• Wipe And Clean For Macbook Pro
• Erase Mac Hard Drive
• Wipe Clean Mac Mini
• Wipe Mac Clean Before Selling
• Wipe And Clean Macbook

Select your startup drive on the left (typically Macintosh HD), switch to the Erase tab and choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the Format drop-down menu. Select Erase and then confirm your. R-Wipe & Clean is a complete R-Tools solution to remove useless files, free up your disk space, and clean various privacy-compromising information on your online and offline activity. This includes internet history and cookies, lists of downloaded files and opened documents, various data caches, temporary files, and many more items, created by the operating system, most contemporary internet.

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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.

Wipe And Clean For Macbook Pro

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:

1. Open System Preferences, located on the Apple Menu bar.

2. Select the Time Machine icon in the System Preferences folder.

3. Click Select Backup Disk, located in the top-middle of the window.

4. 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.
5. 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).
6. 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

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:

1. Open iTunes on your computer

2. Select Account from the options on the Menu bar.
3. Scroll down to Authorizations and select Deauthorize This Computer.

4. 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:

1. Select System Preferences from the Menu bar.
2. Click on the iCloud icon.

3. 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.

Erase Mac Hard Drive

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.

1. Turn your computer off entirely.
2. Boot it up again by pressing and holding the power button, just like you would if you were starting it up for normal use.
3. 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.
4. An Apple logo should appear on your screen. Once that appears, you can let go of the buttons.
5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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).

9. 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.

Read Article: Apple Watch Review (Full Breakdown)

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.

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:

1. Press the F4 key on your keyboard (the one with the six little squares on it).
2. Select the Other icon.

3. Click the System Information icon.

4. Select the ATA option from the Hardware drop-down menu on the left side of the window.

Wipe Clean Mac Mini

5. A profile of your device should appear on the right-hand side of the window.
6. 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:

1. 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.
2. Boot the computer up by pressing the power button.
3. Hold command + R, the same way you did when you erased your drive.
4. Let go once the Apple logo appears.
5. In the Mac OS Utilities Menu, select Reinstall MacOS.

6. Click Continue.
7. 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.
8. 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.

Read Article: What is VSync (And Should You Use It)?

Most Mac users used to believe that the macOS is safe from viruses and malware that commonly affect other operating systems. However, we now know that this is not true. Virus attacks targeting macOS have been reported over the years, proving that Apple products aren’t immune to malicious software infections.

Some of these attacks included:

• The Flashback malware, which affected more than 600,000 Macs in 2012.
• The OSX/KitM.A virus, which took screenshots of the affected computer’s desktop and uploaded them to several websites.
• The OSX.Proton in 2017, which took advantage of a vulnerability in the macOS Keychain app.
• Last year’s snooping malware called OSX/Mami, which spied on the infected computer’s internet traffic.

These attacks prove that even macOS can also be vulnerable to phishing scams, trojan horses, and online fraud. In fact, some researchers have specially created a malware to prove that macOS is not omnipotent. In 2015, researchers created Thunderstrike 2, a firmware worm that is almost impossible to detect and get rid of. The malware only needs a few seconds to attack the extensible firmware interface of the infected Mac during boot up, and the device will remain infected even if the hard drive is wiped clean and the macOS is reinstalled.

Running an antivirus software is not enough to get rid of these pesky viruses and malware. You need to do a deep clean of your computer to make sure that all malicious software is completely removed from your system. Some Mac users go as far as resetting their computer to their factory settings to get rid of the virus.

Will a Factory Reset Remove a Virus?

This is a question Mac users have been wondering about for a long time.

Can a virus survive a factory reset on Mac? The answer is Yes and No. It depends on what virus or malware your Mac is infected with.

Common malware and viruses can be easily removed by antivirus applications. Some are harder to deal with, such as bootkits which infect the boot sectors of your Mac and viruses that target your Mac’s Extensible Firmware Interface or EFI (equivalent to BIOS in Windows OS). There are also viruses that infect computer-related hardware such as routers, phones, and printers, which are quick to spread and difficult to get rid of completely.

Doing a factory reset might seem like a good idea if your Mac is infected. But even this does not guarantee that your system will be 100% clean. There are several viruses that are so persistent that they can survive a factory reset and reformat of the drive.

For example, some Mac users reported being plagued by the MyCouponize adware on Safari even though the device has been reset. Others continue to experience performance issues even after purging the malicious software from their Macs. This is a testament to how viruses and malware are becoming more resilient and more intelligent over the years.

So if you’re thinking that resetting your Mac will completely get remove the virus on your computer, then you’re in for a surprise. Resetting your Mac to its factory settings might get rid of those uncomplicated viruses, but it won’t work on highly complex ones. So what do you do when you suspect your Mac to be infected by malicious software?

How to Remove Virus or Malware From Mac

Some of the symptoms of a computer virus or malware infection are:

• Slow startup and sluggish performance
• Insufficient storage space
• Unexpected pop-up ads or messages
• Heavy RAM and hard drive activity even during inactivity
• Missing files
• App crashes and error messages
• Hijacked emails
• Too much network activity

Any of these signs could indicate a virus or malware infection. If you suspect your Mac is infected, here are the steps that you can do:

Step 1: Disconnect Your Mac From Your Home or Office Network.

Remove all connected computer peripherals such as mouse, USB keyboard, printer, speakers, and flash drives. This is to prevent the spread of the infection in case you were hit by a hardware-related virus.

Step 2: Uninstall Recently Installed Software.

If you noticed your Mac’s behavior changing after downloading and installing new software, such as an app, extension, or add-on on your computer, then it is possible that the software you downloaded is the root of the infection. Uninstall it immediately and delete all folders associated with the software from the Library.

Step 3: Run a Scan.

Scan your computer for any infection using your antivirus software. Make sure that your antivirus is updated, so that you’ll be able to scan new threats. Follow the software’s instruction to resolve any infections found and get rid of the infected files. Don’t forget to empty your Trash.

Step 4: Clean Up Your Mac.

Use Outbyte MacRepair to remove all junk files from your Mac, particularly the infected files that you’ve just deleted.

Step 5: Update Your macOS.

One of the reasons why system updates are crucial is that they usually include security or software updates that help protect your macOS against malicious attacks. Skipping these updates means not taking advantage of the security tools that should add an extra layer of protection to your Mac.

If your Mac was infected, installing all system updates could help get rid of the virus or malware. Follow the steps below to keep your macOS updated at all times:

1. Click on the Apple logo in the upper-left portion of the screen.
2. Choose App Store from the dropdown menu.
3. Click on the Updates tab, then install all available updates.
4. Type in your Apple ID and password to proceed with the installation.

You can also configure your Mac to automatically install the available updates so you don’t have to them manually every time. To do this:

1. Launch App Store once again, then click App Store from the top menu.
2. Choose Preferences to open the settings window.
3. Under Automatically check for updates, tick off the following options:
   • Download newly available updates in the background
   • Install app updates
   • Install macOS updates
   • Install system data files and security updates

Now, you don’t ever have to check the App Store again for new updates because they will be automatically downloaded in the background and installed overnight.

Step 6: Reset Your Mac and Wipe the Drive.

If the above steps do not work, resetting your Mac is your last option. However, a simple reset is not enough. You need to wipe out your drive completely to make sure no rootkits or bootkits are left lurking in your device.

Follow these steps to reset your Mac and wipe your hard drive clean:

1. Sign out of everything: iCloud, Messages, iTunes, and other Apple services.
2. Restart your system and once you hear the startup sound, press the Command + R shortcut to boot into macOS Recovery.
3. Choose Disk Utility, then click Continue.
4. Select the hard drive where your macOS is installed.
5. Hit the Erase button at the top of the Disk Utility menu.
6. Choose your hard drive format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS.
7. Select GUID Partition Map under Scheme, then click Erase.
8. Quit Disk Utility and re-install a fresh copy of your Mac operating system.

Once you have installed a new version of your macOS, don’t copy over your files from your backup immediately. Scan them first for viruses and malware because they might also be infected. The same goes for apps and files stored in the cloud.

Summary

Wipe Mac Clean Before Selling

Not all viruses and malware are created equal. Some can easily be removed by deleting the infected files or apps, while others need to be dealt with using an antivirus software. Those that are tough to crack can be removed by resetting the computer to its factory settings.

However, there are special viruses and malware that can’t be eliminated even after a factory reset. If this is the case, you need to wipe your hard drive clean before re-installing your macOS. You can also read implement some preventive measures to protect your Mac from malware and other malicious elements.

Wipe And Clean Macbook