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“Macintosh HD - Data” can’t be unlocked

After updating to big sur I now get an error message on start up... the disk “Macintosh HD - Data” can’t be unlocked.

If I click ok it goes away but comes back at next start up

Anyone have any ideas?

MacBook Air

Posted on Nov 14, 2020 2:54 AM

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Posted on Dec 8, 2020 11:12 AM

NO NEED TO SHUT DOWN OR RE-INSTALL ANYTHING!!

There's likely no need to erase and all that. I just got off the phone with apple and they guided me through to the disk utility, Macintosh HD - Data had been duplicated and the second one was greyed out. they had me click on the greyed out Macintosh HD - Data and then click the "-" to remove the disk. It was removed and I restarted and it's perfectly fine. Hope this helps.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 8, 2020 11:12 AM in response to MrStevieG

NO NEED TO SHUT DOWN OR RE-INSTALL ANYTHING!!

There's likely no need to erase and all that. I just got off the phone with apple and they guided me through to the disk utility, Macintosh HD - Data had been duplicated and the second one was greyed out. they had me click on the greyed out Macintosh HD - Data and then click the "-" to remove the disk. It was removed and I restarted and it's perfectly fine. Hope this helps.

Jan 15, 2021 7:49 PM in response to MrStevieG

I don't know what you have done since you posted this screenshot, but you should only need to select the grayed out "Macintosh HD - Data" volume and click the "Remove Volume" button ( – ).


That volume is an orphan from when you tried to reinstall Catalina or Big Sur without removing the Data volume. It is also encrypted which is why it is posting the notification and why it is grayed out in Disk Utility.

“Macintosh HD - Data” can’t be unlocked

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