Turn on FileVault to encrypt the disk

Protect your data if the Mac is lost or stolen.

1. System Settings → Privacy & Security → FileVault → Turn On.
2. Choose how to regain access: iCloud account or recovery key (note it down precisely and keep it away from the Mac).
3. Check the status:

   fdesetup status

   Copy
4. Encryption runs in the background, you can keep working.
5. On an Apple silicon Mac the disk is already hardware-encrypted: FileVault adds the lock tied to your password.