Try this first
- 1On the Mac: System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault. Set to 'On'? Done.
- 2Not on: click 'Turn On'. Choose between iCloud recovery or a local recovery key. For business: pick local recovery key, store in 1Password or a safe place.
- 3Encryption starts immediately, takes 30-90 minutes in the background. Keep working.
- 4For central management (multiple Macs): with Apple Business Manager + MDM (Jamf, Mosyle, Intune) you can force FileVault and pull keys.
- 5Test by signing out and signing back in. Prompts for password? Good.
When to bring us in
No MDM and more than 5 Macs? Hard to keep central grip. We help with basic MDM selection and rollout, does not have to be expensive.
See also
- I think I clicked a phishing linkNo shame, happens to everyone. The next fifteen minutes matter.
- A colleague's account is acting strangelySending mail in their name, rules hiding folders, unusual sign-ins. Suspicious.
- Lost the MFA app: new phone, no backup codesClassic problem after a phone upgrade. You are not the first to be locked out.
None of the above fits?
Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.
Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.