4 Tested Methods to Resolve "Erase Process Failed" on Mac

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"The erase process has failed on Mac, click 'Done' to continue."

Apple's macOS laptop portfolio has never been more potent, all thanks to the groundbreaking M1 chip that spearheads the company's transition to Apple Silicon. If your MacBook is displaying the error message "erase process has failed Mac M1," this article is here to help. This issue typically arises when attempting to restart macOS or OS X after wiping the data from your hard drive. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. The "erase process has failed" error on your Mac is troublesome as it hinders your access to files and applications.

Why does this issue occur? The following are the main reasons behind the failure of the Mac erase process：

• Malware or viral infection on your Mac
• Damaged or corrupted hard drive on Mac
• An outdated version of macOS
• The essential components of Disk Utility might not be launching properly

If you find yourself in a similar situation and searching for the optimal choice, this article is here to assist you.

4 Ways to Resolve 'Erase Process Failed' on Mac

Since there can be multiple reasons for this error to occur on your Mac, there are a few fixes available as well! But before diving into the solutions, here's a primary sequence of steps for a video that can help eliminate the "Mac erase process failed" error.

• 0:00 Introduction
• 0:19 Erase
• 0:58 First Aid

Now, let's begin with the solutions!

Method 1: Erase the Disk Using Terminal on Your MacBook

Need assistance with your Mac's Disk Utility app? If that's the case, you can try achieving the same result through the Terminal. It's a straightforward approach to erase a drive and will help you fulfill your needs promptly.

Step 1. Start by opening the Finder and navigating to Applications > Utilities to launch the Terminal program as an administrator.

Step 2. When the Terminal program opens, type "diskutil list" and press Return. This will display comprehensive information about your Mac's drives and partitions. Make a note of the identifier of the disk you wish to convert from this list.

Step 3. Great! Once you've located the number, proceed with the "erase drive" instruction to delete the data.

Step 4. The command line tool diskutil, in essence, executes the command diskutil delete disk. For instance, to format disk2 with the HFS+ file system, type diskutil eraseDisk HFS+ DISK disk2 and hit return.

Step 5. Next, simply wait for the process to complete while your selected drive is converted into compatible system files.

Method 2: Update to the Latest macOS to Resolve Disk Utility Error

If your Mac is running an outdated version, it might encounter the "erase procedure has failed click completed to proceed" error. Fortunately, this issue can be easily resolved by updating your Mac's software to the latest version. You can find the most recent macOS update in the App Store, or you can follow the steps below to upgrade to macOS Ventura:

Step 1. Click the Apple menu and choose "About This Mac".

Step 2. Choose to perform a software update.

Step 3. Keep waiting until the checking process is complete. If an update is available, select the "Update" option.

Method 3: Erase Selected Volumes to Resolve the Error

When formatting a disk on Mac, users might encounter an error message indicating that the erase process has failed. In such cases, instead of attempting to format the entire drive, it's advisable to try formatting individual volumes. This approach helps to identify whether the issue lies with a particular section or not.

Step 1. Navigate to your Mac's Finder > Applications > Utilities and launch the Disk Utility program.

Step 2. Upon launching the Disk Utility application, navigate to the top-left corner of the interface. Here, you can choose to select all files or external media from the dropdown menu.

Step 3. To format a volume, select it from the sidebar (instead of the entire drive) and click the "Erase" icon on the toolbar.

Consequently, you can try to erase the entire drive to delve deeper into the issue. By doing so, you can ascertain whether the problem lies with the whole drive or specific directories.

Method 4: Adjust Security Levels for Formatting an External Device

Is the disk utility indicating that the erase process on your Mac has failed while formatting an external device? If so, follow this approach! This method applies when the security level on the external hard drive or USB drive is set exceptionally high, making it impossible for the disk utility to format it. To alter the security level and rectify this error, follow these steps:

Step 1. Launch Disk Utility on your computer and connect your external device to it.

Step 2. Next, select the device from the toolbar and click on the "Delete" option. Proceed to the Encryption Settings tab in the newly opened browser window.

Step 3. Adjust the protection settings here to configure the device. Set a moderate level of security to prevent receiving the "can't delete Mac hard disk" notification.

How to Wipe Hard Drive on Mac [Step-by-Step Guide]

If you're running macOS Monterey, there are two methods to erase your hard drive. The optimal approach depends on the type of processor you have:

• If you have a Mac with Apple hardware or an Intel-based Mac with the Apple M2 Chip.
• If you have an Intel-based Computer.

While holding down the Option key, go to the Apple menu > About This Mac to identify the type of processor your Mac has. On the left, navigate to the Devices section. The type of chip will be displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

If your Mac has an Intel CPU, look at the right-hand column and choose "Controller" to check if it currently has a T2 security chip installed. If it does, it will be displayed in the right-side window.

Bonus Tip: How to Wipe a Disk Without Losing Data on Mac

When you format or delete your MacBook, all your information is erased. To protect your files, it's crucial to create a backup beforehand. If you haven't backed up your data and have already reformatted your drive, using a data recovery program would be an excellent choice.

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is an all-encompassing data retrieval software that excels in restoring accidentally deleted information. Thanks to its extensive range of features, it is a powerful data recovery tool utilized by millions of users globally.

It can retrieve any type of data, including photos, files, documents, or movies. The software ensures the recovery of intact, raw, and formatted files, and works effectively on both external and internal storage devices. The top features of this tool include:

1. It can recover deleted photos, videos, music files, documents, and other files on Mac with just a few simple clicks.
2. This software supports file recovery from a hard drive, SSD, USB flash drive, and pen drive.
3. It facilitates data retrieval for Mac in cases of accidental deletion, virus attack, formatting, and system crash.

Download this professional tool now and enjoy the best experience of securely erasing a disk without losing any data on your Mac.

Step 1. Choose the location to scan

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac and select the hard drive, SSD, SD card, USB flash drive, or TF card from where you lost your data. Click on "Search for lost files" to initiate the scanning process.

Note: Before data recovery, it's recommended to click "Disk Backup" from the left sidebar to create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. Once backed up, the software can retrieve data from the Mac backup, and your computer can then write new data again.

Step 2. Filter Lost Mac Data

The software will automatically scan for lost data on your MacBook/iMac. Upon completion of the scan, filter the desired data using the "Type" and "Path" buttons.

Step 3. Recover Lost Data or Files

Double-click a file to preview it. Then, click the "Recover" button to restore the lost data to another location.

Conclusion

Upon completing this tutorial, you should be equipped to resolve the issue of the Mac erase process failing. In this section, we have presented a range of proven solutions to address this problem on your Mac. Additionally, we have outlined a method for efficiently erasing a hard drive (or an external device). However, if you have unintentionally erased your data, utilize Mac data recovery software. This tool enables you to effortlessly recover various types of information from multiple sources on your Mac.

"Erasing Process Failed" FAQs

The detailed FAQs are provided below for a seamless understanding of this topic:

1. How do I resolve a failed deletion process on my Mac?

Follow any of the aforementioned solutions, such as updating your macOS, modifying the security settings for formatting an external device, etc., to rectify the failed deletion process on your Mac.

2. How do I force my Mac to erase a hard drive? To force your Mac to erase a hard drive, follow these steps: 1. **Backup Important Data**: Before proceeding, make sure you have backed up any important files and data as the process of erasing a hard drive is irreversible. 2. **Open Disk Utility**: Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select " Utilities " and choose " Disk Utility " from the list. 3. **Select the Hard Drive**: In the left sidebar of Disk Utility, locate the hard drive you want to erase. It's usually labeled with the name you've given it or "Macintosh HD" for the main drive. 4. **Erase the Drive**: Click on the hard drive in the sidebar, then click the "Erase" button at the top of the window. A new window will appear. 5. **Format Options**: In the "Name" field, give your drive a new name if desired. For "Format," choose a file system. macOS recommends "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" or "APFS" for newer systems. Ensure "Security Options" is set to "Fastest" unless you want a more secure erase method. 6. **Confirm Erase**: Read the warning message carefully, then click "Erase" to begin the process. The erase will start immediately, and the time it takes will depend on the size of the hard drive. Remember that erasing a hard drive will remove all data, so proceed only if you're certain you no longer need the information stored on it.

You must select "Restart" from the Apple menu, immediately followed by pressing the Command + R keys. Once the recovery program boots up, choose "Disk Utility" from the options box, and then click "Continue". Within Disk Utility's window, locate the disk you wish to erase and click the "Erase" button in the toolbar.

3. Does a hard reset on Mac delete everything?

Yes, performing a Mac hard reset will erase everything. To initiate this process, turn on your computer and immediately press and hold the Option, Command, P, and R keys together. Hold these buttons for about 20 seconds, then release them. This action helps to clear user preferences from memory and resets any security settings that might have been altered.

4. What happens when Mac Recovery Mode doesn't work?

To restart your computer, you need to press and hold the 'Option + Command + R' keys. Once you see the Apple logo appear, release these buttons.

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