Learn how to erase the data on your computer's hard drive with these simple steps. It's not necessary to destroy the drive physically; you can clean it up by following a straightforward method.

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

Erasing a hard drive can be done efficiently without resorting to extreme measures like smashing it. Just follow the right procedures to clear your files and reset the device.

Erasing data from your computer's hard drive doesn't require destruction. With a few easy steps, you can safely remove all your files and reset the computer to its original state. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

When your electronics reach the end of their useful life, choosing to sell or donate them is an eco-friendly choice. It gives someone else a chance to benefit from a gently used device, prevents waste, and can even bring in some extra cash.

But when passing on your personal computer, remember to take necessary precautions. These devices hold sensitive personal information such as financial details, family pictures, and professional documents. Make sure to back up your data, and then wipe it off the device to protect your privacy. In this guide, we'll walk you through the entire process of erasing a hard drive on both Windows and Mac computers.

For technical reasons, simply pressing "delete" or dragging a file into the trash doesn't actually erase it. Instead, the operating system simply hides the data, which is why files can still be recovered from the trash bin.

After you empty the trash, the space on your hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD) is marked as available, but the data remains intact until new files overwrite it. This is why data recovery services can retrieve accidentally deleted files or even extract someone else's private information. SSDs are especially vulnerable to these recovery techniques.

To prevent recovery of your old files, you need to wipe the drive at the system level, which requires adjusting some settings. This process not only removes files in the usual manner, but it also overwrites every bit of data, making file recovery nearly impossible. Since the deletion is permanent, make sure to transfer any important files to an external drive before starting the wipe process.

The steps to wipe your computer vary depending on its operating system. We’ve outlined the steps for Windows 8, 10, and 11, as well as the latest versions of MacOS. Keep in mind that the full erasure process may take several hours, so ensure your device stays plugged in until it's finished.

System Wipe, Windows 8.1 or 10

Wiping your hard drive on Windows 8.1 or 10 is straightforward. Just follow these steps:

Open Settings by clicking the gear icon in the Start menu
Choose Update & Security, then select Recovery
Click Remove Everything, followed by Remove files and Clean the drive
Click Next, then Reset and Continue

You may be prompted to choose between a "quick" or "thorough" file removal. Opt for thorough to ensure that your data cannot be recovered.

System Wipe, Windows 11

To reset your PC on Windows 11, follow these instructions from Microsoft support:

Navigate to Start > Settings > System > Recovery
Access the Recovery settings
Under Reset this PC, click Reset PC and open the dropdown menu
Select Remove Everything
Data erasure will automatically be turned on. Keep it enabled for a complete system wipe.

Erasing a hard drive on a PC is quite straightforward. Just make sure to back up all the necessary files before proceeding with the action.

System Wipe, MacOS

When performing a system wipe on Mac computers, there are additional things to consider. The process can differ depending on your Mac’s processor and the version of MacOS that’s installed.

There are distinct methods for older Intel processors, as well as for the proprietary Silicon chips introduced in recent years. A third method emerged with the MacOS Monterey update in October 2021. All Silicon-based Macs are compatible with this update, but some Intel-based Macs may not be.

If you're uncertain about your computer's processor and operating system, you can view these details by selecting the Apple menu in the upper-left corner, then choosing 'About This Mac.' If your device is running a version older than MacOS Monterey, like Big Sur, the steps for wiping will depend on your CPU type.

System Wipe for Intel CPUs

For Intel-based Macs running an OS version released before October 2021, follow these steps provided by Apple:

Start your Mac from macOS Recovery: Power on your Mac and immediately press Command (⌘) and R until the Apple logo appears.
If prompted, choose a user account with a known password and enter the administrator password.
In the utilities window, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
Choose 'Macintosh HD' in the Disk Utility sidebar.
Click the Erase button in the toolbar, then provide the required information: Name: Macintosh HD, Format: APFS or macOS Extended (Journaled) as advised by Disk Utility.
Click Erase. If the Erase Volume Group button appears, click it instead.
If prompted, enter your Apple ID.
Once the erasure is complete, select any other internal volumes in the sidebar, then click the delete volume (–) button to remove that volume.
Exit Disk Utility to return to the utilities window.
If you wish to restart from the erased disk, choose Reinstall macOS in the utilities window, click Continue, and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS.

The procedure may differ slightly depending on whether your Mac uses an Intel or Silicon processor, and the version of macOS installed on your machine. Apple

System Wipe, Silicon CPU

For Mac devices with a Silicon processor running an OS version older than October 2021, follow the steps outlined by Apple:

Start your Mac and hold the power button until you see the startup options window. Choose Options and click Continue.
If prompted, pick a user account you know the password for and enter the administrator password.
If prompted, provide the Apple ID and password that were previously used with this Mac.
In the utilities window, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
In the Disk Utility sidebar under Internal, confirm that the volume named Macintosh HD is visible.
If you've previously added volumes to your startup disk via Disk Utility, select each additional internal volume and click the delete volume (–) button in the toolbar to remove that volume.
Ignore any internal volumes named Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, as well as volumes found in the External and Disk Images sections of the sidebar.
Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar.
Click the Erase button in the toolbar and choose a name and format: Name: Macintosh HD Format: APFS or macOS Extended (Journaled), as recommended by Disk Utility
Click Erase. If you see an Erase Volume Group button, click it instead.
If prompted, enter your Apple ID.
After restarting, follow the on-screen instructions to choose your language.
Your Mac will now attempt to activate, requiring an internet connection. Use the Wi-Fi menu in the menu bar to select a Wi-Fi network or connect a network cable.
Once your Mac activates, click Exit to return to Recovery Utilities.
If you'd like to boot from the freshly erased disk, select Reinstall macOS in the utilities window, then click Continue and follow the on-screen prompts to reinstall macOS.

Ensure you have backed up all your important files before proceeding with the erase operation! Apple

System Wipe, Monterey Update

If your macOS was updated after October 2021, follow these steps outlined by Apple:

Click the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, then choose System Preferences.
In the System Preferences menu, select Erase All Content and Settings.
Erase Assistant will prompt you to sign in using your administrator credentials. Enter your login password and click OK.
Click Continue to proceed with removing your settings, media, data, and other listed items.
If prompted, sign out of your Apple ID by entering your Apple ID password and clicking Continue.
Click Erase All Content & Settings to confirm your action.
Your Mac will restart, showing either a black screen or progress bar. If necessary, reconnect a Bluetooth accessory like a keyboard or mouse. If the accessory doesn’t reconnect within 30 seconds, power cycle it. When reconnecting a Bluetooth keyboard, you’ll be asked to choose a language.
You may be asked to select a Wi-Fi network or plug in a network cable. To choose a Wi-Fi network, click the Wi-Fi menu in the top-right corner of the screen.
Once connected to a network, your Mac will activate. Click Restart.
After restarting, a setup assistant will guide you through the setup process, as though you're configuring your Mac for the first time.

Now that your old device is completely wiped, you can confidently pass it on to a new owner, knowing that all your data is erased and unrecoverable.

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