How To: Erase Your Hard Drive of your Mac

First, Start up from macOS Recovery

First make sure that your Mac has a connection to the internet. Then follow the appropriate steps based on whether you're using a Mac with Apple silicon:

Apple silicon

Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window. Click the gear icon labeled Options, then click Continue.

Intel processor

Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command (⌘)-R until you see an Apple logo or other image.

Use Disk Utility to erase your Mac

Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window. Select Options, then click Continue.
If asked, select a user you know the password for, then enter their administrator password.
If asked, enter the Apple ID and password previously used with this Mac. Forgot your Apple ID?
From the utilities window, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
In the Internal section of the Disk Utility sidebar, make sure that you see the volume named Macintosh HD. Don't see Macintosh HD?
If you previously used Disk Utility to add volumes to your startup disk, select each additional internal volume in the sidebar, then click the delete volume (–) button in the toolbar to delete that volume.
During this step, disregard any internal volume named Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, as well as any volumes in the External and Disk Images sections of the sidebar.
Now select Macintosh HD in the sidebar.
1. Click the Erase button in the toolbar, then specify a name and format:
2. Name: Macintosh HD
3. Format: APFS
Click Erase. However, if you see an Erase Volume Group button, click that button instead.
If asked, enter your Apple ID. Forgot your Apple ID?
When asked whether you're sure you want to erase this Mac, click Erase Mac and Restart.
When your Mac restarts, follow the onscreen instructions to choose your language.
Your Mac now attempts to activate, which requires an internet connection. Use the Wi-Fi menu in the menu bar to choose a Wi-Fi network, or attach a network cable.
After your Mac activates, click Exit to Recovery Utilities.
If you want to start up again from the disk you just erased, select Reinstall macOS in the utilities window, then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall macOS.

If you don’t see Macintosh HD in Disk Utility

Your built-in startup disk should be the first item listed in the Disk Utility sidebar. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name. If you don't see it there, choose Apple menu  > Shut Down, then unplug all nonessential devices from your Mac and try again.

If your disk still doesn't appear in Disk Utility, or Disk Utility reports that the erase process failed, your Mac might need service. If you need help, please submit a ticket at support.kippnorcal.org

For more information about using Disk Utility, see the Disk Utility User Guide.

Published Date: October 25, 2021