Recovering Data from a FileVault Hard Drive [Everything You Need to Know]

Imagine that you accidentally formatted a hard drive encrypted with FileVault. You've tried several methods to recover the data but with no success. If you find yourself in this situation, then you're in the right place. This article will walk you through how to fix and retrieve your data.

Most Mac users secure their data with FileVault. Data in FileVault can be accessed only after entering a password. Without it, gaining access to the information is tricky. Mistakes happen, and data loss can occur due to several reasons. In such a scenario, you wouldn't readily give up on your data and instead start looking for ways to recover data from FileVault. Read on!

Recover Data from FileVault Hard Drive Using Data Recovery Software

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a safe and reliable data recovery tool to help you get back lost data. This Mac data recovery software can recover files of any format and size, regardless of how the data was lost. Hence, it comes in very handy if you lost data due to improper ejection or accidental deletion.

The software is so straightforward that recovery is a breeze. This Mac data recovery software can help you restore lost, missing, or deleted files, even those you have permanently erased from the Mac Trash, with just a few clicks.

First, install the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac tool and follow the steps outlined here:

Step 1. Select the drive to scan

In the main window of the “Data Recovery Wizard,” all the drives connected to your Mac will be listed. Select the drive from which you want to recover lost/deleted files and then click on the “Search for Lost Files” button.

Note: Before you perform data recovery, it's better to click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup for your Mac to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can write new data again.

Select the location and scan for lost Mac data

Step 2. Select the lost data/files you want to recover

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will scan the disk volume you select immediately, and display the scanning results in the left pane. If you are looking for certain files, you can sort the results to locate the files you need.

Step 3: Recover Lost/Deleted Data

Once you find the files you need, preview them and then click “Recover” to start restoring your deleted or lost Mac files.

Note: If your Mac won't start up or has firmware protection like Startup Security Utility or Apple Silicon, you need to start your Mac in Recovery mode first before you can recover from FileVault.

Please share this post on forums like Reddit or social media platforms like Twitter to help more users who encounter this issue.

Recover data from a FileVault disk using Target Disk Mode or an external drive

Target Disk Mode lets you mount one Mac on another without a password, provided FileVault is not enabled. Sometimes, you might not remember if it is, but you can check if either Mac has a FireWire or Thunderbolt 2 or 3 port.

Here is the key point!

Step 1: Connect your computer.

Step 2: To start up or restart your Mac in Target Disk Mode, you'll need to connect it to another computer while holding down the T key.

If everything is working, you should see a volume icon on your other Mac.

If you have T2 security or FileVault enabled, you'll be prompted for your password. If you don't have another Mac to check whether FileVault is enabled, that's fine. If so, create a bootable external macOS drive with the latest version.

Then, to boot from the external drive, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install macOS on an external drive

Step 3: Hold down the Option key while starting up or restarting your Mac until you see the startup options.

Step 4: A formatted display window will appear, listing the available boot drives.

Step 5: Boot from that device.

Step 6: After macOS starts up, the internal drive appears as a volume.

This only becomes an issue when macOS prompts for a password to mount an internal drive.

What is FileVault and how to turn off FileVault encryption

You may ask, what is FileVault? FileVault is a data security software that was first introduced with Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) and has been available in all subsequent versions of the latest Mac OS. When FileVault is enabled, it encrypts the data on your Mac's startup disk. It encodes the information using encryption algorithms to prevent unauthorized access, ensuring security and privacy.

If you've lost data on a Mac disk after having turned on FileVault encryption, you'll need to turn off FileVault before your software can access the data for recovery.

Here's how to turn off FileVault encryption on your Mac:

Step 1: Click the Apple menu.

Step 2: Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy.

3. Click “FileVault,” and then click the “Lock” icon.

If prompted, type the administrator password or name, and then click Close FileVault.

Step 5: Click “Turn Off Encryption.”

Please note that this process may take some time, depending on the amount of data on the drive.

Closure

File problems are common with Mac computers. Your Mac might prevent you from accessing a file, or the file could become corrupted. You risk losing data, so you should look into recovery options. But if you have recovery software like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac installed on your Mac, there's no need to panic. It has all the advanced features you need to recover data from a FileVault drive.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recovering Data from a FileVault Encrypted Hard Drive 1. What is FileVault? FileVault is a full-disk encryption feature in Apple's macOS operating system designed to protect user data on their hard drives. It encrypts the entire disk content, which can only be accessed after entering the correct password. 2. Why would I need to recover data from a FileVault encrypted hard drive? Data loss may occur due to accidental deletion, formatting, hard drive failure, system crashes, or forgetting the FileVault password, necessitating data recovery. 3. Can data be recovered from a FileVault encrypted hard drive after it's lost? Yes, data can usually be recovered, even from an encrypted drive. However, this typically requires specialized data recovery software or services. 4. How do I enable FileVault? In macOS, you can enable FileVault by going to "System Preferences" > "Security & Privacy" > "FileVault." 5. What do I need for FileVault data recovery? You'll need an administrator account and the FileVault recovery key. If you've forgotten your password, the recovery key will be the only way to access your data. 6. Can data recovery software help? Some professional data recovery software supports retrieving data from FileVault encrypted drives, but results may vary depending on the situation. Before attempting recovery, ensure you have backed up important data. 7. Who should I contact if I can't recover the data myself? If you're unable to recover the data, reach out to a professional data recovery service provider. They have specialized tools and techniques that might help recover your lost data. 8. How much does data recovery cost? The cost of data recovery depends on factors like the amount of data, the extent of the hard drive damage, and the chosen service provider. Generally, it can be an expensive service, so regular backups are the best strategy to prevent data loss. 9. Will the data recovery process damage my existing data? When performed correctly, professional data recovery methods typically won't damage existing data. However, attempting recovery on your own may increase the risk of data loss, so it's advisable to seek professional assistance. 10. Can I guarantee a 100% recovery of my lost data? Data recovery success rates cannot be guaranteed at 100%, but taking prompt action and using the right methods can increase the likelihood of recovery.

Some common questions about recovering data from FileVault include:

1. Can I recover data from an encrypted hard drive?

The password is required to unlock the encrypted hard drive. This will allow you to turn off FileVault and use software tools to recover data from the hard drive.

2. Can you recover data from Mac hard drive?

You can use secure software like the Data Recovery Wizard tool to retrieve your data from the hard drive. This software offers simple yet reliable professional features that can recover data in any format, regardless of how the data was lost.

3. Can data lost from a hard drive be recovered?

In case of logical failure, such as a damaged or corrupt file system, you can recover data using different methods and third-party software. However, in case of physical damage, mechanical failure, or disk platter damage, the situation gets complicated.