Problem accessing recovery mode on 2013 iMac in order to erase disk.

I am trying to erase the disk on my 2013 iMac. However, I do not have an Apple keyboard and pressing Command plus R during startup does not open Recovery Mode. It justs boots up normally. If I go to Disk Utility, the ERASE command is greyed out. Is there an alternate way to erase my disk?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 9, 2025 2:00 PM

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Posted on Sep 9, 2025 4:17 PM

Digout, borrow, buy an inexpensive USB keyboard to use for starting up in Recovery Mode.

refer to the Intel section of > How to start up from macOS Recovery - Apple Support


also read up on > Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

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Problem accessing recovery mode on 2013 iMac in order to erase disk.

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