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How To Erase Hdd On Mac

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How to Erase Hard Drive on Mac Hard Drive Data Recovery Software Looking to sell your Windows PC or Mac to another person? Whether it be the need to buy a new device or just for the money, you will do good to remove all previous and existing data from your system. This prevents misuse of the data. So it is advisable to erase your hard drive to reduce the risks. How to Securely Erase Data from Your Mac and External Drives? You can use Disk Utility to securely erase hard drive in mac or an external hard drive. All you have to do is follow the steps given below: 1.Wiping your hard drive will erase everything.

  1. Apple Select the Erase tab in the top menu. Select the new name for the volume after it's been erased. Choose the APFS format, unless you plan on installing a version of MacOS before High Sierra on.
  2. Part 3: A Complete Process to Erase Hard Drive on Mac. By following the above-listed techniques, you would be able to overcome the Disk Utility erase process has failed issue. Though, if you don't want to encounter it in the first place, then make sure you take all the right steps to erase a hard drive on Mac.
  3. Remove the display. Remove the heat senor located under the piece of foam. Disconnect the Hard drive and remove. DON'T TOUCH THE POWER SUPPLY! MAKE SURE YOU INSTALL THE HEAT SENOR CORRECTLY! IF YOU DON'T THE HARD DRIVE WILL KICK IN LIKE A JET ENGINE! Please take this video and redo it correctly.

If you're ready to sell or trade your macOS for something newer, you're probably thinking about wiping all your hard drive data. After all, securely erasing data ensures that no personal information or private files are transferred to anyone.

If you think that deleting your stuff & then emptying the Trash, would permanently erase your data, then you're mistaken! Today we'll talk about How To Erase Hard Drive On Mac Securely before tossing it out!

How To Erase Hard Drive Without Losing Data?

You can manually back up all your files and apps by copying everything to an external drive or iCloud. However, the faster & more secure way to do so is through a third-party tool like Right Backup. It is one of the easiest, safest & most protected online storage platforms that keeps all your important photos, videos, documents, and other data in one place.

The backup service supports all versions of operating systems including Windows, macOS, Android & iOS. Since Right Backup works on AES-256 encryption, so it ensures the highest level of security for your files. It also offers a 12-hour automatic backup option that can be customized according to your preferences for taking a backup of all your data on a scheduled date and time.

How To Erase Hard Drive On Mac: Recommended Way

For some users, formatting hard drives manually on Mac can be an annoying process. Also, reinstalling the macOS can be a time-taking process. So, if you're in a hurry & don't want to follow the whole process, there's a shortcut to secure delete data on mac with the help of a Shredder Utility like TuneUpMyMac.

It's an effective & power-packed utility designed to keep your macOS cleaned, optimized and protected. It features a plethora of tools to make your computer run faster than ever. Its Shredder module can be of great help to keep the privacy and security of your mac intact. Firefox 64 mac. It securely removes all the private information and makes them unrecoverable.

Hence, no dedicated Mac Recovery Software would be able to recover the data!

To erase the hard drive on Mac with TuneUpMyMac follow the steps below:

  • Install & launch TuneUpMyMac
  • On the main dashboard > Under Security module > choose Shredder
  • You'll be presented with Shredder window > Add files & folders you wish to remove permanently from your mac.

Click on the Shred icon to wipe hard drive data on mac securely!

Are There Any Additional Features Of TuneUpMyMac?

Of course, TuneUpMyMac Is A Robust Cleaning & Optimizing Utility designed for macOS. It allows you to get rid of unwanted files, duplicates, junks, caches, logs, and other useless apps. You can try using its One-Click Cleaning feature that makes the process of performing multiple cleaning easy and time-saving. It also features modules like Uninstaller, Startup Manager & other Privacy features which makes it one of the must-have software for macOS.
To Clean Your Mac Effectively With TuneUpMyMac: Fl studio mac free.

  • Download & Install TuneUpMyMac using the button below.
  • Click on One Click Cleaning option followed by Start System Scan. The scan will let you know about how much Junk your computer has.
  • Once the scanning gets completed, click on the Clean Now button.

Allow TuneUpMyMac to complete the cleaning process!

You Might Want To Read About:Best Antivirus Software For macOS

How To Erase Hard Drive On Mac: Manual Way

It's time to give your macOS a fresh start. Go step by step to wipe hard drive data:

STEP 1 – Restart Your Mac In Recovery Mode

Go to the Apple Menu located at the top-left corner of your screen & restart your machine. As soon as the Mac begins to restart > press & hold Command + R keys altogether to get into Recovery Mode.

STEP 2 – Erase Hard Drive On Mac Via Disk Utility

From the macOS Utilities Window > Access Disk Utility > Continue > Choose the Startup Disk > Select Erase button from the footer of the window > Next, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) > Click Erase!

When the wiping gets completed > head towards the Disk Utility & choose to Quit Disk Utility!

STEP 3 – Reinstall Operating System

That was easy right? You've successfully formatted your hard drive & now you can reinstall the new OS to make it a new one. Reinstalling macOS is super-easy, boot into Recovery Mode and select the option to Reinstall macOS from the macOS Utilities application > select Continue to begin the installation process!

Things To Keep In Mind While Wiping Hard Drive on Mac

There are certain things that should be kept in mind before you securely delete data on Mac:

1. Deauthorize Your iTunes Account

Chances are that your iTunes account is connected to your machine. If yes, then the new owner would be able to access it. Here's how you can sign out of iTunes:

  • Launch iTunes on your macOS.
  • Click on Account
  • Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer
  • Enter your Apple ID & Password to proceed
  • Confirm Deauthorize

2. Sign Out Of iMessage & iCloud

Similar to iTunes, you are required to sign out of your iCloud account too. If you aren't signed out, then the new owner will somehow be able to access it. To disable iCloud and sign out from iMessage, follow the instructions below:

To turn off iCloud:

  • Apple Menu
  • System Preferences > Choose iCloud
  • Click Sign Out
  • Confirm to remove data from your Mac

To sign out of iMessage:

  • Launch Messages
  • Click Messages located at the top-left corner > Preferences
  • Choose your iMessage account
  • Click to Sign Out

3. Turn Off FileVault

You must be aware of how Filevault encrypts your important data & prevents your hard drive from unauthorized access. But now that you're all set to erase the hard drive on mac, it would be a great idea to turn off FileVault.

To disable FileVault on macOS, follow the steps below:

  • Go to Apple Menu
  • Click on System Preferences
  • Under Security & Privacy > click on FileVault > Click on the Lock icon to Unlock FileVault
  • Type & Enter Administrator Name & Password to turn off FileVault

4. Remove Touch Bar Data

Make sure that your Touch Bar has no data stored, to erase those files & information, follow the steps below:

  • Right after your macOS restarts, press & hold Command + R keys altogether
  • Select Utilities > Terminal from Utilities window
  • Execute the following command in Terminal: xartutil – -erase-all
  • Hit Return & type Yes when asked about confirmation
  • Hit Return button again
  • Choose Terminal > Quit Terminal

All your Touch Bar Data would be successfully erased!

Now that you've fruitfully signed out of all the services and backed up all your important stuff. You're all set to permanently delete data on mac.

You Might Want To Read About:Best Mac Apps & Utilities For Better Productivity

Wiping Your Hard Drive On Mac Is Dead Simple!

Erasing hard drive on mac might sound confusing at first place. But with powerful yet simple tool like TuneUpMyMac, you can shred all your data securely without any hassles!

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In Mac systems, unlike Windows, you don't delete but erase files. However, this file erasure in Mac is similar to file deletion in Windows.

In other words, when you erase a file in Mac, only the pointer location to the file is deleted from file system journal. However, the actual file and data remain on the Mac hard drive unless overwritten.

Thus, to permanently delete and secure erase data from a Mac hard drive, you need to overwrite it deliberately with the help of a secure data erasure standard such as DoD 5220.22-M, NATO, etc.

In Mac, you can do this via Disk Utility, Terminal Command, and by using a secure file erasure tool such as BitRaser for File Mac.

  1. Steps to Permanently Delete Mac Files with Disk Utility

IMPORTANT NOTE: With the first two methods—Disk Utility and Terminal Command—you can't permanently delete individual files from Mac hard drive. These two methods can help you wipe a Mac hard drive volume (other than the system volume) or physical external hard drive with DoD 5220.22-M standard.

Thus, if you want to permanently delete or secure erase individual or only a few selected files from Mac drives, skip to the last steps to permanently delete files on Mac with secure file erasure software.

On your Mac system,

  • Click on Launchpad and open ‘Disk Utility' under Utilities
  • Choose the hard drive volume that contains files that you want to remove
  • Click on ‘Erase' button at the top
  • Enter a volume ‘Name', choose a ‘Format,' and click ‘Security Options…'
  • Move slider to ‘Most Secure' and click ‘OK.'

The ‘Most Secure' security option is slowest. It implements U.S. DOD 5220.22M (7-pass) secure data erasure standard to erase every bit of information from your Mac hard drive.

  • Click ‘Erase'

If Disk Utility fails to wipe the disk, use diskutil Terminal Command discussed in the next method to secure-erase files from a Mac hard drive.

  1. Steps to Permanently Delete Files on macOS with Terminal Command

IMPORTANT NOTE:With secure-erase terminal command, you can't secure erase a particular hard drive volume. It securely wipes the entire disk. But you can use the Terminal to securely wipe empty storage space on a Mac hard drive volume.

How To Erase Hdd On Macbook Pro

  1. Go to Application> Utilities and open the Terminal app

CAUTION: Terminal is a powerful command-line tool in Mac. A minor typo in the command can lead to chaos and may turn your Mac machine into an expensive paperweight. Use it cautiously

  1. Type diskutil list

This command lists all the connected hard disks and volumes. Note down the disk number of Mac hard drive volume that you want to erase.

How To Erase Mac Mini

  1. Type diskutil secureErase 2 disk#

Replace # with the hard disk number. The command will erase the selected Mac hard drive with US DoD 5220.22M (7-pass) erasure standard

If you wish to wipe only free space on the Mac hard drive, enter the following command in Terminal window and press ‘Return' key,

diskutil secureErase freespace 2 disk#s#
Again, replace # values with the hard disk volume number

  1. Steps to Permanently Delete Files on Mac with BitRaser for File

With BitRaser for File, a simple and secure file eraser software, you can permanently delete all your sensitive files beyond recovery. It is a certified secure file eraser and privacy-safeguarding tool for Mac and Windows.

You can use the software to permanently delete specific or all files or folders from your Mac machine and supported storage drives. The software can erase files as per 17 international file erasure standards including DoD 5220.22-M, NATO, Gutmann, etc.

It also has two verification methods—Total and Random—that verify the data destruction simultaneously.

Thus, files and folders erased by using BitRaser for File can't be recovered through any data recovery software or services, including forensic tools.

To permanently delete files on Mac hard drive by using BitRaser for File, follow these simple steps:

  • Install and launch ‘BitRaser for File' on your Mac
  • Click on the gear icon at the top to choose ‘Settings'
  • Choose a data erasure algorithm, verification method, and Certificate Path from the respective drop-down lists and click ‘OK.'

Erase Mac Drive

Toggle ON ‘Files & Folder' or ‘Search & Erase' and toggle OFF all other options

If you choose ‘Search & Erase' option, the software generates a tamper-proof and digitally signed certificate of erasure. This certificate and data erasure report can be used as a legit document to meet regulatory compliance and guarantees data destruction beyond the scope of recovery.

Mac
  • Click ‘Next' and explore the Mac hard drive volumes that contain files you want to delete permanently
  • Select the files and click ‘Erase'
  • Confirm the erasure task and restart your Mac machine when it's finished

With BitRaser for File, you can also remove other sensitive data such as Internet Activities data, system traces, and application traces stored on your Mac system and hard drives.

This sensitive data usually contains confidential information such as card details, chat messages, browsing history, saved passwords and auto-fill form info, etc.

Conclusion

If you want to permanently remove a confidential file, never erase it, always secure-erase with the help of a secure file erasure tool.

You could use macOS' proprietary tools such as Disk Utility and Terminal to secure-wipe your Mac hard drive. It is critical to do so when you need to sell, donate, or dispose of your Mac hard drive. But neither Disk Utility nor Terminal allows you to secure-erase individual or bunch of selected files from Mac hard drive.

In such a case, you can use a secure file eraser such as BitRaser for File. It lets you choose and destroy individual files and automate event-based file erasure tasks. Plus, you can use any of the 17 supported international data erasure standards to remove your sensitive data beyond the scope of recovery.

To learn more about BitRaser for file – Mac edition, click here.





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