Step 1: Connect the drive to your Mac and open Disk Utility.If you have data on the drive, please back it up in advance. You should know that formatting a drive will erase all content on it. That will protect your data via encrypting the file system (APFS) or the data itself (HFS+). If you have a new external hard drive and will use it to store important data, you can format the disk to APFS (Encrypted) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted).
How to use Disk Utility to encrypt an external hard drive: Then, waiting for the folder to be encrypted and click Done. Step 7: Type the required information on the pane and click Save.Step 6: Select a location where you'll save the folder, set the Image Format as read/write (Or another format you like).Step 5: Type a password and verify it.Step 4: Choose an AES encryption type on the Encryption: drop-menu.Step 3: Choose your desired folder and click Choose.Step 2: Select File > New Image > Image from Folder from the Apple menu bar.The latter will take more time to encrypt a folder but bring a higher level of security when compared to the former one. Usually, there are two types of folder encryptions: 128-bit AES encryption and 256-bit AES encryption. How to use Disk Utility to encrypt a folder: It's also a BitLocker alternative for macOS.
Taking similar encryption algorithms like that of FileVault's, Disk Utility can also work as a folder or drive encryption tool for Mac users. Disk Utility - Folder or drive encryption The startup disk will be encrypted during startup. You can adhere to other work with your Mac during the period. The encryption process will take some time. Or, you can select your iCloud account as your recovery option (For OS X 10.10 Yosemite or later).
How to use FileVault 2 to encrypt Mac dataįileVault has been built into Mac OS X Lion and later. But there are also some differences between FileVault 2 and BitLocker, like the algorithms for data encryption. This best BitLocker alternative for macOS utility can prevent unauthorized access from your disk with an encryption key.įileVault 2 enables almost all data, including the temporary files, on a drive to be fully encrypted. Like Microsoft's BitLocker Drive Encryption for their Windows OS, Apple has also developed their native drive encryption feature - FileVault 2 (FileVault full-disk encryption). Free Download FileVault 2 - Disk encryption