Filevault question

[InfiniteLoopy]

If I delete a filevault password for an external time machine drive from the Mac keychain, is the drive automatically decrypted?

Does deleting the password change the drive’s encrypted/decrypted status?

thanks

 

[hallux]

I don't believe so. I believe you need to connect the drive and option-click (or right-click) it in the Finder sidebar to decrypt it.

 

[InfiniteLoopy]

That’s what I thought. Thanks.

Can anyone else confirm this is correct?

 

[hallux]

Does it help if I explain my reasoning as to why I believe your method won't work?

Keychain is a repository where passwords are saved. FileVault is a feature of the file system, simply deleting the saved password in Keychain won't tell the filesystem to decrypt the disk.

 

[Weaselboy]

Can anyone else confirm this is correct?

@hallux is spot on.

When you first attach an encrypted drive you will get a popup to enter the password and there is a checkbox to remember that password in Keychain. That way the next time you attached the drive, the password from Keychain will be used and the drive will mount without you doing anything. If you delete the PW from Keychain all is does is stop the drive from auto-mounting using the PW from Keychain. It has no impact on the encryption status of the drive.

 

[InfiniteLoopy]

Thanks to both. That’s the clarification I needed.