If you plan to sell your Apple computer or pass it on to someone in your family, it’s crucial to factory reset your Mac to remove your personal data. Whether you own a MacBook or a Mac desktop, this guide will show you how.
Factory Resetting a Modern MacBook or Mac Desktop
For machines running macOS Sonoma, Ventura, or Monterey, there’s a quick method to reset your Mac through System Settings (or System Preferences). Follow these steps based on your macOS version:
On macOS Ventura or Sonoma
- Click the Apple logo in the menu bar and select System Settings from the dropdown.
- Choose General from the sidebar, then click Transfer or Reset on the right.
- Click Erase All Content and Settings.
On macOS Monterey
- Click the Apple logo in the menu bar and select System Preferences.
- Click System Preferences in the menu bar and select Erase All Content and Settings from the dropdown.
- After choosing Erase All Content and Settings, enter your Mac’s admin password. You’ll then see the Erase Assistant, which will ask if you want to back up your Mac using Time Machine.
- After following additional steps, such as signing out of your Apple ID and clicking Erase All Content & Settings again, your Mac will begin the reset process.
The factory resetting method differs significantly for older macOS versions. The next section covers that.
Factory Reset Older MacBooks and Mac Desktops in macOS Recovery
If your Mac runs a version older than macOS Monterey, you’ll need to use macOS Recovery to erase your Mac. Whether you have an Intel or Apple silicon Mac, it’s easy to boot into macOS Recovery. If you encounter issues, you can try various fixes to enter macOS Recovery.
Before entering macOS Recovery, be sure to log out of your iCloud account.
You’ll recognize macOS Recovery by its black wallpaper with no apps or files visible.
Erasing Your Mac in macOS Recovery
Before proceeding, ensure you’ve backed up all important data. Time Machine can help with this.
- Once in macOS Recovery, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
- Choose the Macintosh HD drive under the Internal section on the left pane.
- Click Erase in the toolbar at the top.
In the dialog box, name the drive Macintosh HD and set the format to APFS or Mac OS Extended. Click Erase (sometimes, Erase Volume Group appears instead).
Repeat this process for any other internal drives. External hard drives or USBs will show under External and shouldn’t be erased, but it’s best to keep them unplugged.
Exit Disk Utility to return to the macOS Recovery screen.
Reinstall macOS Using macOS Recovery
Back at the main macOS Recovery window, reinstall a fresh copy of macOS. This step is essential to make the device usable again after wiping the hard drive.
- Connect your Mac to a charger and a Wi-Fi network.
- Select Reinstall macOS and click Continue.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reinstallation. The instructions are straightforward, and your Mac will download and install the latest macOS version from the internet.
Be patient, as this process can take several minutes. Once completed, you can either leave your Mac for sale or use Setup Assistant to go through the initial setup as if it’s a new device.
Setup Assistant will guide you through choosing your country and region, signing in with your Apple ID, selecting basic settings, and connecting to Wi-Fi. After these steps, your Mac will be ready for use, and with all the data erased, it should operate more smoothly.