How to Perform a Factory Reset on MacBook?

TL;DR To factory reset your MacBook, use the "Erase All Content and Settings" option in System Preferences if you're running macOS Monterey or later. Alternatively, use Disk Utility to erase the disk and then reinstall macOS.

Using System Preferences (macOS Monterey and Later)

For users with macOS Monterey or later, resetting your MacBook is straightforward. You can go to System Preferences, click on System Preferences in the top left corner, and select Erase All Content and Settings [1:1][1:2]. This method is designed to be user-friendly and ensures that all personal data is removed.

Disk Utility Method

If you need to perform a more thorough reset or are using an older version of macOS, you might opt for the Disk Utility method. First, boot into recovery mode by restarting your Mac and holding down Command + R. Then, open Disk Utility, select your main drive (usually labeled as Apple SSD), and click Erase. Choose APFS and GUID Partition Map as the options [3:1]. After erasing the disk, quit Disk Utility and proceed to Reinstall macOS [3:1][3:5].

Internet Recovery

For older MacBooks, you may need to use Internet Recovery to reinstall macOS. Restart your Mac and hold down Command + Option + R until you see the globe icon. From there, you can follow the prompts to reinstall macOS. Before doing this, ensure you have disabled Find My Mac and signed out of iCloud to remove any activation locks [4:1].

Ensuring Data Erasure

When resetting your MacBook, it's crucial to ensure that all data is erased. The steps involving Disk Utility should adequately wipe your data. If you stopped after erasing the disk but before connecting to WiFi, rest assured that your data has already been erased [5:1][5:2].

Following these steps will help you perform a factory reset on your MacBook safely, ensuring that it returns to its original state without retaining any personal data.

See less

Helpful

Not helpful

Listen in on a custom audience.

Unlock the full power of Gigabrain to stay updated on topics that matter to you, or gauge community sentiment around your brand and competitors.

Source Threads

POST SUMMARY • [1]

Summarize

How to factory reset mac book ?

Posted by neucleophile · in r/MacOS · 3 years ago

2 upvotes on reddit

2 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

ORIGINAL POST

I am new to MacOS and have been doing a lot of experiments lately but now I want to wipe everything out. You can say I want to "Format" it or "Factory Reset" it to the state it was when I bought it.

I was stupid enough to not have a timemachine image of the initial state.

Please guide me. Thank you in advance.

2 replies

theanup007 · 3 years ago

If you are on Monterrey, it is in the Preferences menu. Super easy to find.

1 upvotes on reddit

DaCoolCat123 · 3 years ago

Go to SYSTEM PREFERENCES.

Press SYSTEM PREFERENCES in top left corner.

Press ERASE ALL CONTENT AND SETTINGS.

1 upvotes on reddit

See 2 replies

r/macbook • [2]

Summarize

how should I factory reset my MacBook pro

Posted by A_botello · in r/macbook · 5 years ago

Hello! I'm planning on selling my MacBook pro soon and I want to make sure that all of my personal data is off of it how. how should I go about deleting everything and factory resetting my MacBook?

1 upvotes on reddit

3 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

3 replies

TheMacEvangelist · 5 years ago

Erase it using disk utility.l and then reinstall Mac OS.

1 upvotes on reddit

BecauseICanOkay · 5 years ago

Follow these steps: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065

☺️

1 upvotes on reddit

A_botello · OP · 5 years ago

Thank you!

1 upvotes on reddit

See 3 replies

r/applehelp • [3]

Summarize

I just purchased this MacBook from someone and they didn’t fully reset the Mac. What can I do here to reset the Mac?

Posted by JealousHunter8621 · in r/applehelp · 29 days ago

I appreciate the help.

i.redd.it

6 upvotes on reddit

7 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

7 replies

JediMeister · 29 days ago

Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac

How to reinstall macOS

6 upvotes on reddit

minacrime · 29 days ago

Reinstall Monterey- agree to terms and continue.

11 upvotes on reddit

applesuperfan · 29 days ago

Should probably erase the disk first in Disk Utility just to be safe, since you don’t know what it’s like before it hits your hands.

2 upvotes on reddit

JealousHunter8621 · OP · 29 days ago

Thank. I’ll try this

3 upvotes on reddit

Surprisingly-Decent · 29 days ago

This is r/applehelp, not r/appleunhelpful.

7 upvotes on reddit

applesuperfan · 29 days ago

Maca are actually easier to walk people through compared to PCs; sending it back would honestly be harder.

1 upvotes on reddit

applesuperfan · 29 days ago

They did reset it, just didn’t reinstall macOS.

Click Disk Utility, then click View in the menu bar and select View Devices.

Then find the Apple SSD in the very top of the list on the side bar in Disk Utility.

Click “Erase” and choose options “APFS” and “GUID Partition Map.” When it’s done, click “Disk Utility” in the menu bar, then quit the app. You’ll end up back on the screen in your picture.

Then click “Reinstall macOS Monterey.” Accept the Terms and Conditions, then click the next button, click the disk you just erased, and start installing macOS.

When it’s done, macOS will be ready to setup brand new.

6 upvotes on reddit

See 7 replies

r/macbook • [4]

Summarize

Resetting an Old MacBook to factory settings

Posted by PeakyAndre · in r/macbook · 1 year ago

Hi! I’m having some trouble figuring out how to reset my old MacBook Air 13”. Does anyone know how to do it? I can’t seem to find the action under system settings, which is what most pages say online..

i.redd.it

4 upvotes on reddit

1 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

1 replies

Xyspade · 1 year ago

You reset a Mac by reinstalling macOS. You can do that from Internet Recovery. Of course, all your data will be erased. But first, go into System Prefs and turn off Find My so you remove the iCloud activation lock, if your laptop supports that, and sign out of iCloud.

1 upvotes on reddit

See 1 replies

r/macbook • [5]

Summarize

I tried to factory reset my MacBook to resell it but I'm afraid I did something wrong and my data is still available.

Posted by lightsensor · in r/macbook · 8 months ago

I followed this guide to reset my Mac https://support.apple.com/en-us/102664 But I stopped at step 5 and forgot to continue (I didn't connect it to the WIFI). Was that important? Is it still possible to retrieve my files?

I sold it to a person I kind of know that lives 2 hours away from me and I wouldn't like to have to drive there to finish the procedure. Thanks in advance!

1 upvotes on reddit

3 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

3 replies

CatBoyTrip · 8 months ago

the wifi part is just to activate it. it has already been erased by step 4.

1 upvotes on reddit

error-the-reddit-boi · 8 months ago

The data should have been erased, you stopped after the data would have been erased.

1 upvotes on reddit

lightsensor · OP · 8 months ago

Thanks, this brings me joy 🙏

1 upvotes on reddit

See 3 replies

r/mac • [6]

Summarize

How to Perform a Factory Reset on an M1 MacBook Pro

Posted by LonelyActive · in r/mac · 4 years ago

Purchased a new M1 MacBook Pro last week and now I need to wipe and return to Apple. The process to do this does not appear to be the same as on older devices. Any tips on how to do this?

1 upvotes on reddit

5 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

5 replies

SurfaceLapQuestion · 4 years ago

It’s the same! Just make sure you are on the latest software.

0 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 4 years ago

Nope. No key combination will help you here.

1 upvotes on reddit

whitepowderma · 4 years ago

It's not the same. It explains how to do it here:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

You use the Power Button to go into Recovery, not the keyboard

3 upvotes on reddit

LonelyActive · OP · 4 years ago

Thank you. This worked!

1 upvotes on reddit

jimsp1 · 4 years ago

Plenty of videos on You Tube regarding this topic!

2 upvotes on reddit

See 5 replies

r/vozforums • [7]

Summarize

Reset macbook bị hư màn hình

Posted by VuNguyen2804 · in r/vozforums · 5 months ago

Xin chào mọi người. Mình muốn reset macbook lại cài đặt gốc ban đầu để cho người khác dùng, nhưng macbook của mình lại bị hư màn hình phải xuất màn hình ngoài, nhưng đến lúc mình restart và ấn Cmd+R để mở cửa sổ macOS Utilities thì nó lại chưa xuất ra được màn hình ngoài (mình chỉ thấy đen thui). Vậy giờ mình có cách nào khác để reset lại macbook không ạ. Cảm ơn anh/chị ạ

2 upvotes on reddit

1 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

1 replies

AndyPea1234 · 5 months ago

Truy cập vào macOS, tạo 1 user mới rồi cấp quyền admin cho nó, đăng nhập vào user vừa tạo, xoá user cũ đi rồi chọn xoá luôn data user cũ là xong.

1 upvotes on reddit

See 1 replies

r/mac • [8]

Summarize

How do I factory reset

Posted by [deleted] · in r/mac · 3 years ago

I just want a fresh copy of MacOS. Dont want any BS, just want to factory reset the computer.

04 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

4 replies

hannahsfriend · 3 years ago

I have an old 2007 iMac and the two-CD set for Snow Leopard that came loaded on the machine. Sometime between then and now, discs and disc drives disappeared and Apple decided to not include a USB drive with a copy of your computer’s OS. There are a bunch of videos on YouTube—as well as instructions on the Apple support site—of how to create a USB boot drive for your computer’s particular version of OS. Here’s one, for example. Watch a couple first to find a good one. https://youtu.be/2ysfQLW2MWM

0 upvotes on reddit

malikto44 · 3 years ago

Disclaimer: This erases everything on the Mac, data, applications, preferences, everything.

If you are on Monterey:

Apple Menu -> System Preferences.

When it loads, go to the System Preferences menu, choose Erase All Contents and Settings...

Let fly from there, and it will erase everything on the internal drive, reload the OS.

1 upvotes on reddit

Living_Trainer_1684 · 3 years ago

That’s only if you’re on a 2018 or newer Mac or an iMac Pro from 2017.

3 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 3 years ago

yeah, this is not on mine. i have a 2017 macbook pro

1 upvotes on reddit

See 4 replies

r/mac • [9]

Summarize

ProTip: reset your Mac to factory settings

Posted by [deleted] · in r/mac · 3 years ago

Doing a complete wipe and install will make your Mac feel zippy and fresh ✨

08 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

8 replies

MrMacintoshBlog · 3 years ago

In all seriousness, this is the best advice.

A clean erase & install without installing apps or putting data back.

Check the system speed. Then start to install previous apps and data.

Sometimes upgrades go wrong and the user thinks the new os is junk. Yet a fresh install of the latest OS will almost always be faster.

5 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 3 years ago

I experienced it because I have a 2018 15" MBP I upgraded to an M1 Air. I decided it wasn't worth it and before trading in just returned the air. Because I had to wipe to trade in I had this fresh and recently cleaned beauty it softened the blow of not getting new-product-dopamine

3 upvotes on reddit

MrMacintoshBlog · 3 years ago

I get it, the M1 is awesome but your 2018 MacBook Pro is still a great computer!

2 upvotes on reddit

mro_syd · 3 years ago

This!

I stopped transferring my junks from previous installation every major OS upgrades and never had issues ever since.

I do however wrote bunch of automation scripts to backup and restore files and configuration that are more data than system files to ease the pain. So I just need to reinstall some apps and most apps will back to where it was without having to manually configure it from scratch.

2 upvotes on reddit

doctrsnoop · 3 years ago

people here can't even keep their Cokes out of their keyboards let alone pull this off.

1 upvotes on reddit

MrMacintoshBlog · 3 years ago

“I came back from lunch and my screen was cracked, how can I fix it?”

3 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 3 years ago

Love the photos of new M1 with a huge cup of coffee right beside it just waiting to ruin it with liquid damage

1 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 3 years ago

Cmd-r will wipe the hd. Make sure to delete all the find my mac and Apple ID too ..

1 upvotes on reddit

See 8 replies

r/applehelp • [10]

Summarize

Trying to do a factory reset on a 2011 MacBook Pro. How do I get past this?! Please help.

Posted by golferdrummer · in r/applehelp · 5 years ago

v.redd.it

1 upvotes on reddit

8 replies

Helpful

Not helpful

View Source

8 replies

golferdrummer · OP · 5 years ago

Thanks for help, but it still didn’t work. Same message.

Isn’t there a way to reboot it using the OS X Base System Startup in Disk Utility?

1 upvotes on reddit

JediMeister · 5 years ago

That is what you are actually booted to. Was your Mac running macOS Sierra, 10.12.4, or later at some point? If so, you might be able to install macOS 10.13 onto there by holding option+Command+R on startup. If it wasn’t, to install a working copy you may need to make a bootable installer.

2 upvotes on reddit

golferdrummer · OP · 5 years ago

Heyo! This one worked. Thanks for the reply!

1 upvotes on reddit

blendthefrog · 5 years ago

Rather than making sure the date/time is correct, set it to before April 2019. The signing certificate on the older versions of macOS expired on April 1 2019 and Apple didn’t renew them. So, trying to do an internet recovery for Yosemite, Sierra, etc... fails.

If the date/time on ur machine is before April 2019, then the installer believes the certificate is still valid and will proceed.

2 upvotes on reddit

golferdrummer · OP · 5 years ago

Please don’t let me call Apple Support

1 upvotes on reddit

minacrime · 5 years ago

Try changing the date in Terminal

https://bensmann.no/changing-system-date-from-terminal-os-x-recovery/

2 upvotes on reddit

golferdrummer · OP · 5 years ago

Thanks for the reply! The date is correct in the terminal. Any other avenues?

1 upvotes on reddit

andycarver · 5 years ago

Change it. Unplug network cable. Turn off wifi Type “date 1116211618” then attempt instal.

1 upvotes on reddit

See 8 replies

Top People to Talk to

These are some of the top contributors related to

MacOS

macbook

applehelp

1+ others

No bio available

60266

Karma

256

Posts

9139

Comments

View Profile

Chat w/ Profile AI

applesuperfan

No bio available

22812

Karma

155

Posts

7708

Comments

View Profile

Chat w/ Profile AI

error-the-reddit-boi

No bio available

2294

Karma

235

Posts

4182

Comments

View Profile

Chat w/ Profile AI

AI Answer

🤖

how to perform a factory reset on MacBook

Here are the steps to perform a factory reset on your MacBook:

Backup Your Data:
- Use Time Machine or another backup method to save your important files, as a factory reset will erase everything on your Mac.
Sign Out of Services:
- Sign out of iCloud: Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > Overview and click Sign Out.
- Sign out of iTunes: Open iTunes, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
- Sign out of Messages: Open Messages, go to Messages > Preferences > iMessage, and click Sign Out.
Restart in Recovery Mode:
- Restart your Mac and immediately hold down Command (⌘) + R until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
Erase Your Hard Drive:
- Once in Recovery Mode, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
- Choose your startup disk (usually named "Macintosh HD") from the sidebar, then click Erase.
- Choose a format (APFS for newer Macs or Mac OS Extended for older ones) and click Erase.
Reinstall macOS:
- After erasing the disk, exit Disk Utility to return to the macOS Utilities window.
- Select Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts to install a fresh copy of macOS.
Set Up Your Mac:
- Once the installation is complete, your Mac will restart. Follow the on-screen instructions to set it up as new.

Important Notes:

Ensure your Mac is connected to the internet during the reinstallation process.
If you're selling or giving away your Mac, it's best to leave the setup process for the new owner.

Recommendation: Always double-check that you have backed up all important data before proceeding with a factory reset, as this process is irreversible.

Still looking for a better answer?

Get more comprehensive results summarized by our most cutting edge AI model. Plus deep Youtube search.

Try Gigabrain Pro for Free

Add to Chrome