The next page shows you all the additional items that will be removed aside from settings, media, and data (Figure 6).As stated earlier in this article, it is critical to backup important files you’d like to keep before starting the process of erasing your Mac in the first place.

If you don’t need a backup, you may simply click Continue. To preserve your data, click on Open Time Machine… to back up to an external storage device. You may see a reminder to back up your Mac in this case, the page that appears is titled Time Machine Backup (Figure 5).The Erase Assistant opens you will be asked to approve with an admin username and password.

Note: If you can’t see this feature, then use Method 2 to erase your Mac. Then, from the menu bar item, select Erase All Content and Settings as shown in Figure 2.

To access the feature, go to Apple menu > System Preferences.

This feature empowers you to erase your settings, data, and apps in a quick and secure way. In macOS Monterey, there’s a feature called Erase All Content and Settings. Figure 1 Figure 2 Method 1: When Using macOS Monterey on a Mac with Apple Silicon or Apple T2 Security Chip If you do, it will appear in the right side window (Figure 2). If your device has an Intel processor, you will need to click Controller in the sidebar to see if it has a T2 security chip installed. In the right window you will see the type of chip (Figure 1). Click on the Hardware heading in the sidebar. To check the kind of chip in your Mac, hold the option key while you navigate to Apple menu > About This Mac.

If you’re using an Intel-based Mac, use Method 2.

If you’re using a Mac with either Apple silicon or an Intel-based Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, use Method 1.

The appropriate method for you depends on the type of processor: There are two different methods for erasing your hard drive in macOS Monterey. Note: Since erasing your Mac will completely destroy all the files on the drive, you must make a backup of any files you wish to keep before following the steps below. In this tutorial, we’ll cover how to erase a Mac hard drive in macOS Monterey for both Apple silicon and Intel-based devices. If you’re planning to sell or give away your Mac, you should absolutely prepare for a new owner by erasing the hard drive.

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