User level: Level 1 (4 points)Forgot new Mac login pw. Went to use recovery key that I wrote down twice in two different places - but it’s not accepting. Is the File Vault recovery the same as “recovery key”
to unlock the volume “Macintosh HD”?
Posted on Oct 17, 2026 12:39 PM
User level: Level 10 (105,996 points)Oct 17, 2026 12:51 PM in response to CTac-60
No they are not the same thing. The Recovery Key is for your Apple Account and the File Vault Recovery Key is to decrypt the files on your Hard Drive. You can view the Recovery Key in the Passwords app if you have another device using the same Apple Account, but of course you will not be able to view it on the Mac where you have forgotten the login password.
See the FileVault recovery key for your Mac in Passwords - Apple Support
Review your options here for when you have forgotten your Login Password.
If you forgot your Mac login password - Apple Support
User level: Level 9 (53,902 points)Oct 17, 2026 12:52 PM in response to CTac-60
Hi,
No, an Apple Account Recovery Key (used for your overall Apple Account/iCloud security) and a FileVault Recovery Key (used specifically to unlock your Mac's encrypted hard drive and reset its login password) are not the same thing.
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256377999