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User profile for user: 11Drive
11Drive Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

disk utility not showing erase option

I am trying to use disk utility on a Mac Catalina 10.15 to erase Mac before gifting but disk utility is not giving erase option.

How can I best proceed?

Posted on Jan 10, 2023 9:14 AM

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
61,490 points

Posted on Jan 11, 2023 1:16 PM

Here is an Apple article for things you should do to a Mac that is being sold (or gifted)...many of the steps should be done before erasing the Mac:

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support


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User profile for user: MartinR
MartinR
User level: Level 7
21,871 points

Jan 10, 2023 5:05 PM in response to 11Drive

To erase the startup drive, you have to be booted into Recovery Mode and use Disk Utility there.


Also, in Disk Utility you have to do View > Show all Devices. Then erase the top level drive you want to erase. Reformat it as APFS. If you are gifting the Mac it would be a kind gesture to go ahead and reinstall macOS while you are at it.

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disk utility not showing erase option

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