MacOS – What does “each user must type in their password before they will be able to unlock the disk” mean

configurationfilevaultmacospasswordunlock

I am setting up File Vault 2 on my Macbook Pro under Yosemite and I see the following message,

each user must type in their password before they will be able to
unlock the disk

Example

I don't actually have the password for the other account on the computer to verify the behavior to expect from the Admin account.

What exactly will this user see when they login? Will they be able to use the computer or will I have to unlock the disk for them and reconfigure FileVault?

Best Answer

Essentially all users not enabled won' t be capable of unlocking the disk.

  1. If you hit Continue, your Mac will be restarted

  2. All users not enabled previously will not appear at the first login screen and thus won't be able to unlock the disk.

    Once the disk is unlocked, all users may be used though. Even the previously not 'enabled' users are available by 'user switching' or a 'second' login screen.

  3. After logging in with an enabled user your system will be encrypted.

    encryption

  4. You may enable users subsequently by clicking the lock and 'Enable User...'

    enter image description here

  5. Enter the user's password and click OK, then Done

    enter image description here

  6. All users enabled subsequently will reappear at the first login screen, may unlock the disk and log in as usual.

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