MacOS Tahoe Doesn't Fully Boot Until After System Logon

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Level 1

9 points

MacOS Tahoe Doesn't Fully Boot Until After System Logon

Ever since upgrading my MacBook Pro 2019 i9 my system doesn't fully boot until after I log into the system. Due to the system not fully booting my external displays aren't used. Once I login the system fully boots and the external displays are utilized.

I bounce between my workplace office and home office. Both have a magic keyboard and mouse. If I've primarily been working at the office I can use that pair of keyboard/mouse combo to login. If I power up at either location after last working at one of the other locations I cannot get the keyboard/mouse to connect until after login. I'm forced to login with the onboard laptop keyboard/mouse.

Does anyone else have this issue? I haven't found any information about this behavior online so far. I'm hoping others in the community might read this and share they're experiencing the same behavior.

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Oct 8, 2025 5:28 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

53,913 points

Oct 8, 2025 5:49 PM in response to ggilliam

The upgrade to macOS Tahoe enables FileVault by default, and part of the encryption key used by FileVault is your login password. Therefore, the Mac requires your login password (at the login step) to decrypt your data and fully boot the Mac. Even though it's been enabled by the upgrade, you can disable FileVault if you choose. The data on Macs with Apple Silicon or a T2 chip (yours has the latter) are already encrypted, FileVault just makes your login password part of the key.

You can disable FileVault in System Settings > Privacy & Security > File Vault (near the bottom of the list).

More info:

Protect data on your Mac with FileVault - Apple Support

Secure Enclave - Apple Support

Passcodes and passwords - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

121,652 points

Oct 9, 2025 3:15 AM in response to Horourskes

Horourskes wrote:

I’ve noticed the same thing after updating to macOS Tahoe — the system basically doesn’t finish booting until you log in. External displays and Bluetooth devices (like Magic Mouse/Keyboard) stay dead until then. It’s super annoying if you dock your Mac. Seems like Tahoe delays some system services until after login — hopefully Apple patches it soon.

It doesn’t appear you comprehended neuroanatomists’s comment.

FileVault is on, so you startup to the FileVault decryption screen, not the full OS. Turn off FileVault if you don’t want to do that.

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Answer 3

ggilliam Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 9, 2025 9:03 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Thank you! I turned FileVault off and look at the glory ✨

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 4

Oct 9, 2025 2:58 AM in response to ggilliam

I’ve noticed the same thing after updating to macOS Tahoe — the system basically doesn’t finish booting until you log in. External displays and Bluetooth devices (like Magic Mouse/Keyboard) stay dead until then. It’s super annoying if you dock your Mac. Seems like Tahoe delays some system services until after login — hopefully Apple patches it soon.

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Answer 5

Oct 9, 2025 9:16 AM in response to ggilliam

You're welcome!

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