The media must be properly formatted to encrypt removable media on a Mac.

Acceptable formats are HFS+, APFS, Mac OS Extended.  If you start this process and the media is not formatted correctly, please

save all data you want to keep from that drive.  Formatting will erase it.

  1.  Insert the external media.  You will see an icon on your desktop with the name of the drive that looks similar to one of the icons below. This example is named "Time Machine."


2. Right-click on the external drive, then click option marked Encrypt "drive name."


3. Enter a secure, memorable password and the password hit as required.  Then click Encrypt Disk.



4. The drive should now process through the encryption process.  Verify the drive has encrypted by selecting the drive in the Disk Utility.


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