How to Factory Reset MacBook Pro & MacBook Air

December 19, 2023 By Nancy William No Comments 9 minutes

Just in case you’re planning on selling your MacBook or are experiencing some issues with it, you’re going to have to factory reset MacBook devices. However, note that before proceeding, you will have to ensure all your data is backed up. We will get to those steps later on.

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This guide will cover everything you need to know and more so that you can easily give your MacBook a fresh start.

Before jumping to the tutorial on how to factory reset MacBook Pro and Air devices, we’ll first dive into some pointers you need to go through before running a reset.

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What You Should Consider Doing Before a MacBook Factory Reset

Before jumping to the tutorial, there are a few steps or rather precautionary measures you need to take care of. These steps will help you smoothly run a factory reset on a MacBook. Here’s what you should do:

Make Backups of Data on Your Mac

Before you run a factory reset on your Mac, it’s important for you to back up all data. To do this, you need to first sign out of your Apple accounts like iMessage, iCloud, etc. Then you need to back up data, and the easiest way is the Time Machine feature of Apple. This process is a lot simpler and gets the job done quicker. To find it, go to your “Settings” and click on “System Preferences” > “Time Machine.”

Take Note of Your MacBook OS and Age

For Mac devices that are new or that support the M1 and M2, it will have the Apple T2 security chip. This makes it easier to get the Erase Assistant feature. In short, it makes resetting to old factory settings way easier. However, if your Mac is from 2017 or does not run Monterey, you will need to use other methods, which, again, are not as simple compared to the procedure on newer models.

Just in case you’re looking to find out your Mac OS and year of make, you need to click on the Apple logo on the top-left corner of the screen and then click on “About This Mac.” It will show you the details you are looking for.

However, if your Mac device comes with Apple silicon, the “About This Mac” name will be “Chip,” and then the chip’s name. Alternately, if your MacBook has an Intel processor, the “About This Mac” option comes as “Processor” and then the name of the Intel processor.

How to Factory Reset MacBook Pro and Air Automatically

These steps on how to factory reset the settings on your MacBook Pro or Air are for those Mac devices that are running on Monterey and later. Here is how to start:

For macOS Monterey

Here is how to get started:

On your Mac device, go to the Apple menu. Select the “System Preferences” option.
Now select “Erase All Content and Settings.”

For macOS Ventura

Here is how to begin these steps:

On your Mac, go to the Apple menu. Click on “System Settings.”
Now, on the left sidebar, select “General.”
Click on “Transfer or Reset.”

Transfer or Reset factory settings MacBook Ventura

Next, click on “Erase All Content and Settings.”

Erase All Content and Settings MacBook Ventura

Now, once you select “Erase all content and settings,” here’s what you have to do to complete the factory reset settings on macOS Ventura and Monterey:

When prompted, log in with your Mac password and click on “OK.”
Again, if prompted, back up MacBook with Time Machine and your external device storage.
Select “Continue” to erase all of your device’s settings, account, photos, and other data.
Next, only if you’re asked, enter your Apple ID. This is to sign out of your account and then click on “Continue.”
Next, select “Erase All Content and Settings.”
Your device will now restart. You will either see the loading time or a black screen.
If prompted, connect your Bluetooth accessories to your Mac and connect to the Wi-Fi.
Click on “Restart” when your Mac powers back on.
Once restarted, you just have to follow all the onscreen assistant setup instructions.

How to Reset MacBook to Factory Settings Manually

Now, just in case you have a MacBook Pro or Air that is running OS Big Sur or earlier, the best way to factory reset would be manually.

However, to begin, you need first to take some extra steps like creating backups for your data, disconnecting from Bluetooth devices, logging out of your accounts, etc.

Create Backups of All Data

The first and most important step before running any factory resetting is to always back up all data, login information, files, etc. This is because when you factory reset any device, you lose everything that was on your MacBook. It would be like you’re using a brand-new device.

That said, make sure you back up your data on an external device or hard drive. This is due to the fact that the Time Machine feature only saves backups in external devices that you’ll have to connect with your MacBook.

MacOS Earlier Versions

Connect your Macbook to the external hard drive.
Click on the Apple sign to open the menu.
Click on “System Preferences.”
Select “Time machine” > “Backup disk.”
Lastly, follow all the onscreen instructions to complete.

For macOS Ventura or Later Versions

Connect your Macbook to the external hard drive.
Open the Apple menu on your device.
Select “System settings.”
Click on “General” > “Time machine.”
Now, tap on the “+” button.
Lastly, follow the onscreen instructions to complete.

Your storage data from your MacBook Pro or Air will now start backing up in bits and breaks via the “Time Machine” settings. However, if you’re looking for immediate backing up of your data, simply click on “Back up now” using the Time Machine menu.

After you’ve backed up all data, it’s time to sign out from your accounts to erase MacBook successfully.

Unpair Bluetooth Devices from MacBook

Other than backing up your data before factory resetting your MacBook, you need to unpair your Bluetooth devices from your device. This includes your mouse, keyboard, speakers, and more. It helps resolve and prevent issues revolving around privacy and security. Here is how you can do it:

Click on the Apple menu.
Tap on “System settings” or “System Preferences,” depending on the option you have.
Now, select “Bluetooth.”
To unpair the device you want, tap on it and click “Disconnect” or “x.”

Log Out of All Your Accounts

Again, before you reset MacBook Pro/Air, you need to make sure that you sign out from all your accounts. This is a precautionary step to ensure that you’re maintaining security and privacy online and protecting your data.

The main accounts to sign out of are your iCloud, iTunes, and iMessage. If there are other accounts that you need to sign out of, make sure you get that done.

Log Out of iCloud

Here is how to get started:

macOS (Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina)

Open the Apple menu.
Click on “System Preferences.”
Tap on “Overview.” You will find it in the sidebar.
Select “Sign out,” and you’re done.

For macOS Ventura and later versions

Open the Apple menu.
Click on “System Settings.”
Tap on your Apple ID. You will find it in the sidebar.
Scroll and click on “Sign out.”

macOS earlier versions

Open the Apple menu.
Select “System Preferences.”
Click on “iCloud”.
Now, click on “Sign out.”

Log Out of iTunes

Signing out from your iTunes account is relatively simple. Here is how to get started:

Select iTunes from your MacBook menu.
Next, click on “Accounts” > “Authorizations.”
Now, click on “Deauthorize this computer.”
Lastly, enter your Apple ID name and password.
Click on “Deauthorize.”

Sign Out of iMessage

Again, it’s straightforward and only takes four steps. Here’s how:

Open the MacBook “Messages” app.
Now, from the menu, click on “Messages” > “Settings.” Depending on your device, alternatively, click on “Preferences.”
Click on “iMessage.”
Lastly, on “Sign out.”

Reset NVRAM on Macs with Intel Processor

Make sure it’s only for your Mac devices without Silicon processors. Here is how you can get started:

First, turn off your Mac.
Now, when you power on your MacBook, you need to quickly press down on “Option, Command, P, and R.”
You can let go of the keys are around 20 to 25 seconds.
Your device will now restart.
All that is left to do is tweak any system settings that have been reset.

FAQs – Factory Reset MacBook

How do you factory reset Macbook Air automatically?

One of the easier ways of factory resetting MacBook Air is by going to the Apple menu, clicking on “System Settings” > “General” > “Transfer or Reset” > “Erase All Content and Settings.” Sign in to your device, and click on “OK.

Can you reset factory settings on MacBook Pro without an Apple ID password?

The easiest way to factory reset settings on MacBook Pro without using your Apple ID password is via the recovery mode. Before starting, create a back up of all data and then restart your MacBook. Once the light on the keyboard shuts, press down on the power button for a long bit till you see either startup options or loading options. Click on “Options” and then on “Continue.” When you see the recovery window, click on “MacOS Recovery.” Now, tap on the “Recovery Assistant” menu > “Erase Mac” > and then again on “Erase Mac” again.

How do you factory reset MacBook Pro without using a password?

If you’re not using a password, then go into recovery mode first, followed by the Disk Utility to wipe out and reinstall the MacBook.

To Conclude

And that’s a wrap! You now know how to factory reset MacBook automatically, manually, and on different macOS versions. Other than that, if you’re still planning on using your Mac device after running a reset to the factory settings, ensure that you take precautionary measures to secure your device and data. How? By using the best VPN for Mac. FastestVPN offers secure protocols for Mac, AES 256-bit encryption, fast speeds, IP privacy, and much more.