How To Restore Macbook Factory Settings

If yous're ready to sell, trade-in, or give abroad your Mac or wipe it for another reason in that location are different steps to the process depending on what Mac you take and what version of macOS information technology's running. Notably, macOS Monterey includes a handy new erase pick like on iOS. Read along for how to factory reset MacBook and other Macs.

Before you mill reset your Mac, brand sure that you have a current backup.

And if you're running macOS Big Sur or earlier you'll want sign out of iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime. It doesn't hurt to sign out of any other accounts underSystem Preferences → Net Accounts, also. You may desire to unpair any Bluetooth devices as well.

If you plan on selling your MacBook with a butterfly keyboard on your own, it may be a good idea to have it replaced for free if you oasis't already. We've too got a detailed guide on all the all-time options to trade in your Mac.

Selling your MacBook? Here'southward how to repair the butterfly keyboard for gratis and go more than money
How to Trade in Your MacBook — The Ultimate Guide

How to factory reset MacBook and Mac desktops

Factory reset MacBook running macOS Monterey

macOS Monterey offers an all-new Erase Assistant for 2022 and subsequently Macs. If you haven't upgraded already, it'due south easiest to factory reset a Mac that's running Monterey.

Make a fresh backup of your Mac
Open System Preferences
Click System Preferences in the menu bar > Erase All Contents and Settings
Follow the prompts to fully erase your Mac
Similar iOS, the new erase process in macOS Monterey handles everything to fully wipe your Mac
The currently installed macOS version will remain

Here's how the process looks:

You can read more about the new Erase Assistant in macOS Monterey in Apple'south support certificate here.

Note: If your M1/M1 Pro/M1 Max MacBook won't first upward properly, you may demand to restore or revive information technology.

How to revive and restore M1 Macs, what the difference is, and when to utilise them

Factory reset MacBook running macOS Big Sur or earlier

Make a fresh backup of your Mac
Sign out of iCloud (Organisation Preferences > Apple ID > Overview > Sign Out)
Sign out of iMessage and FaceTime (in Preferences for each app)
Reset NVRAM (meet below for details on steps 4-7)
Boot into macOS Recovery
Erase your startup disk
Reinstall a fresh re-create of macOS

Reset NVRAM

Apple tree notes in a support document that resetting the NVRAM is important to exercise for Intel Macs without the Apple T2 Security Chip as it wipes out user settings and restores security defaults. Here'southward how to do information technology:

Close downward your Mac, and so turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Choice, Command, P, and R. Release the keys after about xx seconds.

Boot into macOS Recovery

On Apple Silicon Macs

Power down your Mac if it'southward on
Printing and hold the power push to turn it on and keep to hold information technology until you see the startup options
Cull macOS Recovery
Select Reinstall macOS
Follow the prompts

On Intel Macs

For Intel Macs, macOS Recovery will install a different version of macOS depending on the cardinal combination you use when starting upwardly your Mac (no installation discs or macOS loaded onto an external drive is needed). Hold down i of the following key combinations right after powering on your Mac, and let go when you meet the world or Apple tree logo.

⌘R (Command R) = Reinstall the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac, without upgrading to a subsequently version.
⌥⌘R (Pick Control R) = Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac

Apple tree notes on its support page, "if you're selling or giving abroad a Mac that is using Os X El Capitan or earlier, employ Option-Command-R to make sure that the installation isn't associated with your Apple ID." This also installs the latest available software.

how to factory reset MacBook Pro walkthrough 1

how to factory reset MacBook Pro walkthrough 2

Loading fourth dimension for macOS Recovery volition vary depending on your internet connexion. When the process is complete, you'll see the macOS Utilities window.

how to factory reset MacBook Pro walkthrough

Erase your startup disk (hard drive/solid land bulldoze)

Click Deejay Utility in the utilities window, then click Go along.
Select your startup disk in the sidebar of Disk Utility (click the top particular likeApple SSD, not the volume name,Macintosh Hard disk drive)
ClickErasein the top area of the utility window
Enter a proper name for the disk (Macintosh HD is the default on a new Mac), useMac Bone Extended (Journaled) for formatting, andGUID Partition Map for scheme or APFS, whatever is recommended past Disk Utility
Click Erase (once complete, in the carte bar clickDisk Utility→Quit Deejay Utility to return to the macOS Utilities window)

Stop manufacturing plant reset by reinstalling macOS

Back on the main macOS Utilities window, click onReinstall macOS
Follow the prompts and select which disk you lot'd like to install macOS (if you take multiple drives)
Plug in your power cable if you're using a Mac notebook
ClickInstall
If you have an SSD you lot may see a 10-xx infinitesimal installation gauge, if you accept an HDD likely longer
When the installation is complete yous'll see the welcome screen with the region selector. If keeping your Mac, go along on with the setup process. If selling or giving your Mac to someone else, use the keyboard shortcut ⌘Q to quit the setup assistant and ability your Mac downwardly.