Want to return your Mac to its original factory state? Whether you’re selling, giving away, or simply troubleshooting issues, resetting your Mac is a straightforward process with the “Erase All Content and Settings” feature. This built-in tool securely wipes your personal information while preserving the currently installed operating system.
Using Erase All Content and Settings
The “Erase All Content and Settings” feature is the quickest and most efficient way to reset your Mac. However, it’s important to note that this feature is available only on Macs with macOS Monterey or later and equipped with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip.
Here’s how to use it based on your macOS version:
For macOS Ventura and later:
- Access System Settings: Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Settings”.
- Navigate to General: In the System Settings sidebar, click on “General”.
- Find Transfer or Reset: Scroll down the right-hand pane and click “Transfer or Reset”.
- Initiate Erase All Content and Settings: Click the “Erase All Content and Settings” button.
Activate Mac window with Restart button
New alt text: The final activation screen in macOS Monterey’s Erase All Content and Settings assistant, showing the restart button to complete the factory reset process on a Mac.
For macOS Monterey:
- Open System Preferences: Click the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”.
- Access Erase All Content and Settings: From the “System Preferences” menu in the menu bar, choose “Erase All Content and Settings”.
Completing the Reset Process
Once you initiate “Erase All Content and Settings”, an assistant window will guide you through the remaining steps. This assistant will present a summary of all data, settings, apps, and media that will be erased. Follow the on-screen prompts to proceed.
During the process, you may encounter these steps:
- Bluetooth Accessory Connection: If your Mac needs to reconnect to Bluetooth devices like a keyboard or mouse, you might be prompted to turn them on. If connection fails initially, power cycle the accessory. When reconnecting a Bluetooth keyboard, you’ll be asked to choose your language.
- Network Selection: You may be asked to connect to a Wi-Fi network or plug in a network cable. Use the Wi-Fi menu in the top-right corner to select a network if needed.
- Activation and Restart: After network connection, your Mac will activate. Click “Restart” when prompted to proceed.
After restart, the setup assistant will launch, guiding you through the initial Mac setup, just like a brand new device.
Leaving Your Mac in Factory Default State
If you intend to sell, donate, or trade in your Mac and want to leave it in an “out-of-box” condition, stop at the setup assistant screen. Do not proceed with the setup or connect any previously used Bluetooth devices. Simply press and hold the power button until your Mac completely shuts down. The next user can then start the setup process from scratch.
What If You Can’t Use “Erase All Content and Settings”?
If you don’t see the “Erase All Content and Settings” option, it means your Mac might be running an older version of macOS (older than Monterey) or is not equipped with Apple silicon or the T2 Security Chip.
In such cases, you can still reset your Mac to factory settings by reinstalling macOS from Recovery mode. This is a more involved process but achieves a similar outcome. For detailed instructions on reinstalling macOS, refer to Apple Support documentation.
Alternatively, if you’re considering upgrading or disposing of your older Mac, Apple provides options for trade-in and recycling. Learn more about Apple Trade In to see how you can responsibly recycle your device.
