You need to put your MacBook ($630 at Back Market) into recovery mode in order to erase all of your data and reinstall MacOS. To enter recovery mode, restart your Mac and immediately press and hold. However, Apple states Secure Empty Trash that the 'Secure Empty Trash' feature may not securely delete files placed in the Trash Description. They use the word, may. As a result, it removes the feature in Mac OS X v10.6.8 and later. Apple still leaves the permanent empty of Trash on Mac to our users. Then, how to empty Trash on Mac permanently? On OS X 10.4 to 10.10, you can securely delete files by moving them to the Trash and then selecting Finder Secure Empty Trash. The Secure Empty Trash feature was removed in OS X 10.11 because Apple felt that it could not guarantee secure deletion on the fast flash (SSD) drives that most of its modern models now use.
Apple has considered this and has provided a Secure Empty Trash option as well. Secure Empty Trash overwrites the deleted files with what Apple calls 'meaningless data.' Secure Empty Trash takes longer, but provides, as the name implies, a more secure form of file deletion. Use at your own discretion. Click and hold on the Trashcan icon in the. To do this, launch Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities), select the drive that you want to work with, click the Erase tab, and click on Erase Free Space. A sheet will appear that offers you.
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If you’re selling your computer or trading it in for something newer, you’ll probably want to wipe your hard drive.
After all, you don’t want to give it to its new owner with all your pictures and documents on it — or lose those things!
But how do you wipe it? How do you erase everything on your Mac and restore it to factory settings, so the next person gets a clean computer with none of your documents?
We’ve got all the answers right here!
Read on to find out how.
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Backup Your Computer Using Time Machine
Before you even think about wiping your hard drive, make sure that you have everything backed up.
After all, even if you don’t want the computer anymore, you probably want all of the stuff on it.
And once you restore your computer to factory settings, all your photos, videos, documents, and downloads are going to be gone.
Whether you’re getting rid of the computer or wiping your hard drive to fix an error, the best way to back up your Mac is to use Time Machine.
Essentially, this is a tool that Apple created to help people create a “copy” of their computer that could be accessed at a later date.
Read Related Article: Hard Disk Drive vs. Solid-State Drive (SSD)
Here’s how you use it to back up your computer:
- Open System Preferences, located on the Apple Menu bar.
- Select the Time Machine icon in the System Preferences folder.
- Click Select Backup Disk, located in the top-middle of the window.
- Choose the disk you’d like to use to back up your computer. Typically, you’ll want to plug in an external hard drive and select that. This will create a copy of your internal hard drive and write it onto the external one.
- It’s a good idea to do this regularly even if you don’t plan on wiping your hard drive. By plugging in an external HD and backing everything up to Time Machine on a regular basis, you’ll create a copy of it that you can use in case you lose your data for any reason (it happens, believe us).
- If you’d prefer not to use Time Machine for any reason, you can use alternative methods. For example, you can use iCloud or another cloud storage solution to store all of your files online.
Click here to learn how to back up your computer to iCloud.
Deauthorize Your iTunes Account
Secure Erase Macbook Pro
If your iTunes account is connected to your computer, then the next owner will be able to access it.
So, you need to deauthorize the account. That way, your account will no longer be linked to the machine.
Here’s how you do it:
- Open iTunes on your computer
- Select Account from the options on the Menu bar.
- Scroll down to Authorizations and select Deauthorize This Computer.
- iTunes will ask you for your Apple ID and your password. Once you enter that, it will give you the option to Deauthorize your account. Click that, and you’re all set.
Log Out of iCloud and iMessage
Similar to iTunes, you have to sign out of your iCloud account, too. Otherwise, the next owner may be able to access it.
Luckily, it’s pretty simple.
Here’s what you do:
- Select System Preferences from the Menu bar.
- Click on the iCloud icon.
- Click the Sign Out option on the bottom-left side of the window.
Once you do that, you’ll be signed out!
Reformat Your Hard Drive Disk (HDD)
“Reformatting” is a fancy tech word for wiping the hard drive clean and reinstalling the operating system. Once you reformat it, everything will be gone, and the computer will be restored to factory settings.
The first step in the reformatting process is erasing the drive.
You can erase your computer by using the Disk Utility feature in any version of Mac OS.
Here’s how you do it.
- Turn your computer off entirely.
- Boot it up again by pressing and holding the power button, just like you would if you were starting it up for normal use.
- This time, however, you want to hold the command and R keys down simultaneously. Press and hold them as soon as you hit the power button.
- An Apple logo should appear on your screen. Once that appears, you can let go of the buttons.
- The Apple logo should be followed by a Mac OS X Utilities Menu with several different options. Select Disk Utility (it’s a little hard drive with a stethoscope) from the Menu and click Continue.Screenshot via Macworl
- Once you enter the Disk Utility, you’ll have to select the drive you want to erase.
In this case, you’ll want to choose Macintosh HD to wipe the entire drive.
- Then, click the Erase button at the bottom of the window.
Note: The Erase option will only appear as a clickable button when the computer is booted up using the command + R keys. If you attempt to reformat your hard drive after starting your computer as you normally would, this option won’t be clickable.
- Once you click the Erase button, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from a range of different security options. The security options window contains a sliding bar that allows you to select the comprehensiveness of the erasure.
There are four different levels you can choose from, ranging from fastest to slowest. If you select the slowest option, you’ll erase the maximal amount of data. But, the process takes a little longer.
If you choose the fastest option, however, the process goes quite quickly. But, the data is not removed as thoroughly (and could be restored through a file recovery application).
- After you’ve determined the level at which you want to erase your computer, click Erase. The operating system will proceed with the erasing process.
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How to Secure Erase a Mac SSD
Newer MacBooks don’t have a traditional hard disk drive. Instead, they have a solid state drive or SSD.
Now, the process for wiping your solid state drive is the same as erasing a hard drive.
So, if you want to clean it, go ahead and follow the steps outlined in the section above.
It’s important to note, however, that erasing an SSD completely is not recommended.
Here’s why:
Solid state drives can only be rewritten a certain number of times. In other words, the more times you rewrite your drive, the worse it’s going to function.
So, even if you reformat your drive just once, you may notice that it functions slightly worse afterward.
![Macbook Secure Erase Macbook Secure Erase](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/55/Format-a-Laptop-Hard-Drive-Step-29-Version-2.jpg/aid1156033-v4-728px-Format-a-Laptop-Hard-Drive-Step-29-Version-2.jpg)
Of course, there may be cases in which you have no choice but to erase your drive. If you’re getting rid of your Mac, for example, and you want to be sure that every tiny bit of data is wiped clean from it, then you’ll probably want to erase it.
But, if you’re erasing the entire thing with the intention of restoring it afterwards — don’t.
It’s going to do more harm than good. You can either erase as many files as possible on your own or take it to the Apple store directly (provided that it’s still under warranty) and ask them to help you with whatever problem you’re experiencing.
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Don’t know if your computer has a solid state drive or not?
Here’s how to figure it out:
- Press the F4 key on your keyboard (the one with the six little squares on it).
- Select the Other icon.
- Click the System Information icon.
- Select the ATA option from the Hardware drop-down menu on the left side of the window.
- A profile of your device should appear on the right-hand side of the window.
- Look for the row that reads “Model.” The corresponding product number should have either an HDD or an SSD in it.
These letters will let you know whether your device is equipped with a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD).
You should approach the erasure process accordingly.
Reinstall the Mac OS
The second half of the reformatting process is the reinstallation of the operating system.
When you erase your data, you also delete the OS that allows you to use the computer.
So, you’ve got to install it again if you want the computer to work.
Even if you’re selling the computer to someone else, it’s a nice courtesy to reinstall it beforehand so that they don’t have to do it themselves. After all, not everyone will be able to figure out how.
Here’s what you do:
- You’ll need internet access to do this. It’s going to be impossible otherwise, so make sure that the wifi connection is turned on.
- Boot the computer up by pressing the power button.
- Hold command + R, the same way you did when you erased your drive.
- Let go once the Apple logo appears.
- In the Mac OS Utilities Menu, select Reinstall MacOS.
- Click Continue.
- You may need to enter your Apple ID upon installation. Only do this if you intend to use the computer yourself. If you plan on selling it or handing it off to another person, you can end the process here.
- Once the installation is done, you’ll be free to start using your freshly-cleaned Mac.
FAQS
Can you reset a MacBook without losing data?
The only way to reset your computer without losing data is to back it up first. Once you’ve erased your hard drive, that data is gone.
You might be able to use a recovery app to restore your files if you ran a fast, low-level erasure. But most of the time, the data is completely cleared from the device.
Do you have to wipe a Mac’s hard drive before you sell it?
No law says you have to. But it’s smart. Unless you erase it (and erase it thoroughly), the next owner could get access to your files.
Can you erase your hard drive and keep the same programs?
Once you reinstall the OS, your computer will be loaded with all of the programs that come with that software. Any programs you installed on your own before erasing the drive will be gone.
Of course, if you’ve backed up your drive, you can reinstall them using Time Machine.
Can you wipe a Mac without the password?
No. To erase the hard drive, you’ll have to enter the owner’s Apple ID and password. Otherwise, you will not have the option to wipe the drive.
Can you install Windows on a Mac after you erase it?
Yes. You can use Boot Camp to install Windows on your Apple computer if you’d like to. Please note, however, that not all Apple products support Windows.
Wiping Your Hard Drive is Simple
Clearing the hard drive may seem confusing at first, especially for the average Mac user, but it’s not.
Just a few clicks and you’ll have your computer restored to factory settings in no time.
Always remember to back up your data.
Whether you’re using the computer again in the future or moving onto a new model, you’ll probably want to hold onto those files.
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May 12,2020 • Filed to: Recycle Bin Recovery • Proven solutions
Why do you need to delete trash on Mac? More importantly, why do you need to delete trash permanently and securely on your Mac?
Well, we have answers for both of your questions. We all know that when you delete some file or data from your Mac, normally it doesn’t get deleted, it’s just moved to recycle bin. The operating system does so in order to secure the possibility for you to get your data back in case you accidentally delete it. But, due to the same feature, your trash bin keeps stacking up, and at one point, it is so over packed that it starts eating into your storage space, thus, it becomes necessary to delete trash from your Mac.
Part 1. Learn the Best Way to Delete Trash on Mac
Hdd Secure Erase Tool
It’s really easy to delete trash on Mac, you can do it just with a few clicks. But there are 2 different ways, and they target two different things. You need to know what kind of action you want to take.
Secure Erase Free
i. How to Delete Trash on Mac?
The first one is the simple Process to Delete Trash on your Mac, but here is the thing you need to know. Whenever you delete a file from your Mac or delete trash on Mac, it only erases the presence of the file from the front of you, it surely empties enough space the data was covering, but the data still remains in the system. So, if you want to delete trash on Mac simply, you can follow the steps below.
Step 1 Start with your Mac switched on and the home screen in front of you. On the home screen, select the “Trash Icon” in the “Dock”.
Step 2 Once you spot the trash icon, just simply click and hold on it, this way you will see a popup menu.
Step 3 You will see an “Empty Trash” option in the popup menu. Just click on the option. This will delete trash from the Trash bin of your Mac.
ii. How to Delete Trash on Mac Securely and Permanently?
Here comes the second way, deleting the trash on Mac permanently and Securely. As you know that once you delete a file or trash on Mac, the data still exists in the background, that means it can be easily recovered using a Data recovery software or by other methods. Leaving your important files recoverable is dangerous, and keeping the same in mind, the Mac OS has a way to delete your data permanently. Follow the below steps to know how to permanently delete trash on Mac?
Step 1 Once you have the trash icon in front of you, hold the Command Key first, then Click and Hold on the Trash icon. Once you do so, you will find the “Empty Trash” option replaced with “Empty Trash Securely” in the pop-up menu.
Step 2 Now, you just need to click on the “Empty Trash Securely” option. This will permanently delete trash on mac.
Congratulations! Now, you have deleted your trash permanently.
See also:How to Securely Empty Trash On Mac?
Part 2. Always Use iSkysoft to Recover Accidentally Deleted Trash on Mac
Well, it’s not necessary that you always intentionally delete trash from your Mac, just like you did it above. Sometimes, you delete trash on Mac by mistake as well, it can be an accidental click, but it could result in loss of your very important data. Thus, you need to know how to undelete trash on Mac, or, how to recover deleted trash on Mac.
Macbook Secure Erase Option
The best way to undo deleted trash on Mac is to recover it by using Recoverit (IS) Tool for Mac. It’s simple, so it makes the recovery of trash very easy, it is very powerful, so it can easily recover all of your deleted trash on Mac. There are a lot of other features about iSkysoft that makes it the best software to recover your trash on Mac.
Recoverit (IS) for Mac
A Life Saver to Solve Your Data Loss Problems!
- There are a lot of recovery modes for you to choose from, just like the Recycle Bin Recovery mode, you can choose any other listed recovery mode as per your data recovery need.
- It has a deep scanning feature, that is powerful enough to find out all the recoverable trash on your system or all the other data that you want to recover.
- Other than trash, you can recover each and every type of data you lose i.e. Photos, Videos, Documents, Music, Zips etc.
- The iSkysoft supports data recovery over the multi-operating system, thus being flexible enough to serve your every device’s need i.e. Windows, Mac, Android.
- iSkysoft allows you to recover data from the external devices and drives as well, thus, you can recover data from your hard drives, cameras, iPhones, etc.
3,165,867 people have downloaded it
How to Recover Deleted Trash on Mac?
Step 1 Before everything, you first need to go to the iSkysoft official website, choose the Mac version on Recoverit (IS), and download it. Once you have downloaded the Mac version, you can install the program on your Mac, and launch it.
Step 2 After launching the Recoverit (IS) for Mac, you will be welcomed by a number of recovery modes on the welcome window. Choose “Trash Recovery” for your trash recovery needs.
Step 3 In this step, the program will scan your trash to find for recoverable trash files. Once the scanning is done, you will see a preview of all the recoverable files from the trash of your Mac. Select the file you want to recover from the sorted types, or simply search the name of the file from the search bar. Once you have selected the files, simply click on recover to recover the trash file on your Mac.
Note: In case you feel unsatisfied with the result of “Trash Recovery” mode, or you don’t see the file you want to recover, you can try the “All Around Recovery” mode. It will initiate a further deep scanning to bring you all your recoverable trash files.
Now, you know how to delete trash on Mac, and most importantly, you know how to permanently delete trash on Mac. It’s very easy, but it’s very important as well, you should always know which file to delete permanently and which file you might need. Because, once you delete trash on Mac permanently, it makes it very difficult to be recovered, which is equally a good and bad thing depending on you need at that time.