Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon
Use Disk Utility to erase (format) the built-in startup disk of your Mac. You can then reinstall macOS to enable your Mac to start up from that disk again.
These steps apply only to Mac computers with Apple silicon. If you're not using a Mac with Apple silicon, follow the steps to erase an Intel-based Mac.
Before erasing your Mac
If possible, install the latest macOS updates and make a backup of any files that you want to keep. Erasing your Mac permanently deletes its files.
When you reinstall macOS after erasing your Mac, if you previously installed a macOS upgrade, you might get the macOS that was installed before you upgraded. Or if you installed a beta (pre-release) version of macOS, you get the previous release version of macOS. You can reinstall any macOS updates or upgrades afterward.
If you’re erasing your Mac because you’re relinquishing ownership of it, learn what to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac.
These steps cause Bluetooth devices to disconnect (unpair) from your Mac. To complete these steps with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, or trackpad, connect them to your Mac with a USB cable, if possible.
Start up from macOS Recovery
To erase your Mac startup disk with Disk Utility, you need to first start up from macOS Recovery or a different disk. Learn how to start up from macOS Recovery.
Use the Erase feature of Disk Utility
When you see the list of utilities in macOS Recovery, select Disk Utility, then click Continue.
In the Internal section of the Disk Utility sidebar, make sure that you see the volume named Macintosh HD. Don't see Macintosh HD?
If you previously used Disk Utility to add any internal volume other than Macintosh HD to your startup disk, select that additional internal volume in the sidebar, then click the delete volume (–) button in the toolbar to delete the volume. (During this step, disregard any internal volume named Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, as well as any volumes in the External or Disk Images sections of the sidebar.)
Now select Macintosh HD in the sidebar.
Click the Erase button
in the toolbar, then specify a name and format:Name: Macintosh HD
Format: APFS
Click Erase. However, if you see an Erase Volume Group button, click that button instead.
If asked, enter your Apple Account information. Forgot your Apple Account?
When asked whether you're sure you want to erase this Mac, click Erase Mac and Restart.
When your Mac restarts, follow the onscreen instructions to choose your language.
Your Mac now attempts to activate, which requires an internet connection. Use the Wi-Fi menu
in the menu bar to choose a Wi-Fi network, or attach a network cable.After your Mac activates, click Exit to Recovery Utilities.
If you want to start up again from the disk you just erased, select Reinstall macOS in the utilities window, then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions. Learn more about reinstalling macOS.
If you made a Time Machine backup of your Mac, you can restore your data from the backup after reinstalling macOS.
If you don’t see Macintosh HD in Disk Utility
Your built-in startup disk should be the first item listed in the Disk Utility sidebar. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name. If you don't see it in the sidebar, choose Shut Down from the Apple menu , then unplug all nonessential devices from your Mac and try again.
If your disk still doesn't appear in Disk Utility, or Disk Utility reports that the erase process failed, your Mac might need service.
