Un-encrypt/Turn off encryption for Time Machine Backup

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Un-encrypt/Turn off encryption for Time Machine Backup

Encrypting a Time Machine backup is a way to secure your files. It's SO secure, however, that it's even secure from me.

File transfer rate is unacceptably slow while encrypted
File transfers (including migrations) always fail after a certain amount of time due to the hard drive turning itself off or disconnecting for some reason

The end result is that I have data on a drive that is almost inaccessible, or at least, unable to do large file transfers (> 5GB)

How do I turn back time and decrypt this drive? Is this even possible in the new world order of the dumbed-down, highly restrictive OS of Ventura?

Thank you!

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 19, 2022 12:02 PM

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Answer 1

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FoxFifth

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Nov 19, 2022 02:05 PM in response to snogger6

I have used encrypted TimeMachine external drives for years with external drives and have never noticed any slowness. The following article has some possibilities such as antivirus software: If Time Machine is slow on Mac - Apple Support

You can ignore the above and decrypt the drive by control clicking on the drive icon on the Desktop or in a Finder window (not the Finder sidebar) and click "Decrypt."

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Answer 2

snogger6 Author

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Nov 20, 2022 11:13 AM in response to FoxFifth

That is very strange... I have a few questions:

Did you have to toggle/activate and special settings to access the decrypt function?
Any 3rd party plugins that might be handling that function?
Is there like kind of "Advanced Setting" in Ventura that I'm missing??
[EDIT] When you say decrypt, I'm assuming this is different than entering a password to "unlock" an external drive. Is that correct?
How long does it take to decrypt? Similar duration to when you first encrypted the drive?
Did you start encrypting the drive when it was blank, or did you put data on it and encrypt it later? (the latter is what I did)

Thank you for the insight and replies

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Answer 3

snogger6 Author

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Nov 20, 2022 09:44 AM in response to FoxFifth

It's strange because I've used this same drive and restored my machine from it this year. The only difference now is that it is encrypted.

Also not seeing the "decrypt" option while right-clicking on the drive while it's mounted. The OS is v13.0.1

Thank you for the reply, but I'm getting the sense that there is no way to "un-encrypt" a Time Machine backup: it's a one-way path that can't be undone.

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Answer 4

Nov 20, 2022 11:00 AM in response to snogger6

I have macOS 13.0.1.

I have an encrypted Time Machine external drive.

I do have the option to decrypt that drive by control clicking on the drive on the desktop or in Finder.

It isn't a one-way path that can't be undone -- but I don't know why that option isn't available to you.

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Answer 5

Nov 20, 2022 11:53 AM in response to snogger6

NO toggle or special setting -- just control click on the drive icon on the desktop.

No 3rd party plugins.

No Advanced or any other settings involved.

By decrypt it means decrypt, not unlock. The encrypted drive was already accessible (password stored in Keychain).

I don't know the time to decrypt as I didn't proceed beyond identifying that the decrypt option was available.

I originally encrypted the drive when it was blank. Time Machine offers the encrypt option when turning on Time Machine (i.e.,first using a specific external drive for Time Machine.)

I'm guessing you've already considered and don't want to lose the backup, but another option would be to use Disk Utility and format and start over with a new backup.

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Answer 6

snogger6 Author

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Nov 20, 2022 12:19 PM in response to FoxFifth

Thank you for the answers!

Yes, reformatting and starting over is a possibility... The only remaining obstacle is getting the data off the drive, which seems to be the major issue; it will generally fail. The transfer speeds are ridiculously slow as well, which makes me think failing drive.

I'm breaking the transfer down into smaller pieces, going folder by folder and trying to see if there are particular files that are holding it up.

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Un-encrypt/Turn off encryption for Time Machine Backup

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