How find FileVault recovery key in the blocked MacBook Pro?


I has changed password in my laptop, now it doesn’t match. So I need to change it.


I’m in Lock Screen,

1) Turning off laptop

2) Turning it on, holding down the power button

3) Going to «parameters»

4) Writing email and password Apple ID

5) Going to the «terminal» and writing here «resetpassword»


After it’s asking me 24-figures FileVault recovery key. And my question is how can I find it, if my MacBook is blocked and all I have my IPhone and Apple account?


[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 13″

Posted on Sep 16, 2025 5:25 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 18, 2025 2:13 PM

MariaKiritsa wrote:

I has changed password in my laptop, now it doesn’t match. So I need to change it.

Depending on how you changed your password.....have you tried using your old password to unlock Filevault?


Thank you! I don’t want to save my data, it’s not a prob. I need to open MacBook in anyway. Do you know some ways?

It may depend on the exact model of your Mac and the version of macOS being used. You can get the exact model of the Mac by entering the system serial number on the check coverage page here (please do not post the serial number on the forum since it is considered personal information):

View Coverage - AppleCare & Warranty


On older Intel Macs, you just need to boot to the macOS installer either in Recovery Mode (Command + R), Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R), or USB (the latter may not be an option for some) and use Disk Utility to erase the whole physical drive (Intel Macs only though) which would destroy the Filevault encrypted volume by recreating the partition table & creating a new unencrypted volume to use.


With T2 (2018-2020 Intel) Macs, you need to perform a DFU Firmware Restore which resets the T2 security chip, system firmware, and internal SSD. Afterwards you would need to boot into Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R) to reinstall macOS.


If you have an M-series Mac you would also need to perform a DFU Firmware Restore, but with an M-series Mac it will also push a clean copy of macOS onto the internal SSD.


Unfortunately the DFU Firmware Restore procedure requires access to another Mac running macOS 26 Tahoe, or perhaps macOS 15.x Sequoia (since Tahoe was just released Sequoia may still be an option for a little while...I forget what occurred last year once a new OS had been released):

How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support



7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 18, 2025 2:13 PM in response to MariaKiritsa

MariaKiritsa wrote:

I has changed password in my laptop, now it doesn’t match. So I need to change it.

Depending on how you changed your password.....have you tried using your old password to unlock Filevault?


Thank you! I don’t want to save my data, it’s not a prob. I need to open MacBook in anyway. Do you know some ways?

It may depend on the exact model of your Mac and the version of macOS being used. You can get the exact model of the Mac by entering the system serial number on the check coverage page here (please do not post the serial number on the forum since it is considered personal information):

View Coverage - AppleCare & Warranty


On older Intel Macs, you just need to boot to the macOS installer either in Recovery Mode (Command + R), Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R), or USB (the latter may not be an option for some) and use Disk Utility to erase the whole physical drive (Intel Macs only though) which would destroy the Filevault encrypted volume by recreating the partition table & creating a new unencrypted volume to use.


With T2 (2018-2020 Intel) Macs, you need to perform a DFU Firmware Restore which resets the T2 security chip, system firmware, and internal SSD. Afterwards you would need to boot into Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R) to reinstall macOS.


If you have an M-series Mac you would also need to perform a DFU Firmware Restore, but with an M-series Mac it will also push a clean copy of macOS onto the internal SSD.


Unfortunately the DFU Firmware Restore procedure requires access to another Mac running macOS 26 Tahoe, or perhaps macOS 15.x Sequoia (since Tahoe was just released Sequoia may still be an option for a little while...I forget what occurred last year once a new OS had been released):

How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support



Sep 16, 2025 8:46 AM in response to MariaKiritsa

Re: “… And my question is how can I find it …”


Unfortunately, this is not a “good news” reply.


There were only two options presented during the Mac’s File Vault setup.


  • Recovery Key Saved to iCloud
  • Recovery Key Saved Locally


If you are being asked for it now, it means that the 2nd option was selected and the key was recorded and - hopefully - manually saved locally.


There is no technical means to “extract” it from the computer.


You either find where it was recorded, or the encrypted data will remain irretrievable.


See more detail here:


Protect data on your Mac with FileVault - Apple Support





Sep 16, 2025 9:18 AM in response to MariaKiritsa


If you encrypted your Mac’s boot disk with FileVault 2 —this prevents you from using your Apple ID to reset your password (since the password is used in FileVault’s encryption).


Read this Apple support document for more information about FileVault.


ref: Protect data on your Mac with FileVault - Apple Support




if no insight or resolve—


Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

or call AppleCare Support at 1-800-APLCARE (800-275-2273)


Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support


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