How to Securely Do a System Restore on Mac

Step 1 Connect your storage device to Mac and format it as Mac Os Extended (Journaled) Disk.

Step 2 After connecting your storage device, Mac will ask you if you want to use the storage device to backup with Time Machine. Time Machine will then present an option to encrypt your backup (recommended) before advancing to “Use as Backup Disk” option.

Suppose your computer doesn`t automatically recognize your drive, head to Time Machine, and manually add your disk as a backup target.

Step 3 Once you`ve successfully selected the backup disk, Time Machine will instantly begin creating a backup and will take some time depending on the number of your files.

And that’s all with Time Machine. It is super simple.

i. iCloud

To use iCloud, you need an Apple ID and a password which give you a free 5 GB cloud storage. You can then create folders on your iCloud drive and manually copy your files to the cloud location.

However, 5 GB might not be enough to backup all your data. But iCloud presents the option to expand your storage capacity using their paid option. Their offer starts from 50 GB at $0.99 extending to 1 terabyte at $9.99 a month.

Apart from iCloud, another reliable cloud storage giant is Google Drive.

ii. Google Drive

It is similar to iCloud, but only offers a much bigger free storage of 15Gb. Like iCloud, you`ve got the freedom to upgrade depending on your space need. Their cloud space storage starts from 100 GB at $1.99 and stretches to 1 terabyte at $9.99 a month.

iii. Dropbox

It is another alternative to backup your data. Signup gives you a free space of 2gb. And if 2Gb is not enough to back up your Mac, you can upgrade to 1 Terabyte space which will cost you $9.99 or 2Tb at $19.99 a month.

Step 1 To turn off File Vault, head to “Apple menu” and select “System Preference.”

Step 2 Then click security and privacy.

Step 3 Under the “Security & Privacy” window, click on the “File Vault” tab.

Step 4 Then click the “Lock” button and enter the administrator name and password.

Step 5 And select the “Turn off File Vault” option.

Step 6 A screen will pop up asking you to Restart & Turn off Encryption. Select the option, and your Mac will restart.

• To sign out, pull down the Apple Menu, and select system preferences


• Then select the “Internet Accounts” option

• Choose the email account that you want to delete


• Hit the delete key on the keyboard or click at the [-] button


• A screen will pop up, asking you to delete all the information associated with the email. Press the “Ok” tab, and your email account will vanish from the Mac

• To sign out of iMessage, launch the Message app on your Mac


• On the Message menu, click Preference, on the left-hand pane, click the account you want to Sign Out and press the “Sign Out “option next to your Apple Id


• In the pop-up window, click “Sign Out” to move ahead.


• Uncheck the box of the “Enable this Account” option

• Go to iTunes


• On the top of the iTunes window, select and click on the “Account” option


• Then press the “Sign Out” button

• Head to Apple menu


• Go to system preference


• Click iCloud


• Then press Sign Out

Step 1 Switch off your computer

Step 2 Press the Power button

Step 3 Instantly, hold down the “Command” and “R” keys simultaneously

Step 4 Wait until the Apple Logo Appear

Step 5 Then select “Disk Utility” from the OS X utility lists and click “Continue.”

Step 6 Select the disk you`d like to erase by clicking it on its sidebar and Click the “Erase” button

Step 7 And head to “Security options.”

Step 8 The Security Option presents options on how thorough you want to clean your hard disk drive

The Security Option gives four notches sliders. The fastest option is quicker but insecure—a file recovery app could potentially rebuild your files. Moving the slider to the right unlocks more secure erasing. The safest level of the Disk Utility erases the information used to access the files on your disk, then write zeros across the disk surface seven times to help to remove any trace of what was there.

Step 9 Once you`ve chosen the level of the secure erasing that fits your needs, press the “OK” button

Step 10 Then click the Erase button to start wiping out your data.

When your Mac finishes, your hard drive will be clean and set for its next purpose.

Most new Mac ships with SSD. In fact, only iMac and Mac mini ship with regular Hard Disk Drive any more.

If your Mac comes with SSD, Apple Disk Utility software won`t let you zero the hard drive.

Yes, when using SSD, Apple Disk utility lacks “Securely Erase” and “Erasing Free Space” option. You won`t need them as Standard Erase, which makes it complex to recover data from SSD.

Step 1 Restart your Mac.

Step 2 Start up from MacOS Recovery—hold down the Command and R keys simultaneously. Let go of the keys when the Apple logo appears. You`ll know you`re on recovery mode when you see the utility window below.

Step 3 Click reinstall macOS (or reinstall OS X) to reinstall the operating system that came with your Mac.

Step 4 Click Continue.

Step 5 Select your Hard drive (Apple SSD or something similar) when asked to select your disk. vi. Click the “Install” button to install the most recent OS that was on your computer. Your Mac will restart after the operating system has fully installed.