Q: FileVault stuck on "Encryption Paused"

I had the same issue - the status bar was stuck. I however had 3 accounts on my machine. I have an admin account and 2 other accounts. I rebooted into the admin account and it resumed encryption.

All 3 accounts can see the file vault drive.

So if you have other accounts on your machine, reboot into a different one or maybe create a new account with admin access and access to the file vault volume and reboot into that.

My Macbook Pro w Retina is still (it has been months) stuck/paused trying to complete the FileVault - due to the fact that it is stuck I am not able to participate in the Apple Developer Betas of Mac OS X nor the Public Beta of Mac OS X (the install errors out on the install attempted due to in an incomplete FileVault setup).

This will become a major issue for anyone that has this issue and want to upgrade to the new version of Mac OS X.

None of the suggestions so far have worked for me.

I was stuck on this aswel, and I did what you said KenJr I plugged in the charger and it started encrypting.

Thanks so much

I have exactly the same issue.

Early 2011 MBP Frankensteined to 8 GB and a WD Black2 1.12 hybrid SSD + HDD.

Did a fresh reinstall of 10.10.4 after the 10.11 public beta was about as stable as a troubled child on crack, and 24+ hours later, including multiple reboots, draining the battery to critical and reconnecting to power, fdesetup-ing, FileVault still remains "Paused".

It's annoying because

1. I don't know if my data is secure

2. I can't install W7 until the encryption is completed because the drive can't be partitioned properly.

Submitted bug report (# 21981055) and referenced #18700027 and this thread.

Come on, Apple! Your software used to be rock-solid. Remember Leoaprd? That was awesome...3 years development and it was SOLID. This "every year" release cycle is killing your OS quality and user experience for the most important section of your user-base: legacy "I used Macs before the iPod" crowd. You know: your fanbase.

Error: http://cl.ly/image/2n2x1b0o381U This shows what happens when disconnect / reconnect power.

So can I for sure, for a 100%, backup all my files on the external disk (Time Machine) knowing they will be decrypted, and then restore the system along with files just like they were always there (...without encryption)?

Same happened to me. I went to disk utility, clicked on my Mac SSD, checked repair disk, then repair disk permissions. Resumed as soon as it finished with repair permissions.

Any updates to this issue?  On an iMac that was just updated to El Capitan, turned on Filevault (after the setup) and have been stuck on Paused.

Have tried just about everything in the thread except the wipe and reinstall.

Can't believe Apple still has this bug and they encourage people to turn it on during the install.

-Kevin

I have tried everything online reset nvram, repaired permissions, repaired disk, tried to disable filevault from terminal. none of them worked, I couldn't disable or finish encryption so I couldn't install el capitan. finally I solved the problem like this

1-I created a bootable disk with the DIY option at this link http://lifehacker.com/how-to-burn-os-x-el-capitan-to-a-usb-flash-drive-173342513 3 the el capitan app is already downloaded so I used this.

2-I booted to usb with pressing option key at start up.

3-after language selection I clicked on disk utility

4-I unlocked the disk and while it is selected I clicked the first aid button at top.

At the process it said something about paused encryption and expanding partition. At that point I realized the problem is solved. I restarted the mac regularly and then I saw encrypting instead of paused.  after the finished process I was able to install el captain and I was able to get rid of this paused encryption problem.

Interesting.  When you booted to the USB El Cap.....you had to press Option to select booting from the USB correct?  Then once it was booting from the USB, on the main El Cap install screen there was a Disk Utility at the top?

-Kevin

After fighting with a problem for 10 months, I finally gave up and reinstalled the system today (but it took me 5 hours and I'm back to exactly the point I have been earlier today with the same - but unlocked - system; more on that below)

Yesterday, as a lot of people here, I set up a call with Apple support to maybe get a hint or two from them how do I approach the problem. I didn't expect much, and eventually the talk went more or less they way I expected. They completely don't know how to approach the problem. I even got an answer why - apparently they don't have any procedures or help protocols for the situation of half encrypted disk. I guess Apple really tries to avoid the problem, since even their own help line wasn't given any guidelines how to help people with this issue. My guess is it doesn't look good when you market your electronics with safety in mind, and then simple bug compromises this and breaks the integrity of that system. But anyways, the guy on the line was kind enough to admit he won't be able to help me too much, and so we ended the call with nice goodbyes.

So, todays release of El Capitan only pushed me to finally do something about it, and I decided to solve the issue for good which is so far only achievable by reinstalling the system. I was super worried about my data (almost one terabyte of important work things), and I wasn't sure enough, that if I do Time Machine back up of half encrypted files they will be ok.

So to clear things up for everyone - the moment you back up even full encrypted drive onto Time Machine, the mac decrypts it. You have to choose separate encryption for it in Time Machine settings.

I double checked it. I borrowed a drive from a friend, and set up a new backup. After 3-4 hours the drive was ready. I plugged it onto my sisters mac and started browsing every single file to see if they are ok. They were. I swept every weird corner of that disk (my files) and everything was working.

So to give you a quick guide of how I did it and what steps you need to pay attention to:

1. Get a drive, set up new Time Machine, and do a full backup of your disk

2. If you are panicking, make two of them ^^

3. Restart your mac, and after the chime press Command + R to enter Recovery Mode

4. Go into Disk Utility

5. Find your drive and unlock it by providing your password

6. Go to Erase tab

7. Important: Type a name of a partition that will be set up. This might be important if you have path-dependent aps or libraries (like my audio samples). You want to have the same drive name, and same paths for newly installed system

8. Important: In the format section, make sure you pick Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Don't pick the (..., Encrypted) version!

9. Erase the disk (for me it lasted a few seconds)

10. Quit Disk Utility

11. Find and click Reinstall OS X

12. Follow instructions on the screen.

13. After the system downloads/installs you will get into configuration manager

14. Important: This will be the first time OS will ask you if you want to turn on FileVault. Make sure you uncheck this box.

15. Important: At one point, there will be option to copy a data on your newly set up Mac from Time Machine backup or another Mac. Do it. Select that you want to copy everything (three checkboxes)

16. After everything is copied, you will have another configuration screen.

17. Important: You will be asked for the second time if you want to turn FileVault on. Again, uncheck the box.

After that, your OS will welcome you just as you left him before backups, only decrypted.

I managed to install El Capitan after that without any problems. Before, the installation app wouldn't let me through because of not finished encryption process.

Actually not at the top. the disk utility is at bottom I believe. Otherwise what you are saying is correct.

Thanks.....just to be clear, you didn't reinstall anything.  You just ran Disk Utility from the USB drive on the Internal Drive that's paused with Filevault.  After running repair, did you just restart the Mac using the internal startup disk?  Is this where you saw the process un-paused?

-Kevin

Yes I didn't install anything. After repair I just restarted regularly(I didn't pressed the option key while booting up). After start up I went System Prerefences> Security & Privacy. I saw that encryption is resumed at this page.

Thanks.....will have to give it a shot.

Wonder why this would work where booting to Recovery console doesn't?!?  Same thing.....booting to a different drive.

-Kevin

Thanks for the directions.  Did everything and no luck....still stuck in Paused.

This really makes me upsets that Apple just doesn't care about the Mac anymore to even bother with this bug.  Telling people to spend hours rebuilding a system is garbage advice.....but that's likely what I'm going to need to do.

-Kevin