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forgot time machine password

I forgot Time Machine password; is a work-around available?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Nov 2, 2021 12:48 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 2, 2021 5:38 PM

is a work-around available?

If you mean a workaround other than erasing the disk and starting over, no.

About the Time Machine backup password on Mac - Apple Support

4 replies

Nov 5, 2021 1:25 PM in response to steve626

I tried all of my passwords, unfortunately none of them unlocked Time Machine.


I formated my external disk using the following procedure:

  1. Connect external disk to my Mac.
  2. Open Finder, go to Applications => Utilities => Disk Utilities.
  3. In Disk Utilities, select external disk from the list on the left.
  4. Select Erase from the top of the window.
  5. When format completes, setup Time Machine Backup, Check Encrypt to add Password.


Nov 5, 2021 8:38 PM in response to Diana-Desiree

If you did what I think it sounds like you did, the disk is encrypted. Such encryption, as implemented by Apple, is virtually impossible to get past. Did you provide a password hint when you created it? (I am guessing you have already tried that ...)


The only thing else I can suggest is, on your Mac, open Keychain Access and go through the passwords there, which is fairly tedious but it will show you many or most of the passwords that you use. This might jog your memory, possibly your Time Machine password was used for something else and you will recognize it.


I'm sorry I cannot suggest something better.

forgot time machine password

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