Selling MacBook: Unable to Erase all Contents & Settings

[cpos]

Hi there - I have tried multiple times to 'erase all contents and systems' as I'm hoping to sell my MacBook. Nothing is working, and I can't even transfer the files to my new computer. Anyone have troubleshooting tricks to erase all easily?

 

[TonyAguila]

Hi there - I have tried multiple times to 'erase all contents and systems' as I'm hoping to sell my MacBook. Nothing is working, and I can't even transfer the files to my new computer. Anyone have troubleshooting tricks to erase all easily?

What steps did you take to “erase all contents and systems” from the MacBook? If you do not have a Time Machine backup, or any other data backup of your MacBook and you have already started deleting files from it, you probably won’t have any way to transfer your files to the new computer.

As far as preparing it for sale, you need to boot into Recovery, while connected to the internet. Once in Recovery, launch Disk Utility and erase the drive by performing it on the top level of the drive. After formatting the drive (not knowing the model of the Mac, I can’t comment on the format to select), quit Disk Utility and choose to install the system from the main directory. When the installation is complete, it will go into Migration Assistant. DO NOT perform this. Just shut down the Mac and it should be ready for the new owner to boot it up and initialize it or migrate their data to the “new” computer.

 

[Macsaviour]

@TonyAguila
You could consider Disk Utility's Secure Erase feature or third-party solutions like Stellar BitRaser. But it seems unlikely that troubleshooting tricks would resolve this issue. You'll likely need specialized file erasure software to securely and effectively complete the task.

 

[TonyAguila]

@TonyAguila
You could consider Disk Utility's Secure Erase feature or third-party solutions like Stellar BitRaser. But it seems unlikely that troubleshooting tricks would resolve this issue. You'll likely need specialized file erasure software to securely and effectively complete the task.

You can securely erase all data from any drive with Disk Utility but a secure erase is not the aim here. All that’s needed is to wipe the drive in order to install a fresh copy of macOS to prepare it for a migration or a fresh start as would any user could when first booting up a brand new Apple computer.

 

[cpos]

You can securely erase all data from any drive with Disk Utility but a secure erase is not the aim here. All that’s needed is to wipe the drive in order to install a fresh copy of macOS to prepare it for a migration or a fresh start as would any user could when first booting up a brand new Apple computer.

Thank you. How do I erase all data with Disk Utility? I looked into it, and there was no erase feature anywhere...

 

[Rodananne]

I'm not sure why the standard method described in Apples article, "What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac." isn't working for you.
You can find that here; https://support.apple.com/en-us/102773
Try to complete as many steps as you can and get back to us if you have problems.

 

[lizzy]

Thank you. How do I erase all data with Disk Utility? I looked into it, and there was no erase feature anywhere...

Hi,

You are not able to see the erase feature in the disk utility because you might not have divided the drive into volumes. The erase feature highlights for volumes only. To erase the entire internal drive, you need to use a professional eraser tool.

 

[Rodananne]

You must be in the Recovery Partition to use Disk Utility to erase the Macintosh HD but this is only for Intel Macs. Please read and follow the instructions I attached to post #6.
PS. You cannot erase the Mackintosh HD when you are logged it because you are asking DU to erase itself.

 

[TonyAguila]

There is one thing/step I forgot to mention. If your purpose is to sell this Mac to another party, you first need to TURN OFF Find My Mac. Depending on the macOS version you are running, the process can be quite convoluted. I would Google it to learn the steps needed for your particular model. If you don’t intend to use it again, then you will not need a backup of the data and Disk Utility (from Recovery) should allow you to erase all content of the drive.

By the way, I just came across this article. The instructions can be helpful:

How to Erase and Factory Reset Your Mac

This article explains how to erase and factory reset your Mac if you plan to give it away, sell it, or trade it in. Apple silicon Macs and Intel Macs...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Macsaviour]

You will need a file erasure software in this case. Have you heard about stellar file erasure?

 

[TonyAguila]

You will need a file erasure software in this case. Have you heard about stellar file erasure?

In this particular context, after turning off Find My Mac, the best app to use would be Disk Utility.

 

[Rodananne]

I agree with Tony, unless you are involved in industrial espionage or you are an international spy. The minute you reinstall the OS after erasure with DU the remaining data begins to be overwritten, in a very short time it becomes so fragmented that it would take a very sophisticated AI data retrieval program to find any meaningful remains. Your personal data simply isn't worth that much trouble.