Below is a revised support article for help.swif.ai that explains FileVault’s impact on the macOS login window and clarifies how Swif's Login Window policy interacts with this setting.
FileVault’s Effect on the macOS Login Window
When FileVault is enabled on your Mac, it changes how the login screen appears. Depending on your Mac’s hardware and macOS version, you may see either a list of user accounts or a generic username and password prompt. This article explains FileVault’s behavior, how you can verify the current settings, and how to use Swif’s Login Window policy to manage the login window configuration—while noting the limits imposed by FileVault.
Overview
FileVault provides full-disk encryption for your Mac, enhancing security by protecting your data. However, enabling FileVault also affects the login window appearance:
On Intel-based Macs (including T2-chip models):
The FileVault pre-boot environment typically displays a list of authorized users (with icons). After you unlock the disk, the regular login window settings are applied.On Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2):
The FileVault unlock screen is designed to display a generic “Name and Password” prompt. FileVault on Apple Silicon (11.2 and greater) changes the way FileVault works. Instead of listing the provisioned users you only view the login and text fields. This is a deliberate security measure, and this pre-boot authentication screen is controlled by FileVault and cannot be overridden by configuration settings or policies.
How FileVault Influences the Login Screen
Intel-Based Macs
Pre-Boot Login:
At startup, these Macs display a list of FileVault-enabled user accounts. Once the disk is unlocked, the login window may switch to the mode configured in System Preferences or via management policies.Post-Unlock Behavior:
After unlocking, you may see the login window as configured by your local settings or by policies—either showing a list of users or a name and password field.
Apple Silicon Macs
Unified Boot Process:
Apple Silicon devices boot fully into macOS before prompting for FileVault credentials. The pre-boot FileVault unlock screen defaults to a generic username and password prompt.Security by Design:
This mode is intentionally enforced for security. Even if you configure local settings or deploy policies with Swif, the pre-boot authentication interface will continue to show the generic prompt. After unlocking, any subsequent login window (such as when logging out or switching users) may honor your configured settings.
How to Verify if FileVault Is Influencing Your Login Window
1. Check FileVault Status
Open Terminal and run:
fdesetup status
Output “FileVault is On” confirms that your disk is encrypted and that the FileVault pre-boot environment is active.
2. Verify the Login Window Setting
To check the current login window mode, run:
sudo defaults read /Library/Managed\ Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow SHOWFULLNAME
A result of
0(orfalse) means the system is set to display a list of users.A result of
1(ortrue) indicates that the system is set to show name and password fields.
Note: On Apple Silicon Macs, even if this setting is configured to display a list of users, the FileVault pre-boot unlock screen will continue to use the generic prompt.
3. Review Managed Profiles
If your Mac is managed, configuration profiles may override local settings. To list active profiles, run:
sudo profiles show
Review the output for any profiles related to the login window.
Configuring the Login Window via Swif’s Login Window Policy
Instead of manually applying changes with Terminal commands, you can use Swif’s Login Window policy to centrally manage this setting across your devices. In the Swif admin portal, you’ll find the following option in the Login Window policy:
Policy Option:
“Show user name and password fields instead of a list of users”
Setting this option to TRUE will configure your Mac (where allowed) to display a username and password prompt rather than a list of users.
Important:
When FileVault is enabled, especially on Apple Silicon Macs, the pre-boot authentication screen is governed by FileVault and will always use the generic login prompt. Swif’s Login Window policy controls the behavior of the login window after the disk is unlocked (or on systems where FileVault does not enforce the pre-boot interface). It cannot override the FileVault pre-boot display on Apple Silicon.
Summary
FileVault’s Impact:
Intel Macs: The pre-boot screen shows a list of FileVault-enabled users, with post-unlock behavior determined by your login settings.
Apple Silicon Macs: The FileVault unlock screen always uses a generic username and password prompt for enhanced security.
Verification:
Use Terminal commands to check FileVault status and the effective
SHOWFULLNAMEsetting.Review any active configuration profiles that may influence the login window.
Using Swif’s Login Window Policy:
Instead of manually setting configurations with Terminal commands, use the Swif admin portal to deploy the Login Window policy.
Set the “Show user name and password fields instead of a list of users” option to TRUE to enforce the desired behavior on supported devices.
Note that this policy applies where system settings allow it; FileVault’s pre-boot behavior on Apple Silicon remains unchanged.
If you need further assistance or have additional questions about FileVault or login window configurations, please contact our support team at help@swif.ai.
This article is intended to help you understand the relationship between FileVault and your Mac's login window and to show how Swif’s policies can be used to manage the login experience where possible.