Disk Utility keeps asking for a password every time I go to open it. And it asks for a password for every drive attached to the system.

If Disk Utility is prompting for a password per drive just to view them, that usually means those volumes are encrypted (APFS-encrypted / “locked”) and Disk Utility is trying to unlock them during its scan. That also explains why “it follows the drive” and why cloning keeps the behavior — the encryption/container metadata comes along with the copy, it’s not “corrupted code” in the data.

First thing I’d confirm is what kind of password prompt it is: does it say “Unlock ‘<volume name>’” (volume passphrase), or is it asking for your Mac admin password? If it’s the volume unlock prompt, try mounting one of the affected drives in Finder and make sure “Remember this password in my keychain” is checked, then reboot and see if Disk Utility still asks. If it keeps forgetting, I’d look at Keychain Access next (login keychain not auto-unlocking / keychain issues) because that’s what stores those unlock credentials.

MrHoffman wrote:

With Intel Macs, can be a firmware password: Set a firmware password on your Mac - Apple Support

Also: Encrypt and protect a storage device with a password in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

As a test of this, follow the instructions to turn off the firmware password or storage password, and test again.

FYI, I have seen Disk Utility prompt for an admin user password with the most recent update patch by just launching Disk Utility with another drive attached. I do believe the drive I had connected did contain a Filevaulted APFS Data volume (it had a bootable Intel macOS on it) along with a volume I created with an encrypted APFS file system. I only just saw this behavior in 2026, but we had held back the 14.8.3 & 15.7.3 updates until just before the Dec. holidays so it would be the first time I experienced those particular update patches.

It is definitely new behavior with Disk Utility and macOS 14.8.3 & 15.7.3 at least when external drives are connected which contain encrypted volumes. In addition to a pop-up for a macOS admin password, you are still presented with a pop-up asking to unlock the encrypted volumes (the latter prompts occur one at a time as you unlock/cancel each one).

With Intel Macs, can be a firmware password: Set a firmware password on your Mac - Apple Support

Also: Encrypt and protect a storage device with a password in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

As a test of this, follow the instructions to turn off the firmware password or storage password, and test again.

I finally had a chance to test things out. It seems the only time I am prompted by Disk Utility for a password just for launching Disk Utility is when one of the volumes on the external drive contains a full macOS installation. That is the only common factor that I can find. It doesn't matter if the volume is encrypted or not encrypted. Even a USB installer is not enough to cause Disk Utility to prompt for a password when launched.

Activate "root" User then Log in as "Other". Sign in as "root" with your password then try to access your HDs.

Here is video for root User Setup - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OcNpLicSLY

Just to add to existing insights. I have three external drives attached to my Mac. All are formatted APFS and are USB 3 capable but are connected thru USB "A" to my Mac. One has two containers of which one (used for Time Machine) is password protected. The other two drives are not protected.

Disk Utility only seeks admin credentials when the unprotected drives are mounted. It never seeks credentials for the drive which has an encrypted container.

I have tested this by starting Disk Utility with the two drives mounted/unmounted.

Thus, those comments about this issue being related to encrypted drives are incorrect. I think it's a bug.

Tom Johnson wrote:

Activate "root" User then Log in as "Other". Sign in as "root" with your password then try to access your HDs.

Here is video for root User Setup -

That is a terrible idea. There is absolutely no reason to activate the root account & login. There are a huge number of dangers to this. IIRC, Apple even removed the official documentation for doing this a long time ago. And it is not going to help the OP, but may create a bunch of new problems....even security risks & permissions corruption.

Even back in the day, there really was not much reason to do that anyway. I'm not aware of any legitimate reason to do this at all today.

rosindabow wrote:

Tom Johnson wrote:

Activate "root" User then Log in as "Other". Sign in as "root" with your password then try to access your HDs.

Here is video for root User Setup -

Hi, not sure why you are suggesting signing into my root user account.

Your instincts are correct, ignore @Tom Johnson's suggestion. There is absolutely no reason to do that for any reason and certainly not for your issue. Plus that suggestion could result in permissions issues.

I can access all my drives, they are all working perfectly. It is just viewing them inside Disk Utility. Every time I open Disk Utility, a request for my Mac Admin Password comes up and depending on how many drives are connected to my system, that's how many times it asks for the same password. Would working as a root user be any different?

I've seen this behavior recently as well. There are a couple of other threads about this issue else where on the Apple forums. Someone proposed a possible explanation, but I cannot recall it at the moment. Maybe I can locate the post later today when I have more time. In my own personal experience, I believe opening Disk Utility was the only time I was prompted for a password. It appears to be new behavior, or possibly a bug. I only saw this behavior last week or so and have not investigated it yet.

rosindabow wrote:

I just wanted to clarify that I am running a 2023 Mac Pro with a Silicon M2 Ultra chip. And all my drives were formatted as APFS without encryption. A few of the 4Tb drives have a GUID partition but most of the drives are as is.

What version of macOS are you using? Need the major & minor versions.

I'll see if I can do a bit of testing this week. Good to know that none of your drives are using encryption. It almost appears that Disk Utility needs to be given special elevated permission to run. It will be one of my tests to confirm.

No answers, but this recently started happening to me as well. I've been using Disk Utility with pw protected external drives for many years without being asked for a password on DU startup. It's a pain; the last thing I need is extra steps.