How to Factory Reset a Mac
Summary: Looking to reset your computer to its factory settings? MacOS Monterey makes it a little easier than before, but you have options no matter your Mac or OS version.
- • Convert videos to 1000+ format without loss
- • Compress the high-quality video and audio while retaining original quality
- • Embedded with video editing functions like cropping, effect, and watermark
Macs are generally reliable. Sometimes things can go wrong with Macs, as they do with all computers. A factory reset is a way to wipe your Mac and install a fresh version of macOS before you buy a brand new Mac. Factory resets are a great way to get your computer ready for the next owner.
Certain computers now have the ability to wipe all settings and content with the new macOS Monterey. This article will show you how to wipe your Mac's hard drive and install the new operating system M1 chip You will not be able recover deleted data once the computer is reset.
We recommend backing up your data through the if you believe you might still require it Time Machine You can also use the syncing important files to iCloud.
The Erase Assistant tool is now available for macOS Monterey running on either an Intel-based Mac, or an Apple silicon-based Mac Apple T2 chip. Open System Preferences > Erase All Content and Settings in the menu bar.
Enter your administrator password to access Erase Assistant. The tool can also erase all data, settings and media for any accounts or volumes.
It will sign out of iCloud and disable Touch ID fingerprints. To create it, click Open Time Machine. Enter your password to log out from your Apple ID. Your Mac will return to its factory settings once the process is complete. You can close the setup assistant if you do not intend to keep this computer. If you don't plan on keeping this computer, the setup assistant will take you through setting it up.
To access options to wipe your data or reinstall the operating system, enter macOS Recovery. This will depend on which chip is in your Mac. If you are using an Intel-based Mac, such as the M1 Mac, turn off your computer and then hold the power button down until the Loading startup options screen appears. To enter the Recovery screen, select Options.
If your Mac is an Intel processor with the T2 chip installed, you will need to restart the computer. From here, hold down Command + R until the Apple logo appears. Hold down Command + R until the Apple logo appears. If your computer is frozen and the normal means of resetting aren't working, try the Control + Command + Eject (or power button) shortcut.
No matter how you get here, you must then select a user with administrator privileges and enter their account credentials before gaining access to the computer's startup options. After you are fully in macOS Recovery select Disk Utility.
Select the volume that you wish to delete If you have, delete them. To remove volume, select the partition you wish to delete and then click the plus (-) button. The partition will be removed and you can move to the main drive. Click on Macintosh HD, then click Erase.
A dialog box asking you for your drive name and format will appear. The drive name should remain Macintosh HD. To wipe the drive, click Erase Volume Group or Erase (if it isn't displayed), and make sure the format setting to APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is set.
This will ensure that the entire computer has been wiped clean. Go to Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility to exit the Disk Utility window and go back to the Recovery screen.
The Recovery screen will then open. If you plan on keeping your Mac, the next step is to install macOS. Your computer must be connected to an internet connection and should be connected to power. Click Reinstall macOS Utilities to return to the screen.
Follow the steps to install a new operating system. When you are asked whether to copy data from an older Mac or a Time Machine back-up, choose Time Machine. You can choose Time Machine to continue the restoration process. To reinstall saved files, select the backup you want from the drop-down menu.