Erase Assistant Error Mac

How to Fix “Erase Assistant is not Supported on This Mac” Error?

You are not alone if you are trying to use the Erase Assistant and can’t seem to use it because of the “Erase Assistant is not Supported On This Mac” error. Several other users reported a similar issue when resetting their Mac with the Erase Assistant. But don’t worry; you are in the right place. This article will explain everything about the Erase Assistant, what it is, how to use it, its compatibility, and more.

What is Erase Assistant?

Until the introduction of macOS Monterey, Mac users had to manually reset their Mac by reinstalling macOS, which took a lot of time. Thankfully, Apple made this process more accessible with the Erase Assistant.

Erase Assistant (Erase All Contents and Settings) is a feature introduced in macOS Monterey that enables you to reset your Mac to its factory settings, erasing all your sensitive data and personal information without uninstalling your current macOS. This is particularly useful when you want to sell your Mac or give it to someone else. It is similar to the “Erase All Content and Settings” feature on iOS devices.

Erase Assistant

Erase Assistant Compatibility

Although this feature may sound exciting, it’s only limited to a handful of Macs. To be more comprehensive, this feature is supported on Macs with Apple Silicon or the T2 Security Chip. This means that users with an Intel-based Mac can use the feature only if their Mac has the T2 Security Chip.

If you are unsure if your Intel-based Mac has the T2 Security Chip, you can check the following list. It is a list of all the Macs with the T2 Security Chip:

  • Mac Pro (2019)
  • iMac Pro Mac Pro (2019)
  • iMac (2020)
  • Mac Mini (2018)
  • MacBook Pro 13″ (2018, 2019, 2020)
  • MacBook Pro 15″ (2018, 2019)
  • MacBook Pro 16″ (2019)
  • MacBook Air 13″ (2018, 2019, 2020)

To use this feature, your Mac must also run on macOS Monterey or a later version.

What is the “Erase Assistant is not Supported On This Mac” Error, and How to Fix it?

The “Erase Assistant is not Supported On This Mac” error clearly states that your Mac does not support the Earse Assistant feature. This means you probably use an Intel-based Mac without the T2 Security Chip.

How do you fix this error on an unsupported Mac? Well, unfortunately, there’s no way to fix this error. You will have to look for other ways to reset your Mac, like using the Disk Utility to erase all the contents and reinstalling macOS.

Nonetheless, it’s probably a macOS bug if you use a supported Mac and still encounter this error. In this case, consider restarting your Mac and trying again. If that doesn’t help, ensure you are on the latest macOS version and try again. Hopefully, the error will disappear.

Erase Assistant is not Supported

How to Use Erase Assistant

If you can access the Erase Assistant on your Mac, you can follow these steps to use it:

  1. Back up your data using Time Machine or other backup solutions.
  2. Go to the Apple menu > System Settings > General on your Mac.
  3. Select Transfer or Reset and click on Erase All Content and Settings. (If you use macOS Monterey, go to the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Erase All Content and Settings.)
  4. Enter your Admin Password and click Unlock.
  5. Sign out of your Apple ID/iCloud account if asked.
  6. Click Continue.
  7. Then, click Erase All Contents and Settings.
  8. Wait for your Mac to restart and display a black screen with a progress bar.
  9. You can set up your Mac once it boots up.

Tip: If you plan to sell or give away your Mac, turn it off and leave it in its out-of-the-box state; if you’re keeping your Mac, set it up like a new device and restore your data from the backup.

Summing up

Erase Assistant is a helpful feature that allows you to reset your Mac to its factory settings without uninstalling your current macOS. However, it’s only available on Macs with Apple Silicon or the T2 Security Chip and running on macOS Monterey or a later version.

If you encounter the “Erase Assistant is not Supported On This Mac” error, you must look for alternative ways to reset your Mac. Otherwise, if you have a Mac with the feature, you can follow the simple steps mentioned above to use Erase Assistant. Let us know in the comments section below if you have further questions.

About Mehtab

Mehtab is a tech writer at DealNTech, where he covers PC and mobile-related guides and news. He is passionate about helping people understand and use technology to their advantage. In his role at DealNTech, Mehtab focuses on creating informative and engaging content on a variety of PC and mobile-related topics, including Windows, CPU, GPU, and Android. Email: [email protected]. Follow him on X(Twitter)

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