How to wipe my old computer after migration to a new MacBook Pro

I just migrated all of my data from my old computer to my new. I now would like to wipe the old computer clean and give it to my wife for writing and some light-duty use. I would like to just decommission, how do I do this? Thanks!

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Oct 17, 2025 8:15 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
8 replies

Oct 17, 2025 10:10 AM in response to StuckinAZ

StuckinAZ wrote:

I have gone step by step with the instructions, but when I get to the "erase all contents and settings" tab, I get a notification that "Erase assistant is not supported on this Mac". I have a T1 chip, and I see articles for erasing a T2 security chip, but not for T1. I have also gone into Disk Utility and gone to the Macintosh HD to perform an erase, but the erase button is greyed out, and I can't use it. I have signed out of iCloud, the Music store, and signed out of my Apple ID on this computer. I am not sure what to do at this point. I have a 2017 MacBook Pro using Ventura 13.7.8 3.5 dual-core Intel i7

since it's going to your wife anyways, if it was me, I would just manually delete your data from the Mac, and skip the whole erase and reinstall of macOS. that is unless you don't trust your wife. :)

Oct 17, 2025 9:09 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

I have gone step by step with the instructions, but when I get to the "erase all contents and settings" tab, I get a notification that "Erase assistant is not supported on this Mac". I have a T1 chip, and I see articles for erasing a T2 security chip, but not for T1. I have also gone into Disk Utility and gone to the Macintosh HD to perform an erase, but the erase button is greyed out, and I can't use it. I have signed out of iCloud, the Music store, and signed out of my Apple ID on this computer. I am not sure what to do at this point. I have a 2017 MacBook Pro using Ventura 13.7.8 3.5 dual-core Intel i7

Oct 17, 2025 10:11 AM in response to StuckinAZ

StuckinAZ wrote:

I have gone step by step with the instructions, but when I get to the "erase all contents and settings" tab, I get a notification that "Erase assistant is not supported on this Mac".


ref: Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings


ref: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your ...


ref: Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support


Oct 17, 2025 5:25 PM in response to leroydouglas

I can't seem to be able to erase in Disk Utility because that tab is greyed out. The erase all contents tab in transfer and reset is apparently not supported by this old Mac. It gives me a window telling me it's not supported. I have a 2017 MacBook Pro running Ventura 13.7.8 and have the T1 chip, so nothing about the T2 applies. I would love to know how people completed an erase with my hardware. Can you give me anything other than what is in the articles above?

How to wipe my old computer after migration to a new MacBook Pro

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.