Are you looking to erase your Mac and start fresh? Whether you want to sell your Mac, give it away, or simply want to wipe all the data for a clean slate, this tutorial will guide you through the process. Follow these steps to ensure that your personal information is securely erased and your Mac is ready for its next chapter.
Back up Your Data
Before proceeding with erasing your Mac, it’s important to back up all your important files and documents. This will ensure that you don’t lose any valuable data during the process. You can use Time Machine or any other reliable backup method to create a complete backup of your Mac.
Erase Your Mac
To erase your Mac and reinstall macOS, follow these steps:
Step 1: Restart in macOS Recovery
To begin the erasing process, restart your Mac and hold down Command + R until the Apple logo appears. This will boot your Mac into macOS Recovery.
Step 2: Open Disk Utility
In macOS Recovery mode, select “Disk Utility” from the list of utilities presented on the screen. Disk Utility allows you to manage and erase storage devices connected to your Mac.
Step 3: Select Your Startup Disk
In Disk Utility, locate and select your startup disk from the list of available drives on the left-hand side of the window. It is usually named “Macintosh HD” or something similar.
Step 4: Erase Your Startup Disk
With your startup disk selected, click on the “Erase” button at the top of the Disk Utility window. This will open a dialogue box where you can configure the erase settings.
- Name: Choose a new name for your startup disk if desired.
- Format: Select the desired format for your disk.
We recommend using “APFS” or “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” for modern Macs.
- Scheme: Choose the appropriate scheme for your disk. For Intel-based Macs, select “GUID Partition Map”. For Apple Silicon-based Macs, select “Apple Partition Map”.
Once you have configured the settings, click on the “Erase” button to begin the erasing process. This will permanently delete all data from your startup disk.
Step 5: Reinstall macOS
After erasing your startup disk, close Disk Utility and select “Reinstall macOS” from the macOS Utilities window. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall a fresh copy of macOS onto your Mac.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully erased your Mac and reinstalled macOS.
Remember to restore your backed up files using Time Machine or any other backup method you used before starting this process. Your Mac is now ready to be sold, given away, or used with a clean slate!
Note: Erasing your Mac permanently deletes all data from your storage device. Make sure you have backed up all important files before proceeding.
Disclaimer: The steps mentioned in this tutorial are intended for erasing and reinstalling macOS on personal devices. If you are erasing a Mac provided by an organization or following specific IT guidelines, consult with your system administrator or IT support for proper instructions.