How to Wipe a Mac and Start Again

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

Before you lot factory reset your Mac, make sure that y'all have a current backup.

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

If you plan on selling your MacBook with a butterfly keyboard on your own, it may be a good thought to accept it replaced for free if yous oasis't already. We've also got a detailed guide on all the best options to trade in your Mac.

• Selling your MacBook? Hither'south how to repair the butterfly keyboard for free and get more than money
• How to Merchandise in Your MacBook — The Ultimate Guide

How to manufactory reset MacBook and Mac desktops

Factory reset MacBook running macOS Monterey

macOS Monterey offers an all-new Erase Banana for 2018 and later Macs. If you lot haven't upgraded already, it'due south easiest to factory reset a Mac that's running Monterey.

1. Brand a fresh backup of your Mac
2. Open System Preferences
3. Click System Preferences in the carte du jour bar > Erase All Contents and Settings
4. Follow the prompts to fully erase your Mac
5. Like iOS, the new erase process in macOS Monterey handles everything to fully wipe your Mac
6. The currently installed macOS version volition remain

Here'southward how the process looks:

You can read more about the new Erase Banana in macOS Monterey in Apple tree'southward support document here.

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

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

Manufacturing plant reset MacBook running macOS Large Sur or earlier

1. Brand a fresh backup of your Mac
2. Sign out of iCloud (System Preferences > Apple ID > Overview > Sign Out)
3. Sign out of iMessage and FaceTime (in Preferences for each app)
4. Reset NVRAM (see below for details on steps iv-7)
5. Boot into macOS Recovery
6. Erase your startup disk
7. Reinstall a fresh re-create of macOS

Reset NVRAM

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

Close down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately printing and hold these four keys together: Option, Control, P, and R. Release the keys after about 20 seconds.

Boot into macOS Recovery

On Apple Silicon Macs

• Power downwardly your Mac if it'south on
• Press and hold the power button to plough it on and continue to hold it until you see the startup options
• Choose macOS Recovery
• Select Reinstall macOS
• Follow the prompts

On Intel Macs

For Intel Macs, macOS Recovery volition install a different version of macOS depending on the key combination you use when starting upwardly your Mac (no installation discs or macOS loaded onto an external bulldoze is needed). Hold down one of the post-obit key combinations correct afterwards powering on your Mac, and let go when you lot see the earth or Apple logo.

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

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

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Loading fourth dimension for macOS Recovery will vary depending on your internet connectedness. When the procedure is complete, you'll see the macOS Utilities window.

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

1. Click Disk Utility in the utilities window, then click Continue.
2. Select your startup disk in the sidebar of Disk Utility (click the meridian item likeApple SSD, non the book name,Macintosh Hd)
3. ClickErasein the top expanse of the utility window
4. Enter a proper name for the disk (Macintosh HD is the default on a new Mac), useMac OS Extended (Journaled) for formatting, andGUID Segmentation Map for scheme or APFS, whatever is recommended by Disk Utility
5. Click Erase (in one case complete, in the menu bar clickDeejay Utility→Quit Disk Utility to return to the macOS Utilities window)

Finish mill reset by reinstalling macOS

1. Back on the main macOS Utilities window, click onReinstall macOS
2. Follow the prompts and select which disk y'all'd like to install macOS (if you take multiple drives)
3. Plug in your power cable if y'all're using a Mac notebook
4. ClickInstall
5. If y'all take an SSD you may run across a x-20 minute installation estimate, if you accept an HDD likely longer
6. When the installation is complete you'll see the welcome screen with the region selector. If keeping your Mac, continue on with the setup process. If selling or giving your Mac to someone else, utilise the keyboard shortcut ⌘Q to quit the setup assistant and power your Mac down.

Read more 9to5Mac tutorials:

• Hands-on: 100+ macOS Monterey changes and features [Video]
• MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Which should you purchase?
• How to utilize the new countersign manager and 2FA features in macOS Monterey
• How to create a bootable macOS Monterey USB Install bulldoze [Video]
• Here's what'southward new with the redesigned Safari in macOS Monterey and how information technology works

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Source: https://9to5mac.com/2022/01/10/how-to-factory-reset-your-macbook-and-other-macs/

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