How to Unlock a Mac Stuck on FileVault

Resolve Mac startup issues where the system hangs on the FileVault login screen with these precise recovery steps.

1. Perform a hard power cycle. Press and hold the Power button (Touch ID sensor) until the screen turns black and the device shuts down completely. Wait ten seconds to ensure all volatile memory clears, then press the Power button once to restart the machine.
2. Enter macOS Recovery mode. On Apple Silicon Macs, press and hold the Power button until 'Loading startup options' appears on the screen. Select 'Options' and click 'Continue' to enter the Recovery environment.
3. Unlock the internal drive. Select 'Disk Utility' from the macOS Utilities window and click 'Continue'. Choose your primary drive, usually labeled 'Macintosh HD', then click the 'Mount' button in the toolbar.
4. Execute First Aid on the volume. With the drive still selected in the sidebar, click the 'First Aid' button. Confirm the action by clicking 'Run' to allow the system to scan for and repair directory structure errors impeding the login process.
5. Restart the system normally. Quit Disk Utility by selecting 'Quit Disk Utility' from the top menu bar or by pressing Command + Q. Select the Apple menu () and choose 'Restart' to exit the recovery environment and attempt a standard boot.