encryption.
How long does it take to disable FileVault on Mac?
Decryption begins as soon as you plug in the power. macOS might show an estimate like 10 hours, but that’s usually way off. In reality, it depends entirely on how much data you have.
Should I disable FileVault on Mac?
Six answers? Really? Just go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > FileVault and click Turn Off FileVault. That said, if you have it on, I’d recommend leaving it on. It boosts your security, and while decrypting takes time, it’s worth it for most people.
How long does it take to encrypt a hard drive on Mac?
Initial setup takes less than half an hour. After that, a spinning hard drive usually takes about 8–10 hours to encrypt, while an SSD finishes in 1–2 hours. The exact time depends on your drive’s size and speed.
How do I turn off FileVault recovery on Mac?
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy.
- Click the FileVault tab.
- Click the padlock, enter an admin name and password.
- Click Turn Off FileVault.
What happens if I turn off FileVault on my Mac?
Turning off FileVault disables encryption and decrypts your drive. The process can take a while depending on how much data you have, but you can still use your Mac for other tasks while it works.
Will FileVault slow my Mac?
Once the initial encryption finishes, FileVault won’t slow down your Mac in daily use. FileVault 2 uses your Mac’s built-in hardware to handle encryption and decryption efficiently.
How do I uninstall FileVault on Mac without a password?
Hold Command-R at startup (Option alone won’t work on a FileVault-protected Mac). Then erase the FileVault partition using Disk Utility and reinstall macOS. If that fails, you can erase via another startup drive.
How safe is FileVault?
It’s solid. FileVault 2 uses 128-bit AES encryption across your entire disk. That’s why you’ll see a background process encrypting everything when you turn it on.
What does FileVault do on a Mac?
FileVault encodes your data so it can’t be read without your login password. Turning it on also enables other security features to keep your Mac protected.
Where is Recovery on Mac?
Press Command-R to start from the built-in macOS Recovery system. Or try Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to start Recovery over the Internet. Each key combo installs a different version of macOS.
Is my Mac hard drive encrypted?
Macs come with excellent built-in encryption. You can encrypt your entire internal drive, an external drive, or just create a secure container for sensitive files. For more on safeguarding measures, see this guide on encrypting PII.
Should I encrypt my hard drive on Mac?
Short answer? Yes. If you care about keeping your files private and secure, FileVault disk encryption is the way to go.
How long does it take to encrypt a 1TB hard drive?
The time varies based on your drive’s speed. In our tests, it took anywhere from 20 minutes to three hours.
