If you’re prepared to sell, trade in, or give away your Mac, or if you simply wish to wipe it for another purpose, it’s essential to follow specific procedures that vary based on your Mac model and the macOS version you’re using. Particularly, the latest macOS updates have introduced a streamlined erase option similar to iOS, making the process more accessible. In this guide, we’ll cover the steps needed to reset both MacBooks and Mac desktops effectively.
Before proceeding with the reset of your Mac, ensure you have a comprehensive backup of your important files. This step is crucial because once you erase your device, recovery of lost data becomes exceedingly difficult, if not impossible.
If you’re operating on macOS Big Sur or any version earlier than that, it’s crucial to sign out of iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime. Additionally, it’s advisable to sign out of any other accounts found under System Preferences → Internet Accounts. You may also consider unpairing any connected Bluetooth devices, as this will clear lingering connections.
If your Mac is running a more recent version of macOS, such as Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, or Monterey, you can skip those earlier steps. Let’s delve into the detailed process of how to reset your Macs across various macOS versions, including Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and their predecessors.
How to reset MacBooks and Mac desktops
macOS Sequoia, Ventura, and Sonoma: How to reset your Mac
- Open the System Settings app on your Mac
- Select General from the left sidebar
- Now click Transfer or Reset > Erase All Contents and Settings
- Enter your password if prompted, then follow the instructions to reset your Mac
Shortcut: Use the Spotlight search (accessed via the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner or by pressing cmd + spacebar) and type “erase” for quick navigation.
macOS Monterey: How to reset your Mac
For users of macOS Monterey, which is compatible with 2018 models and onwards, an Erase Assistant feature simplifies the process significantly.
- Make sure to back up your Mac comprehensively.
- Open System Preferences
- Select System Preferences in the menu bar > Erase All Contents and Settings
- Follow the on-screen prompts to completely erase your Mac
- Similar to iOS, the new erase process in macOS Monterey thoroughly wipes your Mac while retaining the currently installed macOS version
You can read more about the innovative Erase Assistant feature in macOS Monterey in Apple’s support document here.
Reset MacBooks and Mac desktops on macOS Big Sur or earlier
- Back up your Mac data completely.
- Sign out of iCloud (navigate to System Preferences > Apple ID > Overview > Sign Out)
- Be sure to sign out of iMessage and FaceTime in their respective Preferences.
- Reset the NVRAM (refer to the details on steps 4-7 below).
- Boot into macOS Recovery for reinstallation.
- Erase your startup disk to remove all data.
- Reinstall a fresh copy of macOS to restore factory settings.
Reset NVRAM
Apple emphasizes that resetting the NVRAM is crucial for Intel Macs without the Apple T2 Security Chip, as it erases user-specific settings while restoring security defaults. Here’s how you can do it:
Shut down your Mac, then turn it on while immediately pressing and holding these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R. Release the keys after roughly 20 seconds.
Boot into macOS Recovery
For Apple Silicon Macs
- Turn off your Mac if it’s currently on
- Press and hold the power button until you see the startup options appear
- Select macOS Recovery from the options provided
- Choose the option to Reinstall macOS
- Follow the prompts on the screen
For Intel Macs
Users with Intel Macs can enter macOS Recovery by using specific key combinations at startup, which will manage the installation of macOS without the need for separate installation media. Hold down one of these combinations immediately after turning on your Mac, and release them when you see the globe or Apple logo:
- ⌘R (Command R) = Reinstall the most recent version of macOS that was installed, without upgrading.
- ⌥⌘R (Option Command R) = Install the latest version of macOS compatible with your Mac
Apple advises that if giving away a Mac utilizing OS X El Capitan or earlier, you should use Option-Command-R to ensure the installation isn’t linked to your Apple ID. This also enables the installation of the most up-to-date available software.
Bear in mind that the load time for macOS Recovery may depend significantly on your internet connection speed. Once complete, you will see the macOS Utilities window.
Erase your startup disk (hard drive/solid state drive)
- Click on Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue.
- Select your startup disk from the sidebar of Disk Utility (click on the top item, e.g., Apple SSD, not the volume name).
- Click Erase in the top section of the utility window.
- Input a name for the disk (default is Macintosh HD), choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for formatting, and select GUID Partition Map or APFS as indicated by Disk Utility.
- Click the Erase button (after the process completes, choose Disk Utility → Quit Disk Utility to return to the macOS Utilities window).
Complete the reset by reinstalling macOS
- Back in the main macOS Utilities window, select Reinstall macOS.
- Follow the prompts, selecting the disk where you want to install macOS (if there are multiple drives).
- If using a Mac notebook, ensure you plug in your power cable during this process.
- Click Install.
- Expect the installation to take approximately 10-20 minutes for an SSD and considerably longer for an HDD.
- Upon completion, you’ll be greeted by the welcome screen featuring the region selector. If you are keeping your Mac, proceed with the setup process. Conversely, if you are selling or passing it to someone else, you can quit the setup assistant using the keyboard shortcut ⌘Q and power down your Mac.
Thanks for reading our detailed guide on how to reset MacBooks and Mac desktops effectively!
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**Interview with Tech Expert Giulia Rossi on Resetting Your Mac**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Giulia! Today, we’re diving into the process of resetting a Mac. Many users are unsure about how to approach this task. Could you start by explaining why someone might need to reset their Mac?
**Giulia Rossi:** Absolutely! There are several reasons someone might need to reset their Mac. These include preparing it for sale, trade-in, or donation, as well as simply wanting to wipe the device for other uses. The process is essential to ensure personal data is removed and the system runs optimally for the next user or purpose.
**Interviewer:** That makes sense. So, what should users do before they start the reset process?
**Giulia Rossi:** The most crucial step is to back up your data. Once you erase your device, recovering lost files can be nearly impossible. For those using macOS Big Sur or earlier, it’s vital to sign out of services like iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime. However, users on newer versions like Sequoia or Ventura can skip these steps as the system has streamlined the erase process.
**Interviewer:** Interesting! Can you walk us through the steps to reset a Mac running macOS Ventura or Sonoma?
**Giulia Rossi:** Certainly! For those versions, here’s what to do:
1. Open the System Settings app.
2. Select ‘General’ from the sidebar.
3. Click on ‘Transfer or Reset’ and then choose ‘Erase All Contents and Settings.’
4. You’ll be prompted to enter your password—just follow the instructions from there.
It’s as simple as that!
**Interviewer:** That sounds straightforward. What about those who have older versions like macOS Monterey or Big Sur? Are the steps different?
**Giulia Rossi:** Yes, they are a bit more intricate. For macOS Monterey, users can utilize the Erase Assistant feature, which simplifies the wiping process:
1. Back up the Mac data.
2. Open System Preferences.
3. Select ‘Erase All Contents and Settings’ from the menu bar.
For macOS Big Sur or earlier, it involves more steps, including signing out of services and booting into macOS Recovery to erase the startup disk and reinstall macOS.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of macOS Recovery, what does that process look like for different Mac models?
**Giulia Rossi:** For Apple Silicon Macs, you turn off the device, then press and hold the power button until startup options appear, and you select macOS Recovery. For Intel Macs, it’s about using key combinations at startup, like Command-R to reinstall the most recent version of macOS or Option-Command-R to install the latest version compatible with the device.
**Interviewer:** Great information, Giulia! Any final tips for our listeners?
**Giulia Rossi:** Be sure to double-check that you’ve backed up everything important before beginning the reset process. Additionally, consider unpairing Bluetooth devices to clear lingering connections. It’s all about ensuring a smooth transition for yourself or whoever next uses the Mac!
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Giulia! This guide on resetting a Mac is sure to help many users out there.
**Giulia Rossi:** You’re welcome! Happy resetting!
