Disk encryption options missing from context menu and Disk Utility

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meowist Author

Level 1

8 points

Disk encryption options missing from context menu and Disk Utility

I'm using Mojave 10.14.5

I'm trying to encrypt a USB drive but the instructions here do not work for me:

https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/encrypt-and-protect-a-disk-with-a-password-dskutl35612/mac

More specifically, the Scheme pop-up menu mentioned in step 6 does not appear for me. Instead I see these options only:

https://i.gyazo.com/79efae75bc0b7cd30fe1ec63962042cd.png

I also do not see a Format popup menu, as mentioned in step 7 at the link above. I have a Format dropdown with just a few options, none of which is an encrypted file format.

I also have no "Encrypt disk" options in my context menu, which apparently is a standard feature in Mojave.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Aug 12, 2019 3:07 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

fuzzymo

Level 4

2,030 points

Aug 13, 2019 6:51 AM in response to meowist

You need to click on "View", then select "Show All Devices". You are trying to reformat the Volume "Untitled". This is not your main drive, but it is a volume on your main drive. You need to erase and reformat the main drive device. You have to use a GUID Partition Map Scheme on the main device to get all the format options, including encryption options. The main device on my screenshot is the "SanDisk Cruzer Switch Media", not the Volume "Untitled" below it.

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Answer 2

fuzzymo

Level 4

2,030 points

Aug 12, 2019 4:24 PM in response to meowist

Open Disk Utility. Select" View/ Show All Devices". Choose the drive device you want to reformat in the left sidebar. Then select "Erase" at the top toolbar. First select Scheme. Make the Scheme GUID Partition Map. Then select Format, and you will get all your options including encryption in the dropdown. Make your format selection then click on Erase at the bottom right of the dropdown.

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Answer 3

meowist Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 13, 2019 5:46 AM in response to fuzzymo

Thank you for taking the time to reply; unfortunately I do not have the "Scheme" option when I follow these instructions--I only have Name and Format--that's the problem. If you see the screenshot I posted (repasted below) you can see there is no Scheme:

https://i.gyazo.com/79efae75bc0b7cd30fe1ec63962042cd.png

Any idea why that would be? Thanks!

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Answer 4

meowist Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 14, 2019 10:05 AM in response to fuzzymo

That was the problem--thank you very much!

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Disk encryption options missing from context menu and Disk Utility

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