Bought a used MacBook and it's asking for a disk password. Was I scammed?

November 12, 2026 3 answers
Asked by __optional_caption

I bought a used MacBook Pro and got a disk password prompt after setting it up. I don't remember creating a password for the disk. Does this mean there's something wrong with the sale, and what should I do?

Answers

+mismatched!shoelace~

Not necessarily a scam. The previous owner may have left an encrypted partition on the drive when they erased the Mac. A disk password prompt alone doesn't tell you why it's there.

If you don't need anything on the drive, the usual fix is to erase it in macOS Recovery and reinstall macOS. Erasing removes the files on the drive, so make sure there's nothing you need to keep first.

4q~offset:

It may also be worth asking the seller about the prompt before erasing, especially if there was supposed to be anything included on the drive.

Reply to this answer
Jibsy

Try to pin down exactly what the prompt says before wiping anything. A password for an encrypted disk is different from an account password, and the right next step depends on which one you're seeing.

Disk is a normal term here, even if the Mac has an SSD rather than a spinning hard drive. You could share the wording of the prompt, without posting any personal information.

Reply to this answer
unreasonably washable

Also check which MacBook Pro model it is and what you paid. An older model can still be useful, but age and price matter when deciding whether the purchase was a good deal. The password prompt by itself doesn't settle that question.

Reply to this answer

Add your answer

Answers are reviewed before publication.

Related Discussions