The Disk Macintosh HD Can't Be Unlocked? Here Are Solutions

Have you ever encountered the - The disk Macintosh HD can't be unlocked - error? While Apple is a highly robust technological system, some issues can still occur. Several users have reported the error.

The error means users cannot manage the Macintosh HD drive, which is locked. It is a storage drive that contains several applications and files. You cannot create, delete or edit files here; users only have read-only volume access. Users cannot access the read-only files when the Macintosh HD appears locked.

Various reasons can explain why the disk Macintosh HD can't be unlocked error occurs. Luckily, there are several solutions one can apply to resolve the problem.

Why Can't the Disk Macintosh HD Be Unlocked

There are several reasons why The disk Macintosh HD can't be unlocked error occurs. Let's take a look at the causes -

• 🗝️Incorrect or forgotten disk password

The primary reason for this error is the wrong password. An incorrect password can lead to the disk being locked. In this case, the ideal solution is to ensure you have a physical copy of the password safely stored somewhere.

• 💼Corrupted file system or encryption data

The damaged or corrupted file system can sometimes lead to a disk-locked error. You can remove the files or repair the disk issues via Disk Utility.

• 📀Hardware issues, such as a failing hard drive

Sometimes, hardware problems can lead to a locked Macintosh HD disk error. If the hard drive is damaged or corrupted, you can get another. If you cannot understand the issue, get in touch with experts.

• 💻Incompatible or outdated macOS version

If you have an outdated macOS, that could be the reason for the "The disk Macintosh HD can't be unlocked" error. If the hardware and software are incompatible, issues are bound to arise. Here, it is essential to understand the hardware-software compatibility.

Let us learn 5 different ways and repair "The disk Macintosh HD can't be unlocked". Before that, don't forget to mark this passage by sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, or SNS.

5 Solutions to Fix the Disk Macintosh HD Can't Be Unlocked Error

There are multiple solutions users can apply to fix - The disk Macintosh HD can't be unlocked error. However, it is necessary to note that data security is critical. Before applying any of these solutions, make sure to safeguard your data.

Check them out here -

• Solution 1. Erase the Redundant Volume
• Solution 2. Repair disk issues using Disk Utility
• Solution 3. Update macOS to the latest version
• Solution 4. Delete extra duplicate volumes
• Solution 5. Seek professional data recovery services

Solution 1. Erase the Redundant Volume

You can try erasing the redundant volume to see if the problem is fixed. Check out these steps –

Step 1. Enter the macOS Recovery Mode by entering the Command + R keys.

Step 2. Go to "Disk Utility".

Step 3. Select the "View" menu.

Step 4. Click on "Show All Devices".

Step 5. Here, you will get a list of all the drives and disks.

Step 6. Select "Macintosh HD".

Step 7. Select the "Erase" button.

Step 8. Enter the name and format of the drive.

Step 9. Click the "Erase" button.

Step 10. If asked, give the Apple ID details.

Step 11. After it's done, return to the Utilities window to reinstall macOS.

Solution 2. Repair disk issues using Disk Utility

One of the best solutions is to repair disk issues with Disk Utility. For that, you can run First Aid. Here are the steps you need to follow -

Step 1. Enter the macOS Recovery Mode.

Step 2. Go to "Disk Utility".

Step 3. Select the "View" menu.

Step 4. Click on "Show All Devices".

Step 5. Here, you will get a list of all the drives and disks.

Step 6. Select "Macintosh HD".

Step 7. Click on "First Aid".

Step 8. Please wait for the time it takes to complete the check.

Step 9. Reboot the system.

Now check if the issue is resolved or not.

Solution 3. Update macOS to the latest version

Updating macOS to the latest version can fix the disk-locked error. Check out these steps –

Step 1. Click on the "Apple menu".

Step 2. Select "System Settings".

Step 3. Go to "General".

Step 4. Choose "Software Update" on the right-hand side.

Alternatively, you can go to "System Preferences" from the Apple menu and select "Software Update".

💡Note: If any updates are available, download and install them immediately.

Solution 4. Delete extra duplicate volumes

Did you know deleting extra duplicate volumes might resolve the problem? Yes! That's right!

Here are the steps you need to follow –

Step 1. Open "Finder".

Step 2. Choose "Go" from the menu and click on "Utilities" from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. Open Terminal.

Step 4. Enter cd ~/Downloads (Here, Downloads is the place where you want to locate the duplicate files)

Step 6. Hit Return.

Step 7. Now, type - find . -size 20 \! -type d -exec cksum {} \; | sort | tee /tmp/f.tmp | cut -f 1,2 -d ' ' | uniq -d | grep -hif – /tmp/f.tmp > duplicates.txt.

Step 8. Hit "Return".

Step 9. Open duplicates.txt

Step 10. You will get a list of the duplicate files.

Step 11. You need to check it and delete it manually.

Solution 5. Seek professional data recovery services

Lastly, you can opt for professional data recovery services. Various software solutions can help you unlock the disk. Moreover, you can also restore lost data with ease. One of the highly efficient software solutions you can choose is the EaseUS professional team.

Recover Data from macOS When It Stuck

The Mac being frozen is a terrifying scenario. It may lead to the users erasing and reinstalling macOS. In that case, data loss is a real possibility. Opt for powerful data recovery software if you encounter data loss in this situation.

The EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a reliable yet user-friendly data recovery tool. It helps users restore data irrespective of the situation. It also aids in the restoration of different data types with ease. The simple user interface makes it a favorite amongst beginners too.

Highlights:

• Recover and repair corrupted files, videos, photos, documents, emails, etc.
• Restoration of data from Mac-based devices like SSD, HDD, fusion drive, etc.
• Send restored data to cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
• Team of IT experts ready to offer assistance whenever you need it.

How to recover data from MacOS when it is stuck? Shut down your Mac, press and hold the power button (Touch ID) until you see "Loading startup options". Select "Options" and click the "Continue" button to enter the macOS Recovery Mode. Then, check the detailed instructions below:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Software in Recovery Mode

Select "Utilities > Terminal" from the top menu, and enter the command sh <(curl https://d3.easeus.com/mac/boot.sh). Hit "Return". Wait for the application to open, and it will take several minutes.

Note: If the Terminal displays either "No such file or directory" or "Could not resolve host," you should verify that the command line you entered is correctly spelled, ensure your Mac has a stable internet connection, and confirm that your macOS version is not lower than macOS 10.15.

Step 2. Select the Volume on Your Mac Hard Drive

Select the volume where your lost data is stored, and click "Search for lost files". The EaseUS software will quickly locate all the recoverable data on the selected volume.

Step 3. Choose the Lost Data You Want

EaseUS software categorizes the scanned recoverable data by file type and storage path. Find the data you want by clicking "Type" or "Path" in the left panel. Then, check the boxes in front of the data you want to recover.

Step 4. Recover and Save Data on an External Disk

Click the "Recover" button, and a pop-up window will show up saying, "Please select a target location to save". Choose the external disk as the new storage location of your recovered data.

Final Words

"The disk Macintosh HD can't be unlocked" is a standard Mac error. Here, users cannot gain access to the drive or manage it. Several reasons could lead to this issue, such as forgotten passwords, corrupted files, etc. However, multiple solutions can resolve the problem.

For instance, you can erase the redundant volume or repair disk issues. You can also update macOS to the latest version. If you encounter data loss while applying these solutions, check out EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. It is a powerful, easy-to-use, and reliable data recovery software.

Download and install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac!

The Disk Macintosh HD Can't Be Unlocked FAQs

Using these methods, you can resolve the "The disk Macintosh HD can't be unlocked" error. Read the questions and answers listed below to know more.

1. Why does my Mac say Macintosh HD data can't be unlocked?

There are several reasons why your Mac says Macintosh HD data can't be unlocked. It can be due to a wrong password or corrupted files. It can also be due to out-of-date macOS or hardware problems.

2. What does the disk Macintosh HD can't be unlocked mean?

The Macintosh HD data can't be unlocked, so users cannot manage the hard drive. It means users cannot access or change the files and apps present within the drive.

3. How do you unlock Macintosh HD encrypted disk?

You can run disk repair from the Disk Utility option to unlock Macintosh HD encrypted disk. For that, you need to enter the Recovery Mode. Different models have different steps to go to the Recovery Mode.

4. How to change the password to unlock the disk Macintosh HD data?

To change the password to unlock the disk Macintosh HD data, you can reset the password using the Terminal window. It would be best to type resetpassword command and hit Return in Terminal.