Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

erasing data

How do I know on my iMac that all data has been erased?


iMac 21.5″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Jan 30, 2022 2:35 PM

Reply
Question marked as Apple recommended

This is the Apple recommended procedure.


https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201065

Posted on Jan 31, 2022 12:07 AM

6 replies

Jan 30, 2022 3:22 PM in response to happy hawker

On a spinning drive, the option to "secure erase" is no longer available. When I sold my last iMac, I erased/reinstalled the OS in recovery mode three times - mostly just to write unimportant stuff to the drive including several copied movies to write over any remaining traces of my data. A bit of a pain, but I'd rather overdo it.


On an SSD,you can't recover data once deleted.

Jan 31, 2022 11:44 AM in response to Mal-S

That is the article I always refer to when asked; however, it does not address the fact that there is only one erase cycle on a spinning drive since Apple assumes that everyone now has an SSD. Personally, one erase does leave some data which could be recovered by persons so inclined, so I do not feel comfortable without doing the erase more than once.

erasing data

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.