These instructions are only applicable for Mac computers with an Intel processor. Erasing your Mac deletes all of its files permanently, so make sure you create a backup of any files that you want to keep. If you're attempting to restore your Mac to its factory settings, first find out what to do before you sell, give away or trade in your Mac.
How to erase your disk Start up from macOS Recovery. Then select Disk Utility from the Utilities window and click Continue. If you're not erasing the disk your Mac started up from, you don't need to start up from macOS Recovery. Erasing your Mac permanently deletes its files. Create a txt file on mac. If you want to restore your Mac to factory settings, such as to prepare it for a new owner, first learn what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac. Then erase your Mac as the final step.
Start up from macOS Recovery
Oct 10, 2017 Click Erase at the top of the Disk Utility window. Enter the name of this volume and choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format from the drop-down menu. Jul 09, 2020 Erase Your Data Choose your startup disk under the Internal heading, then click Erase at the top of the Disk Utilities window. A dialog box will pop up. Change the Format to Mac OS Extended. Create a backup. Miworld mac os. Make sure that you have a current backup of your important files.
Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold Command (⌘) and R until you see an Apple logo or another image. You may then be asked to select a user you know the password for. Select the user, then click Next and enter their administrator password.
Use Disk Utility to erase your disk
From the utilities window in macOS Recovery, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar of Disk Utility. Can't see Macintosh HD?
Click the Erase button in the toolbar, then enter the requested details:
Name: continue to use Macintosh HD as the name or enter a different name.
Format: continue to use APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journalled), as recommended by Disk Utility.
Click Erase Volume Group. If you can't see this button, click Erase instead.
If Find My is turned on for this Mac, you may be asked to enter your Apple ID to authorise the erase process. Forgotten your Apple ID?
After the erase process has been completed, select any other internal volumes that may be listed in the sidebar, then click the delete volume (–) button in the toolbar to delete each volume. You don't need to delete the Macintosh HD volume you've just erased, or any external volumes or disk images.
Quit Disk Utility to return to the utilities window.
If you want to start up again from the disk you've erased, you should now reinstall macOS on that disk.
If you can'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 called Macintosh HD unless you've changed its name. If you can't see it there, choose Apple menu > Shut Down, then unplug all non-essential devices from your Mac and try again.