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I'm trying to securely erase my SSD by using diskutil in terminal in the recovery mode (restart --> hold down command+R --> terminal)

I first use diskutil list to find the disk name, which is disk0: enter image description here

Then I use diskutil secureErase 0 disk0 to erase the disk: enter image description here

However, the error "Couldn't open disk" happened. I tried to go to the UI version of Disk Utility, unmount the disk and erase again, but the same problem happens.

KK1850
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  • What Mac, what drive type, what OS? Secure erase should be avoided for for SSDs – Tetsujin Oct 01 '19 at 15:33
  • It is a macbook air. For OS, actually before using the diskutil in terminal, I erased the disk in the UI version of Disk Utility, so there is no OS now. But now I need secure erase and that's why I'm trying to do it in terminal. I just want to secure erase by a single pass of 0, which should be fine for SSD – KK1850 Oct 01 '19 at 15:38
  • See this answer - especially the 2nd half - https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/258171/85275 – Tetsujin Oct 01 '19 at 15:41
  • You may have already figured this out, but the secure erase option isn't available for Solid State Drives (SSD) - basically because it's not needed and, in fact, can shorten the life of the SSD. – Monomeeth Oct 02 '19 at 06:42

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