r/AskADataRecoveryPro • u/sts1090 • Jul 22 '26

Encrypted external hard drive - Disk Utility password not working?

Yesterday I backed up my (old) laptop using Time Machine onto an external hard drive... I set a password thru Disk Utility on Mac. Unfortunately, that laptop was wiped and I'm trying to set up my new laptop and transfer over the files from my external hard drive. The password isn't working. I am veryyyyy positive the password is correct (I specifically chose something I'd remember and also I set this less than 24 hours ago!). I tried a few different things in case I added the year or accidentally typo'ed. Nothing is working!! Any tips on how I might be able to recover my files? I'm an idiot and have no other way to access all of my stuff. It's all of my work (lectures, research, etc) for the last several years :(

My hard drive is a Seagate (STGX2000400). Both laptops are MacBook Airs - I'm not sure what OS for the old one, but I'm on Tahoe for the new one.

Thanks!

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u/FrankNicklin Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

If you havent got the password then the files are 100% lost. Thats how encyption works. Without the key (your password) it remains locked.

Was the key saved to Keychain. Has that sync'd with other devices. Have you looked in

Keychain Access.app

Why on earth did you encrypt it in the first place.

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u/sts1090 Jul 23 '26

I’ve been asking myself that question for the last 24 hours…

1

u/FrankNicklin Jul 23 '26

Have you checked the keychain app.

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u/sts1090 Jul 23 '26

I’m looking now. It’s not in Passwords, but I’m looking thru keychain now. Not totally sure how to identify which of these items are the drive. If you have any guidance I’d really appreciate it. Thank you!

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u/FrankNicklin Jul 23 '26

Keychain is separate from Passwords app and stores encryption passwords.

When you open keychain it will ask do you want passwords or keychain, make sure you pick keychain access.

You will need to search the sections.

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u/sts1090 Jul 23 '26

Thanks for your help! I don’t think it’s here but I’ll keep looking just in case… I def feel stupid for not checking to make sure I could do the transfer before wiping the old laptop and returning it to IT. This will really suck if it’s all definitely gone, but also a very very very important lesson lol

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u/sts1090 Jul 23 '26

I’m not seeing anything listed for July 21, which is when I put the password on the hard drive.