{"id":105584,"date":"2022-07-26T11:43:25","date_gmt":"2022-07-26T11:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/?p=105584"},"modified":"2025-01-24T10:02:02","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T10:02:02","slug":"fixed-the-disk-macintosh-hd-cant-be-unlocked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/fixed-the-disk-macintosh-hd-cant-be-unlocked\/","title":{"rendered":"[Fixed] \u201cThe Disk Macintosh HD Can’t be Unlocked\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why “The Disk Macintosh HD Can’t be Unlocked” Problem Appears<\/h2>

If you get the error message saying that “The disk Macintosh HD can’t be Unlocked”, it means that the volume with the files is locked and can not be managed by a user. And most probably there is a redundant Mac OS disk on your Mac.<\/p>

Macintosh HD is a storage drive containing the docs, pictures, applications, etc. It is a read-only volume meaning that you cannot add, modify, or remove files from it. You won’t have access to those files that are available for view only after the Macintosh HD is locked. <\/p>

How to Prepare Your Mac Before Fixing “The Disk Macintosh HD Can’t be Unlocked” Issue<\/h2>

Before proceeding with the fix, start backing up your essential data<\/a> to ensure it remains safe in case something goes wrong.<\/p>

The macOS backup will allow you to restore all your data in case you lose any.<\/p>

Here is how to back up your Mac with Time Machine:<\/strong><\/p>

1. Connect an external hard drive to your Mac.<\/p>

2. Open Time Machine by clicking on Apple Menu<\/strong> in the top left corner of the screen > System Preferences<\/strong> > Time Machine<\/strong>.<\/p>

\n
\"System
System Preferences > Time Machine<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

3. Then click on Select Backup Disk<\/strong>.<\/p>

\n
\"Time
Time Machine > Select Backup Disk<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

4. Choose the needed disk and click the Use Disk<\/strong> button. <\/p>

\n
\"Time
Time Machine > Select Backup Disk<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

Done. Now Time Machine will have the latest backup of your system. <\/p>

3 Ways to Resolve “The  Disk Macintosh HD Can’t be Unlocked” Issue<\/h2>

1. Restore a Disk Using Disk Utility in Recovery Mode<\/strong><\/p>

Step 1. Enter Disk Utility in Recovery Mode<\/strong><\/p>

If you are using the Intel-based Mac: <\/strong><\/p>

    \n
  1. Restart your Mac.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Click and hold the Command + R<\/strong> keys.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. When you see the macOS Utilities menu, select the Disk Utility.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>

    In case you have a Mac with Apple Silicon: <\/strong><\/p>

      \n
    1. Restart your Mac.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Press and keep holding the Power <\/strong>key on your Mac until you see the Loading Startup Options:<\/strong> gear and hard disk icon. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Choose the Gear <\/strong>icon and select the Disk Utility.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>

      Great. Now you are in the Disk Utility Application. Let’s move on.<\/p>

      Step 2. Run Fist Aid to Repair the Volume<\/strong><\/p>

      1. Choose View <\/strong>> Show All Devices<\/strong>.<\/p>

      \n
      \"Disk
      Disk Utility > View > Show All Devices<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      2. Select the volume with the name Macintosh HD > click the First Aid <\/strong>button > click Run<\/strong>.<\/p>

      3. Restart your Mac to see if the issue persists when the process is over. <\/p>

      2. Erase the Extra Volume<\/strong><\/p>

      If the First Aid didn’t help, you will need to remove the duplicate Macintosh HD partition. However, please note that Macintosh HD contains all of your personal files stored on your Mac. That is why deleting the Mac OS disk permanently deletes all the data from there. <\/p>

      That is why before proceeding with erasing the extra volume, ensure you have prepared your Mac and made a backup of your system ‘see the instructions above’.<\/p>

      To delete the redundant volume follow the next steps: <\/strong><\/p>

      1. Open Disk Utility from the Recovery Mode again.<\/p>

      2. Select the extra Macintosh HD disk.<\/p>

      3. Click on Erase<\/strong>.<\/p>

      4. On the pop up you see select the next parameters: <\/p>

      Name<\/strong>: Macintosh HD
      Format<\/strong>: APFS or Mac OS Extended<\/p>

      \n
      \"Disk
      Disk Utility > Erase disk<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      5. Confirm by clicking the Erase <\/strong>button.<\/p>

      6. Follow the onscreen instructions. <\/p>

      When the process is done you will need to recover your Mac from the backup. To do that: <\/p>

      1. Go to the Utility window by clicking Command + R <\/strong>if you have an Intel-based Mac or <\/strong>pressing and holding the Power <\/strong>key if you own Mac with Apple Silicon.<\/p>

      2. Choose Restore from Time Machine<\/strong> backup, and Continue<\/strong>.<\/p>

      \n
      \"Recovery
      Recovery Mode > Restore from Time Machine Backup<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      3. Select the disk you want to restore your files from.<\/p>

      \n
      \"Select
      Select Restore Source<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      4. Select a needed backup date.<\/p>

      \n
      \"Select
      Select the backup by date<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      5. Choose the destination disk on your Mac and click Restore<\/strong>. <\/p>

      \n
      \"Select
      Select a destination to backup<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      6. Restart your Mac.<\/p>

      3. Recover Volume on Mac with Stellar Data Recovery Professional<\/strong><\/p>

      We recommend using specific restoring software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac<\/a><\/strong> to restore disks. It’s an easy-to-use tool that will help you to restore your data despite the conditions you’ve lost them. Follow the steps below to recover lost data: <\/p>

      Follow the steps below to recover partitions with Stellar Data Recovery Professional:<\/strong><\/p>

      1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery from the official website.<\/p>

      \n
      \"Stellar
      Stellar Data Recovery Professional download page<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      2. After installing, you will be asked to select the file types you want to recover.<\/p>

      \n
      \"Stellar
      Stellar Data Recovery Professional > Select what to recover<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      3. Choose Can’t Find Volume<\/strong> and click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>

      \n
      \"Select
      Select where to recover from<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      4. Click on the Lost ‘Volume always marked with a flag<\/strong>‘, choose the Deep Scan<\/strong> option on the bottom left, and Continue with the scan.<\/p>

      \n
      \"Select
      Select the lost volume to recover data<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

      5. When the scan is done look through the files > select those you need to restore.<\/p>

      6. Click on Recover <\/strong>when you are done.<\/p>

      Wrap Up<\/h2>

      We hope this guide will help you out with understanding the reasons for appearing and ways of fixing the “The disk Macintosh HD can’t be unlocked” issue and other related issues that may occur. <\/p>

      Read more: <\/strong><\/p>