Can I Retrieve Files from a Locked Mac Hard Drive?
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CuriousExplorer97
Hey there! I recently found my late step-father's iMac that's been sitting in the garage since his passing in 2023. It powers on, but it's password locked, and the password hint has everyone in the family stumped. I'm thinking about opening it up, removing the hard drive, and using an external disk reader to access his files. Is that possible, especially without unlocking the desktop first?
Answers
It really depends on the model of the iMac. If it’s a newer version, chances are the drives are encrypted, and you won't be able to access anything without the password.
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If the FileVault disk encryption is enabled on that iMac, you won't be able to get to the files at all without the password. It's a security feature designed to protect data.
CuriousExplorer97: We’re not sure if FileVault is on or off. Is there any way to check that?
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CuriousExplorer97: It's a late 2013 21” i5 model, so does that change anything?