To wipe a hard drive effectively, you must first distinguish between and solid-state drives (SSDs) , as they require different methods to ensure data is unrecoverable. 1. Preparatory Steps
If you are handling highly sensitive data and want to follow military-grade standards (like DoD 5220.22-M), use these specialized tools: how to wipe a hard drive
If you want more control over the wiping process or need to wipe a drive that can't be accessed through the operating system, consider using third-party software. Some popular options include: To wipe a hard drive effectively, you must
An excellent paid tool specifically designed for SSD "Secure Erase" commands. Some popular options include: An excellent paid tool
Restart your Mac and immediately hold to enter Recovery Mode. Select Disk Utility .
Choose Change settings and toggle Clean data? to Yes . This performs a full wipe rather than a quick format. Follow the prompts to finish the reset. For Secondary or External Drives