How To Change Time Machine Password - Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted)

Question

How may a Solid-state drive (SSD) Time Machine backup password be changed for a SSD formatted as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted)"?

Expected

This is how a Time Machine backup password is changed for an SSD formatted as "APFS (Case-sensitive, Encrypted)".

APFS (Case-sensitive, Encrypted)

1. Open Disk Utility app > Select the drive under the External category.
2. Select in the menu bar File > Change Password...

APFS Volume

Observed

The Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) formatted SSD has the option for Change Password... grayed out.

Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted)

Answer 1

Remove and Re-Enable the Backup Drive from Time Machine With New Password

1. Open System Preferences > Time Machine

2. Remove current disk: Select Disk... > Under Backup Disks, choose the existing drive > Remove Disk

3. Re-enable disk without the existing password: Select Backup Disk... > Select disk > Deselect Encrypt backups > Use Disk

4. Cancel the disk backup in-progress > Wait for the disk to decrypt

5. Repeat Step 2.

6. Re-enable disk with a new password: Select Backup Disk... > Select disk > Select Encrypt backups > Use Disk

Answer 2

It seems the Time Machine app has removed the option to deselect encrypt backups, and then reselect the option in order to change the password.

To change a password you can use the Mac Disk Utility which comes with all macOS operating systems.

1. Open the Disk Utility app

2. File > Change Password... (This option is available for APFS formatted drives)

3. If File > Change Password... is grayed out.

   a. Erase the drive used for Time Machine backups

   b. Create a new drive

   c. Set a new password in the Time Machine app by selecting the encrypt option.