How to Factory Reset a Mac

If you are selling your MacBook, trading it in for a newer model, or giving it to a family member, you must factory reset it. A factory reset wipes out all your personal files, removes your credit cards from Apple Pay, signs you out of iCloud, and completely unlinks the machine from your Apple ID.

Historically, resetting a Mac was an incredibly complex process that required booting into a hidden recovery mode and manually erasing the hard drive using Disk Utility. However, if you are running macOS Monterey or later on a modern Mac, Apple has finally introduced a simple, one-click “Erase All Content and Settings” button.

Crucial Warning: This process will permanently delete every single photo, document, and app on your computer. You must back up your data to an external hard drive (using Time Machine) or upload it to iCloud before you begin.

How to Reset a Mac (macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Later)

If your Mac is running a recent operating system, the reset process looks identical to an iPhone.

1. Click the Apple Logo () in the very top left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. In the left-hand sidebar, click on General.
4. On the right side of the screen, scroll down and click on Transfer or Reset.
5. Click the button labelled Erase All Content and Settings…

The Erase Assistant will launch. You will be prompted to type in your administrator password (the one you use to log into the computer every day). Follow the on-screen prompts. The Mac will eventually restart, display a black screen with an Apple logo, and slowly wipe the drive. When it boots back up to the “Hello” screen, the reset is complete.

How to Reset a Mac (macOS Monterey)

If you are running macOS Monterey, the feature exists, but the button is hidden in a slightly different location.

1. Click the Apple Logo () in the top left corner.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. When the System Preferences window opens, ignore the icons inside the window. Instead, look at the menu bar at the very top of your screen, right next to the Apple logo.
4. Click the words System Preferences in that top menu bar.
5. Select Erase All Content and Settings… from the drop-down list.

What if the “Erase All” Button is Missing?

If you cannot find the “Erase All Content and Settings” button, your Mac is either too old, or you are running an outdated operating system (like macOS Big Sur or older).

In this scenario, you must use the traditional, manual reset method.

1. Click the Apple Logo () > Restart.
2. As soon as the screen goes black, instantly press and hold two keys on your keyboard: Command (⌘) + R.
3. Keep holding them until you see an Apple logo or a spinning globe.
4. You will enter the macOS Recovery screen. Click on Disk Utility and click Continue.
5. In the left sidebar, select your main hard drive (usually named “Macintosh HD”).
6. Click the Erase button at the top of the window. Leave the format as APFS and click Erase.
7. When it is finished, close Disk Utility.
8. You will be back at the main Recovery screen. Click Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts to install a fresh copy of the operating system onto your newly blank drive.