#Reformat hard drive for mac how to#

#Reformat hard drive for mac how to#

If the Security Options button is not available, Disk Utility cannot perform a secure erase on the storage device. Bonus Tips: How to Protect Mac Hard Drive Data Formatting results in data loss. Secure erase options are available only for some types of storage devices. Step 3: The next step is downloading the software AweEraser. Make sure it will be connected throughout the process or you may break the hard drive if its unconnected while the reformatting process is running. Step 2: Connect your Seagate external hard drive into your PC or Mac. (Optional) If available, click Security Options, use the slider to choose how many times to write over the erased data, then click OK. Remember, once the data is gone, theres no way to recover it. If the Scheme pop-up menu isn’t available, make sure you selected the storage device you want to erase-it’s at the top of the hierarchy.Ĭlick the Format pop-up menu, then choose a file system format. Ĭlick the Scheme pop-up menu, then choose GUID Partition Map. Right click on that partition of the drive 'untitled' or 'No Name'. Make sure format is 'Mac OS Extended Journaled' and ensure that the scheme is set to 'GUID Partition Map'.

In the sidebar, select the storage device you want to erase, then click the Erase button. Highlight the main drive (left side window pane) and then click on the Erase tab. If you want to erase any other type of storage device: Double-click Disk Utility in the /Applications/Utilities folder. Note: If you want to get your Mac ready to trade in, sell, or give away, and your computer is a Mac with Apple silicon or an Intel-based Mac with an Apple T2 Security Chip, use Erase Assistant.