Technically speaking an encrypted space file is an application containing an encrypted disk image file where is stored your data encrypted with a password.

If you want to access this data without to launch the encrypted space application do the following:


  • Locate the encrypted space file application in the Finder
  • Control-click its icon and choose the menu item “Show Pakage Content” from the contextual menu.
  • Localize the encrypted disk image file containing your data which is located here:
In spaces created under Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or later:
Contents/Resources/<spaceName>.sparsebundle

In spaces created under Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger:
Contents/Resources/<spaceName>.sparseimage

  • To access your files and folders, double-click the file and enter your password. Please note that forgotten passwords cannot be retrived.

Note: this disk image file is secure and can be copied or moved elsewhere in your hard disk if you want. If you experience often problems launcing Self Mounting Encrypted Spaces, you should consider to create Encrypted Disk Images instead of Self Mounting Encrypted Space.