How To Wipe Mac Clean And Start Over

How to Reset a Mac: Mill reset a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

(Paradigm credit: Laptop Mag)

Does your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro seem a little long in the tooth? Is there an consequence you tin can't seem to solve no matter how you try? Or exercise you want to sell your MacBook without a trace of personal data on it? Here'due south our guide on how to reset a MacBook How to Reset a MacBook or Any Mac Estimator — or any Mac reckoner — to solve any of those problems.

Beneath, we explain how to completely mill reset your MacBook (or iMac) to a like-new state. The instructions below (with a few minor tweaks here or there, depending on your exact auto) volition work for macOS Catalina and most older versions of the operating organization.

Before yous do this, be certain to support your data. If you lot're selling your MacBook, besides make certain to sign out of iMessage, iCloud and any other accounts before you reset. Worried nearly losing your information? Ringlet to the bottom of this commodity for steps you should take before factory resetting your MacBook.

How to reset a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

i. Agree down the Command and R keys on the keyboard and plow on the Mac. Let go when the Apple tree logo pops upwardly.

Hold down the Command and R keys on the keyboard and turn on the Mac

2. Select your language and proceed.

three. Choose Disk Utility and click Keep.

4. Choose your startup disk (named Macintosh Hard disk by default) from the sidebar and click the Erase push.

Choose your Startup Disk and click Erase

5. After y'all've chosen a name for the disk once it's erased, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the dropdown menu so click Erase. (If yous want to encrypt your disc for extra security, cull the "Journaled, Encrypted" pick. You lot'll be prompted to create a countersign.) Choose GUID Sectionalization Map.

6. Click Erase then Done and go out the window.

vii. If you haven't done this already, connect to Wi-Fi in the top correct-paw corner, just like you usually would on your Mac.

8. From the main carte du jour, choose Reinstall macOS and and then click Continue.

9. Press Continue. A popular-upward window will appear; choose Proceed there, as well.

10. Read the software license agreement and click Concur.

Read the software license agreement and click Agree

11. Choose your boot disk and click Install.

12. Await for the outset step of the installation to occur. (This is a good time to take a break and stretch your legs. Getting a sandwich is encouraged, just optional.)

13. The computer will restart and continue installing.

What to do before yous reset your MacBook

The guide above is focused on resetting your MacBook, but at that place are recommended actions to take earlier factory resetting your MacBook that you should be aware of. These pointers will ensure that you don't lose any personal files, photos or apps when you move from ane MacBook to another.

Hither are some things to consider doing before you lot reset your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.

Dorsum up your MacBook. We can't enlarge the importance of this step. Creating a backup volition protect your most valuable files. If you lot don't dorsum up your data, it will disappear into the ether when you perform a mill reset.
Sign out of iTunes. Choose Business relationship > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. If y'all're running the latest macOS, yous can skip this step.
Sign out of iCloud. Hit the Apple menu, get to System Preferences then click the Apple ID. Cull iCloud from the side console and Plough off Find my Mac. So click Overview and Sign out.
Sign out of iMessage. Open the Letters app, cull Messages so Preferences. Click iMessage and Sign Out.
Unpair Bluetooth devices. Go to the Apple menu > Organisation Preferences and cull Bluetooth. Here, you can unpair keyboards, headphones or other Bluetooth-enabled peripherals.

Now you know how to manufactory reset a MacBook or any Mac figurer!

From here, if you're looking to sell your reckoner, you're all washed — no demand to worry about the new possessor getting into your files or apps. If y'all desire to become back to the desktop, follow the prompts as if yous were setting up your MacBook for the outset time.

If your old Mac is still acting upwards and yous've decided y'all want to upgrade, check out our roundup of the best MacBooks bachelor now.