How to factory reset a MacBook Pro (2023)

How to easily factory reset a MacBook Pro (Sonoma and Ventura): To utilize the “Erase All Content and Settings” feature, start by clicking on the Apple menu located in the corner of your screen. Next, select “System Settings.” In the sidebar, opt for “General,” then navigate to the right and choose “Transfer or Reset.” Finally, click on “Erase All Content and Settings.”

Are you encountering problems with your MacBook Pro? If you are, you might be considering a fresh start to eliminate any issues. Resetting your MacBook Pro to its original factory settings can effectively remove any glitches or problems. This step is particularly crucial if you’re looking to sell your MacBook or hand it over to someone else, as it safeguards your personal data and accounts from being misused.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your MacBook Pro.

Before You Begin, Backup your data!

Ensure Your Data is Safe: Prior to initiating a factory reset, it’s important to sign out of all your accounts, including iCloud and iMessage. Additionally, create a backup of your Mac’s data to ensure you don’t lose any valuable information. Apple’s Time Machine simplifies this process and can be accessed through System Preferences by selecting Time Machine.

Assess Your Mac’s Age and Operating System: The process of factory resetting can vary based on your Mac’s specifications. If your Mac was manufactured in 2018 or later, which includes all M1 and M2 Macs, it features Apple’s T2 security chip. This chip allows for an easier reset using the Erase Assistant feature, particularly if your Mac runs macOS Monterey. For Macs from 2017 or earlier, or if your operating system isn’t Monterey, the instructions are a bit more intricate.

Determining Your Mac’s Year and OS Version:

1. Click on the Apple logo situated in the top-left corner of the Menu bar.
2. Choose “About This Mac.”
3. If your Mac has an Intel processor, the “Processor” section will display the Intel processor’s name. For Macs with Apple silicon, this section will be labelled “Chip,” followed by the chip’s name. This information will help you identify your Mac’s architecture.

Keeping these points in mind will set you on the right track for a successful factory reset of your MacBook.

How to Factory Reset a MacBook Pro (macOS Monterey)

If you have a new Mac running macOS Monterey, then returning it to its factory settings is actually very easy thanks to its support for the Erase Assistant feature. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open System Preferences

Click the Apple logo on the top left corner of your screen, and select System Preferences from the dropdown menu.

2. Open Erase Assistant

Click the System Preferences option which appears next to the Apple logo in the menu bar and pick Erase All Contents and Settings in the dropdown menu.

3. Follow the Erase Assistant prompts

Erase Assistant will walk you through the factory resetting process, which will require you to log out of iCloud before it completes.

Once you’ve followed the steps, your Mac will reboot and return to factory settings, with the exception that it will still run the most current macOS instead of the version it originally came out of the box with.

How to Factory Reset a MacBook Pro (macOS X Yosemite – Big Sur)

1. Sign out of iCloud and other services

After creating a backup, it’s recommended to sign out of all Apple services such as iTunes, iCloud, and iMessage.

1. Open the Apple Logo menu in the upper-left corner and click on System Preferences.
2. Click on Apple ID if you’re using macOS Catalina (10.15) or later. If you’re using an older version of macOS, click iCloud instead.
3. On the left side, select Overview, and click on the Sign Out button at the bottom. Earlier versions of macOS should directly have the Sign Out button.
4. Next, sign out of your Apple Music account, or iTunes account if your MacBook Pro is running on macOS Mojave (version 10.14 or below).
5. Open the Music/iTunes app.
6. On the top menu bar, you should see the option for Account.
7. Open the drop-down menu, and click on Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
8. You’ll be asked to enter your Apple ID and password to confirm the same.
9. Finally, you should sign out of the Messages app.
10. Open the Messages app on your MacBook Pro, click Messages on the top menu bar, and open Preferences.
11. Click on the iMessage tab and you should see the option to Sign Out next to your Apple ID.

2. Factory Reset

Let’s move forward with the factory reset process for your MacBook Pro, which will clear out all data, applications, and settings.

1. Begin by powering up your MacBook Pro and entering recovery mode. Do this by turning on your Mac and promptly pressing and holding the Command (⌘) and R keys simultaneously.
2. If prompted, choose a user for whom you know the password. Then, provide the administrator password associated with that user.
3. Within the utility window, locate and select “Disk Utility,” then proceed by clicking on “Continue.”
4. In Disk Utility, spot “Macintosh HD” on the sidebar and tap the “Erase” button found in the toolbar.
5. Opt for the APFS disk format if your macOS version is 10.13 High Sierra or later. This format is also recommended for newer SSDs. However, if you’re using an older MacBook Pro, select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” instead.
6. Click on “Erase Volume Group.” If you don’t find this button, click “Erase” instead. Once the erasure process concludes, focus on other internal volumes in the sidebar. To remove any other volume, use the delete volume button in the toolbar.
7. After finishing the disk erasure, exit Disk Utility and return to the utility window.
8. In the utility window, select “Reinstall macOS.” Proceed by clicking “Continue” and follow the onscreen instructions to successfully reinstall macOS.
9. Throughout the macOS reinstallation, ensure that you keep the laptop lid open. This is important to prevent any issues while the operating system is being installed.