Erase Your Airport Time Capsule: A Step-By-Step Guide

If you want to erase your Airport Time Capsule, you'll need to use the AirPort Utility on your Mac. You can find this by clicking on the Finder icon in your Dock (the blue smiley face on the left) and then choosing 'Utilities' from the 'Go' menu at the top. Once you've opened the AirPort Utility, you'll need to select the Disks tab and click 'Delete Disk'. You'll then be asked to confirm that you want to delete the disk. This will erase all the data from your Time Capsule.

How to open AirPort Utility

To open AirPort Utility, press 'command + spacebar' to open Spotlight search and enter 'airport'. In the window that opens, click the Airport drawing and then the 'Edit' button. You can also get to AirPort Utility by clicking on the Finder icon in your Dock (the blue smiley face on the left side) and then choosing 'Utilities' from the 'Go' menu at the top. When the 'Utilities' folder opens, look for the AirPort Utility program and then double-click to launch it.

Once you have opened AirPort Utility, you can use it to wipe the Time Capsule and reset it. In the graphical overview, select 'Disks', then click 'Erase Disk'. The 'Security Method' drop-down will be set to 'Quick Erase (non-secure)'. It is recommended that you change this to 'Zero Out Data' to ensure that no one can retrieve your backups. Once you have done that, click 'Erase', and your Mac will warn you of what's about to happen. Click 'Continue' and the process will begin.

In the confirmation window, click 'Delete' again. Finally, in the last confirmation window, click 'Continue' to begin the process of formatting your Time Capsule. With that, you will be able to delete all the data from your AirPort Time Capsule.

How to find the 'Disks' tab

To find the Disks tab, first open the AirPort Utility. To do this, press 'command + spacebar' to open the Spotlight search and enter 'airport'. In the window that opens, click the Airport drawing and then the 'Edit' button. You can also get to the AirPort Utility by clicking on the Finder icon in your Dock (the blue smiley face on the left side) and then choosing 'Utilities' from the 'Go' menu at the top. Once you're in the AirPort Utility, go to the Disks tab and click the 'Delete Disk' button. If you can't find the button, get in touch with Apple router experts.

How to change the 'Security Method' to 'Zero Out Data'

To change the Security Method to Zero Out Data, you will need to open the AirPort Utility on your Mac. You can do this by clicking on the Finder icon in your Dock (the blue smiley face on the left side) and then choosing 'Utilities' from the 'Go' menu at the top. Alternatively, you can search for it via Spotlight. Once the 'Utilities' folder opens, look for the AirPort Utility program and double-click to launch it.

In the graphical overview, select 'Disks', then click 'Erase Disk'. By default, the 'Security Method' drop-down will be set to 'Quick Erase (non-secure)'. Change this to Zero Out Data to ensure that no one can retrieve your backups if they come across your old Time Capsule. Once you've done that, click 'Erase' and your Mac will warn you of what's about to happen. Click 'Continue' and the process will begin. The Time Capsule's light will blink amber throughout this process. If you want to check how much time the wipe has left, go back to AirPort Utility's main window, where you'll see a progress indicator.

You can also connect the Time Capsule to your Mac with an Ethernet cable. When your Mac can 'see' the Time Capsule over a network, it will appear within the AirPort Utility program.

To delete files in the AirPort Time Capsule, open the 'AirPort Utility' by pressing 'command + spacebar' to open the Spotlight search and enter 'airport'. In the window that opens, click the Airport drawing and then the 'Edit' button. Go to the 'Disks' tab and click the 'Delete Disk' button. In the confirmation window, click 'Delete' again, and then 'Continue' to begin the process of formatting your Time Capsule.

How to sell your Time Capsule

If you want to sell your Time Capsule, you'll need to erase all your personal data. To do this, you can use AirPort Utility on a Mac.

First, open AirPort Utility by pressing "command + spacebar" to open Spotlight search and enter "airport". In the window that opens, click the Airport drawing and then the "Edit" button. Go to the "Disks" tab and click the "Delete Disk" button.

If you can't find the "Delete Disk" button, get in touch with Apple router experts.

Once you've clicked "Delete Disk", you'll see a screen with a "Security Method" drop-down. By default, this will be set to "Quick Erase (non-secure)". It's recommended that you change the security method to "Zero Out Data" to ensure that no one can retrieve your backups. Then, click "Erase". Your Mac will warn you of what's about to happen. Click "Continue", and the process will begin.

The Time Capsule's light will blink amber throughout the process. To check how much time the wipe has left, go back to AirPort Utility's main window, where you'll see a progress indicator.

Finally, in the last confirmation window, click "Continue" to begin the process of formatting your Time Capsule. With that, you will be able to delete all the data from your AirPort Time Capsule.

How to connect your Time Capsule to your Mac

To connect your Time Capsule to your Mac, you will need to use AirPort Utility. This can be found by clicking on the Finder icon in your Dock (it’s the blue smiley face on the left side) and then choosing “Utilities” from the “Go” menu at the top. Alternatively, you can find AirPort Utility by searching for it via Spotlight. Once you have located the AirPort Utility program, double-click to launch it.

When the AirPort Utility window opens, click the Airport drawing and then the “Edit” button. From here, go to the “Disks” tab and click the “Delete Disk …” button. If you are unable to locate this button, then get in touch with Apple router experts.

In the confirmation window, click “Delete” again. Then, in the last confirmation window, click “Continue” to begin the process of formatting your Time Capsule. With that, you will be able to delete all the data from your AirPort Time Capsule.

If you want to make sure that your data is securely erased, change the “Security Method” to “Zero Out Data” before clicking “Erase”. This will ensure that no one can retrieve your backups if they come across your old Time Capsule.

Frequently asked questions