Learn · Mac
Turn on FileVault
10 min · recommended
· HomeOS can check this for you
Why this matters. FileVault encrypts everything on the Mac so it can only be read after you log in. If the Mac is lost or stolen, your documents, photos and saved logins stay private. The one thing to get right is recovery: if you forget your password, your iCloud account or a recovery key is the only way back in.
1
Open FileVault settings
Apple menu, then System Settings, then Privacy & Security. Scroll down to FileVault.
System Settings › Privacy & Security
Security
FileVault
Turn On
Lockdown Mode
2
Turn it on and choose recovery
Click Turn On. When asked how to unlock the disk if you forget your password, choosing your iCloud account is easiest for most families. If you pick a recovery key instead, write it down and keep it somewhere safe that isn't the Mac.
Encryption runs in the background; you can keep using the Mac.
Check your understanding
What happens if you forget your Mac password AND lose the recovery key?
You can't get back in, and the data is lost. That's why choosing iCloud recovery or storing the key safely matters.
Want a checklist that tracks this for your whole family? Sign in to HomeOS.
Checked against:
Apple: Protect data on your Mac with FileVault
· last reviewed 2026-09