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piotrbakker Author

Level 1

19 points

macOS Sierra FileVault enabled freezing at login

My MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) has been consistently freezing at login with FileVault enabled on Yosemite, El Capitan and now Sierra (all clean-installed). When the login screen appears I can eventually type a password and log in but everything is extremely slow and unresponsive. I tried turning FileVault on and off but it would help only temporarily. Now that this issue returned on Sierra again I'm starting to get worried. Any ideas / pointers for a fix?

MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra, FileVault

Posted on Oct 1, 2016 2:16 AM

39 replies

piotrbakker Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 9, 2016 2:40 AM in response to pporte

It seems like this is the case. The guys at the Genius Bar I spoke to 2 days ago when I picked up my MacBook had never heard of this problem before. Weird that the problem persists for 3 consequitive OS releases.

3m1

Level 1

9 points

Oct 20, 2016 1:26 AM in response to pporte

I observed the same issue with a random frequency every time more probable. The problem become worst in the bios startup (the lagging/freeze there could brick the mac).

piotrbakker Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 23, 2016 5:33 AM in response to 3m1

Yes, exactly same exact situation. The people at the Apple Store misunderstood it at first. Their first reaction was that it is normal for the machine to take more time to boot. When I explained that the machine boots normally but only then the lagging / freezing starts they were surprised and only suggested I make a separate appointment to deal with this issue. I haven't had the time yet to schedule another appointment but having read everyone's comments I am afraid that the Genius Bar might not be able to do anything about it anyway.

3m1

Level 1

9 points

Oct 23, 2016 11:44 PM in response to piotrbakker

The temporary workaround of the issue is to unplug to computer and to wait at least 2 min. before boot.

The issue is definitively on FileVault.

tygb

Level 9

64,742 points

Oct 24, 2016 2:49 AM in response to piotrbakker

Hello !

A method is there to turn file vault off .

Go to system preferences > security & privacy > open pad lock > click on file vault tab > click turn off tab > restart your Mac is must .

Unknowingly you must have forgotten to restart , any how .

Open activity monitor via spotlight > click on windowed processes > if you see system preferences ( written in Red color & system preferences not responding ) > select it > go to force quit > quit system preferences .

Restart the system .

A screen shot for reference.

Thanks !

Oct 29, 2016 1:42 PM in response to piotrbakker

I have a brand new Mac Pro, exact same problem, definitely due to FileVault. No issues on my many other macs, none of which are Mac Pros. I am opening a support case with Apple, and will report back here if I get any usable information.

piotrbakker Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 30, 2016 6:23 AM in response to Daniel Brotsky

Great! Please let us know how that went!

petruscj

Level 1

18 points

Nov 1, 2016 12:40 PM in response to Daniel Brotsky

very curious, same problem here in Europe. I also have a SD card reader not reading, are yours working?

3m1

Level 1

9 points

Nov 2, 2016 3:10 AM in response to petruscj

I noted that, in a shutdown, if you wait a bunch of minutes (i.e. 5 min.) before turn your machine on, it works. Someone can confirm it?

piotrbakker Author

Level 1

19 points

Nov 3, 2016 7:08 AM in response to 3m1

Oh yeah? Yes, on some days it would work without a problem, whereas on others it would be unbearable. But I haven't noticed any correlation with how long it was off...

Nov 4, 2016 6:04 AM in response to piotrbakker

I have the same problem too. I have tried reinstallation , reset SMC/PRAM but still the same problem on the login everything is extremely slow and unresponsive. Now the only thing I can do is do PRAM reset first on booting, this can give me 1 time normal boot to login...

Hope there is a fix for this problem.

petruscj

Level 1

18 points

Nov 5, 2016 1:30 PM in response to richardlclee

Had a conversation with Apple care, the issue has been aknowledged but the answer was: there will be a update, but not known when.

piotrbakker Author

Level 1

19 points

Nov 5, 2016 1:31 PM in response to petruscj

Thanks for reporting back! I guess we have to wait now and see...

Dec 17, 2016 2:35 PM in response to piotrbakker

Has the issue been fixed in the mean time? I have installed the Security Update 2016-003 on 10.10.6 (El Capitan) and get the login keyboard (and mouse) lags every time I try to log in after the Mac went to sleep.

Was someone able to fix the issue without disabling FileVault? What does Apple say? 😟

petruscj

Level 1

18 points

Dec 18, 2016 2:35 AM in response to peter lohmeyer

NO, issue still the same.

In order of Apple I had to erase the ios, leaving the bootcamp partition in place, then a clean install without recovery of the time machine backup, lots of work, no result.

Now they want me to erase the whole disk with the message, we are not helping with windows, please call them, I am fed up with them. It seems to be a hardware problem, and I am go to bring it to a repair shop.

YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED APPLE TO KEEP YOUR CUSTOMER ON A LEASHE LIKE THIS.

macOS Sierra FileVault enabled freezing at login