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JMartiB Author

Level 1

8 points

How to move from HDD to SSD using Disk Utility with FileVault Enabled in Catalina

This question was asked last year but it is not clear how to solve the issue. No matter how many different techniques I use to make a copy of HDD to SSD, the same error pop ups: "Can't restore a locked, encrypted volume. Try running 'diskutil apfs unlockVolume' first".

Already tried Disk Utility, Terminal to solve the "locked volume" (nothing to unlock), and restoring from Time Machine backup (no APFS option since it is a 2012 MacBook Pro).

Just wondering if anyone had the same problem and was able to solve it. Thanks!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 26, 2021 12:35 PM

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Level 9

60,284 points

Posted on Jan 28, 2021 5:31 PM

Disk Utility is not good for cloning a macOS boot drive plus you must be from external media such as Recovery Mode. A much better option is to use the paid third party app Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC). This app can clone the same drive you are booted from and it can also recreate the hidden recovery partition. I've never had a problem cloning macOS boot drives with CCC.

@Barney-15E's option is a good one.

You should always have frequent & regular backups.

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How to move from HDD to SSD using Disk Utility with FileVault Enabled in Catalina

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