15285AW
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Q: Is there a way to change the password on an encrypted backup drive without decrypting and encrypting the drive first?

I encrypted a backup drive through Time Machine and selected a really long and random password, thinking I could use 1Password to just copy and paste the password into the box to bypass the encryption. But you cannot just copy and past the password for the encrypted backup drive (don't know why, i can do that for any other passwords I have). Because I don't want to type in a fifty digit password everytime I log in I want to change my password for the backup drive, but I don't know if there is a way except to decrypt and encrypt the drive again. So, is there a way to change the password without decrypting and encrypting the drive again?

OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on May 28, 2013 7:59 AM

by Topher Kessler,Solvedanswer
Topher Kessler Topher Kessler
Level 6 (9,866 points)
A:

Another way is to open Disk Utility and select the volume in the sidebar. Then choose "change password" in the program's File menu.

Posted on May 28, 2013 8:34 AM

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15285AW

Q: Is there a way to change the password on an encrypted backup drive without decrypting and encrypting the drive first?

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  • by Topher Kessler,Helpful

    Topher Kessler Topher Kessler May 28, 2013 8:12 AM in response to 15285AW
    Level 6 (9,866 points)
    May 28, 2013 8:12 AM in response to 15285AW

    Open the Terminal and run the following command:

     

    diskutil cs list

     

    In the output you should see a tree of devices, with one being the logical volume for the encrypted drive (not the logical volume group or physical volumes). This logical volume should have a UUID next to it, which is a long string of numbers and letters, separated by dashes. Use your mouse to select and copy this string.

     

    Now type the following command, replacing UUID with the long string you copied:

     

    diskutil cs passwd UUID -oldpassphrase OLDPASS -newpassphrase NEWPASS

     

    Change the "OLDPASS" and "NEWPASS" in the command accordingly, and press Enter when done. Then mount the drive and save the new password in your keychain.

  • by Topher Kessler,Solvedanswer

    Topher Kessler Topher Kessler May 28, 2013 8:34 AM in response to 15285AW
    Level 6 (9,866 points)
    May 28, 2013 8:34 AM in response to 15285AW

    Another way is to open Disk Utility and select the volume in the sidebar. Then choose "change password" in the program's File menu.

  • by asterysk,

    asterysk asterysk Mar 19, 2016 10:46 PM in response to Topher Kessler
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2016 10:46 PM in response to Topher Kessler

    Does anyone know how to do this in the latest Disk Utility (El Capitan) ? thx