How Do I Completely Erase a Hard Drive on Mac?
If you’re planning to sell or give away your Mac, it’s essential to appropriately wipe out your hard drive to ensure none of your personal data remains. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to completely erase a hard drive on Mac OS, covering both Apple Silicon and Intel-based Macs.
Note: Erasing your Mac’s hard drive will permanently delete all data. Make sure to back up your important files before proceeding with the steps below.
We’ve outlined several effective methods to completely erase a hard drive on Mac OS. Let’s go through them one by one.
How Do I Completely Erase a Hard Drive on Mac Manually?
You can manually erase your Mac’s hard drive using different methods, depending on the type of processor your Mac uses.
- If your Mac has Apple Silicon or is an Intel-based Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, follow Technique 1.
- If you’re using a standard Intel-based Mac, proceed with Technique 2.
How to Check Your Mac’s Processor or Chip Type:
- Hold the Option key and click the Apple menu.
- Select System Information or About This Mac.
- In the sidebar, click Hardware to check the processor type.
- If it’s an Intel-based Mac, click Controller in the sidebar to see if the Apple T2 Security Chip is installed, it will be displayed on the right side if present.
Technique 1: Erase Hard Drive on macOS Monterey (Apple Silicon or T2 Chip)
If your Mac runs macOS Monterey and has Apple Silicon or an Apple T2 Security Chip, you can use the built-in Erase All Content and Settings feature for a fast, secure wipe of all data, settings, and apps.
Steps to Erase Mac Using Erase Assistant:
- Go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > click Erase All Content and Settings (if not visible, use Technique 2).
- Enter admin password when prompted to authorize.
- Backup prompt appears – use Time Machine or click Continue to skip.
- Review items to be erased, then click Continue.
- Sign out of Apple ID, if asked.
- Confirm warning by clicking Erase All Content & Settings.
- Mac restarts – connect to Wi-Fi if prompted, then click Restart.
- After reset, Setup Assistant will help you set up the Mac again.
Technique 2: Erase Mac Hard Drive (macOS Monterey – Intel-Based Mac)
- Backup important files to an external drive.
- Start in macOS Recovery: Restart Mac and hold Command (⌘) + R until the Apple logo appears.
- On the macOS Utilities screen, select Disk Utility > click Continue.
- In the sidebar, select Macintosh HD (or your main drive).
- Hit Erase, name the drive (e.g., “Macintosh HD”), select APFS format, then click Erase.
- After erasing, close Disk Utility.
- Either shut down the Mac or click Reinstall macOS to set it up again.
How Do I Completely Erase a Hard Drive on Mac with the Most Reliable and Powerful Tool?
If none of the manual ways work, you can rely on CubexSoft Data Eraser Tool for Mac – a powerful, secure, and cost-effective solution to permanently wipe data from your Mac hard drive. The tool offers an easy-to-use interface, making it ideal for both technical novice users. It comes with advanced filters to customize the data erasure process based on specific needs – whether it’s selected files, folders, or the entire drive. With Mac Data Erasure Tool, you can securely erase your data without leaving a trace, ensuring complete privacy before selling or giving away your Mac.
Steps to Erase Hard Drive on macOS Using Mac Data Eraser Tool
- Download & Install Data Erasure for Mac Software on your macOS.
- Launch the tool and it will display all available drives and data on your Mac.
- Select the drive or data you want to erase permanently.
- Choose the data wiping method from multiple secure erasure standards (e.g., DoD, Gutmann).
- Apply filters if needed (e.g., file type, size, date range).
- Click on the Remove button to begin the secure wiping process.
- Wait for the process to complete. Once done, the selected data will be permanently erased with no recovery possible.
Final Thoughts
In this blog, we’ve explored several ways to answer the query: “how to completely erase a hard drive on Mac OS.” If your Mac runs on Apple Silicon, use Process 1; for Intel-based Macs, go for Process 2. While both are free, they may not be beginner-friendly. For a simpler and faster alternative, try CubexSoft Data Erasing for Mac Tool. The tool offers a simple interface, advanced features, and ensures permanent data deletion. You can also download the free demo version to test the process before purchasing, no complications, and no risk.
