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If you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, follow the steps to <a href="/en-mo/102506" class="gb-anchor">erase a Mac with Apple silicon</a>.</p></div> <h2 class="gb-header">Before erasing your Mac</h2> <ol class="list gb-list"><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">If you want to restore your Mac to factory settings, such as to prepare it for a new owner, <a href="/en-mo/102773" class="gb-anchor">learn what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac</a>.</p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">If using <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/109033" class="gb-anchor">macOS Monterey or later</a>, follow the steps to <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/102664" class="gb-anchor">erase all content and settings</a> instead of the steps in this article. You should also erase all content and settings when selling, giving away, or trading-in your Mac.</p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph"><a href="/en-mo/104984" class="gb-anchor">Make a backup</a> of any files that you want to keep. Erasing your Mac permanently deletes its files. </p></li></ol> <h2 id="recovery" class="gb-header">Use Disk Utility to erase your Mac</h2> <ol class="list gb-list"><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">Start up from macOS Recovery: Press and release the power button to turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold these two keys on your keyboard: Command (⌘) and R. Keep holding the keys until you see an Apple logo or spinning globe.</p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">If asked, select a user you know the password for, then enter their administrator password. <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/102633" class="gb-anchor">Forgot the password?</a></p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">From the utilities window, select Disk Utility and click Continue. </p><img class="gb-image" alt="Utilities window in macOS Recovery" src="https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/7WUAS350/images/macos/sequoia/macos-sequoia-recovery-menu-disk-utility-repair-or-erase.png" height="1106" width="1202" style="max-width: min(100%,480px);"/></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar of the Disk Utility window. <a href="#nodisk" class="gb-anchor">Don't see Macintosh HD?</a></p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">Click the <span class='inline-icon gb-inline-icon'>Erase button<img class="gb-inline-icon-image" alt="Erase button" src="https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/7WUAS350/images/macos/big-sur/macos-big-sur-disk-utility-erase-icon.png" height="60" width="60" style="max-width: 22px"/></span> in the toolbar, then specify a name and format:</p><ul class="list gb-list"><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph"><i>Name: </i>Macintosh HD</p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph"><i>Format:</i> APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), as recommended by Disk Utility</p></li></ul></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">Click Erase Volume Group. If this button isn't shown, click Erase instead.</p><img class="gb-image" alt="macos-monterey-recovery-mode-disk-utility-erase-volume-group" src="https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/7WUAS350/images/mac-os/monterey/macos-monterey-recovery-mode-disk-utility-erase-volume-group.png" height="440" width="860" style="max-width: min(100%,780px);"/></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">If asked, enter your Apple Account information. <a href="/en-mo/102627" class="gb-anchor">Forgot your Apple Account?</a></p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">Optional: If you previously used Disk Utility to add internal volumes other than Macintosh HD, you can erase them individually using the same process. </p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">When done, quit Disk Utility to return to the utilities window in Recovery.</p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">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 <a href="/en-mo/102655" class="gb-anchor">reinstall macOS</a>.</p></li></ol> <h2 id="nodisk" class="gb-header">If you don’t see Macintosh HD in Disk Utility</h2> <ul class="list gb-list"><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">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.</p></li><li class="gb-list_item"><p class="gb-paragraph">If your disk still doesn't appear in Disk Utility, or Disk Utility reports that the erase process failed, your Mac might need service. </p></li></ul> <div class='mod-date'> <span>Published Date:</span> <time dateTime=September 27, 2024itemprop='datePublished'>September 27, 2024</time> </div> </div> </div> <div id='helpful-rating-wrapper'> <div id='helpful' class='ratings okapi-enabled'> <div> <fieldset id='question-state' class='show'> <legend class='helpful-heading'> <span id="okapi-a">Helpful?</span> </legend> <div class='helpful-btn-grp'> <button class='button button-reduced button-secondary' id='yes-button' data-ss-analytics-link-component_name='helpful' data-ss-analytics-link-component_type='helpful' data-ss-analytics-link-text='yes' data-ss-analytics-event=acs.link_click title='Solved my problem'> Yes </button> <button class='button button-reduced button-secondary' id='no-button' data-ss-analytics-link-component_name='helpful' data-ss-analytics-link-component_type='helpful' data-ss-analytics-link-text='no' data-ss-analytics-event=acs.link_click title='Not helpful'> No </button> </div> </fieldset> </div> <div id='feedback-state' class="form-element form-textbox-labelbelow hide"> <form autocomplete="off"> <input type='hidden' id='form-counter-error-message' value="Maximum character limit is 250." /> <label id='feedback-label' data-no-label="Thanks for letting us know." data-yes-label="We’re glad this article helped." ></label> <div class='form-element form-textbox-labelbelow' id='feedback'> <div class="textarea-wrapper"> <div> <div class="form-textbox form-textbox-with-counter"> <span class="form-label" id="optional_label" aria-hidden="true"></span> <textarea type="text" class="form-textbox-textarea form-counter-textarea form-text-area form-textbox-input" data-max-length='250' aria-labelledby="optional_label" aria-describedby="char_limit_counter" data-no-placeholder="How can we make this article more helpful? 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