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Back up anything you want to keep, then choose the erase method by what you are clearing. To prepare an eligible Mac for a new owner, use Erase All Content and Settings. To erase an external SSD, Disk Utility can erase and reformat it, but Apple says Disk Utility has no secure-erase options for SSDs. If you need drive-level sanitization, you’ll need instructions for the exact SSD model; erasing or reformatting alone does not prove every physical cell has been sanitized.
Choose the workflow that matches your goal
| What you’re erasing | Use this method | What it does—and does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| The whole Mac before transfer | Erase All Content and Settings, if eligible | Removes settings, data, and apps while keeping the installed operating system. It is Apple’s recommended route for eligible Macs changing owners. |
| The Mac’s startup disk for reuse or troubleshooting | Erase the startup disk from macOS Recovery, following the steps for Intel or Apple silicon | Erases the startup volume; reinstall macOS if you plan to use the Mac again. This is not the same as proof of physical SSD sanitization. |
| An external SSD | Disk Utility to erase and reformat | Prepares the drive for reuse, but Apple says secure-erase options are unavailable for SSDs in Disk Utility. |
| A standalone SSD requiring verified drive-level sanitization | Find the exact drive model and follow its manufacturer’s supported procedure | There is no universal procedure established for an unspecified SSD. |
Before erasing: back up wanted files
Erasing deletes data. Copy anything you want to keep to another storage location before you begin; Apple’s Disk Utility guidance also advises backing up first.
Erase a Mac before giving it to someone else
Check eligibility
Apple’s Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings instructions apply to Macs running macOS Monterey 12 or later that have Apple silicon or an Intel processor with a T2 Security Chip. If the Mac does not meet both the hardware and macOS requirements, use the Recovery route below instead.
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Run Erase All Content and Settings
- On macOS Ventura 13 or later, open System Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings.
- On macOS Monterey, open System Preferences and choose Erase All Content and Settings from the menu bar.
- Follow the on-screen prompts. The process erases settings, data, and apps while maintaining the currently installed operating system.
Apple describes this feature as a way to quickly and securely erase settings, data, and apps while keeping the operating system installed. It is the supported whole-Mac transfer workflow for eligible hardware, rather than a Disk Utility secure-erase control.
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Erase a startup disk from macOS Recovery
Use Recovery when you need to erase a Mac’s startup disk and Erase All Content and Settings is unavailable or is not the workflow you need. Apple provides separate procedures for Intel and Apple-silicon Macs because Recovery startup and disk-erasure screens differ.
Intel Mac
Follow Apple’s Intel Mac startup-disk erasure instructions: start the Mac in macOS Recovery, select Macintosh HD in Disk Utility, and erase it. Choose Erase Volume Group if that option appears. Reinstall macOS afterward if you intend to use the Mac again. For a Monterey-or-later Mac eligible for Erase All Content and Settings, Apple directs users to that simpler transfer workflow.
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- Tool free design, easy to install,Transfer Rates Up to 480 Mbps when connected to a USB 2.0 port,Transfer Rates Up to 5 Gbps when connected to a USB 3.0 port.
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- Operating System:Supported Operating Systems:Mac,Windows;Supported Windows Versions :Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP; Supported Mac Versions: Mac OS X and Higher
Apple-silicon Mac
Follow Apple’s Apple-silicon startup-disk erasure instructions: start in macOS Recovery, select Macintosh HD, and erase the volume or volume group when offered. You can reinstall macOS if you plan to reuse the Mac. Apple notes that activation after erasure requires an internet connection.
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Erase and reformat an external SSD
For an external drive you are reusing, Disk Utility provides an erase-and-reformat workflow. Apple’s instructions for erasing a storage device begin with showing all devices so the physical drive is visible:
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- FITS M.2 NVMe AND SATA: Works with both M.2 PCIe NVMe and M.2 SATA SSDs in 2242, 2260 and 2280 lengths. Bare drives only, no room for a drive with a pre-installed heatsink. It does NOT take 2.5in SATA drives or mSATA.
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- IN THE BOX: Enclosure, 8in Type-C to Type-C cable and user manual. Works with Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.5 or later and Linux. Register on the manufacturer's website for extended warranty service.
- Open Disk Utility.
- Choose View → Show All Devices.
- Select the external SSD device in the sidebar, not merely a volume nested beneath it.
- Click Erase and choose the format and scheme you need for the drive’s intended use.
- Confirm the erase. The selected device’s contents will be deleted.
Apple states: “With a solid-state drive (SSD), secure erase options are not available in Disk Utility.” So this procedure is appropriate for erasing and reformatting for reuse, but it should not be described as a guaranteed physical sanitize operation. Do not treat multi-pass overwrite settings intended for other media as an SSD solution.
What “securely erase” means for an SSD
An SSD’s controller may manage spare blocks and remapped areas beyond what an ordinary volume erase exposes. Apple’s cited Disk Utility instructions do not promise that erasing a volume overwrites every physical cell or those hidden areas. If your requirement is a drive-level sanitize operation, identify the exact manufacturer and model and consult the current manufacturer-supported instructions for that SSD and its connection method. A generic erase procedure cannot establish that result.
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- Cooler 10Gbps Performance: The aluminum enclosure presses the thermal pad directly against your SSD for better heat transfer and more stable 10Gbps speeds than slide-in enclosures. Ideal for long transfers and heavy workloads.
- NVMe Only for Maximum Speed: Supports M.2 NVMe SSDs in sizes 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 up to at least 8TB. Not compatible with M.2 SATA SSDs.
- USB C Plug-and-Play: Connect with USB C for up to 10Gbps using USB 3.2 Gen 2. No drivers or external power needed. Works with laptops, desktops, gaming handhelds, and USB C devices.
- Portable and Durable Aluminum Build: Reinforced ABS frame with an aluminum alloy top keeps your SSD protected and cool. Slim, lightweight, and perfect for creators, gamers, and anyone needing fast portable storage.
How FileVault fits in
Apple recommends enabling FileVault for added security when using an SSD. You can find Apple’s guidance in Protect data on your Mac with FileVault. That recommendation is for protecting data during use; the cited guidance does not establish that turning FileVault on after data has already been written sanitizes earlier physical copies. Do not rely on enabling it at disposal time as proof that an existing SSD has been sanitized.
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