The modern macOS makes it simple to add encryption to any mounted volume. The password you set when you encrypt a volume has to be entered each time it’s mounted, including after restarting your Mac. You can opt to store the password when you enter it by checking Remember in Keychain.
What if you change your mind? You can remove the password, but you have to dig for it. Here’s how to find and remove it:
- Launch Keychain Access. This app is stored in
/System/Library/CoreServices/Applications/, which you can reach in the Finder by choosing Go > Go To Folder and pasting that path in. - After launching, Keychain Access prompts you about whether you intended to launch the Passwords app. Click Open Keychain Access.
- Authenticate with Touch ID or your password.
- With the
loginkeychain selected in the left-hand sidebar, click in the Search field at the upper right, and enter the name of the drive or type inencrypted volume password. - Select the entry and choose Edit > Delete or press the Delete key. In my testing, deleting doesn’t always cause the entry to disappear right away. You may need to perform a fresh search to check.
- Restart your Mac to check that the password is no longer automatically provided.
Take heed, though! If you delete the stored password and don’t remember it or have it stored elsewhere, your drive could be rendered unavailable forever!
This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Denis.
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