How To Wipe Clean A Macbook 2009

If you're set up to sell, merchandise-in, or requite away your Mac or wipe it for another reason there are different steps to the process depending on what Mac you lot have and what version of macOS information technology'due south running. Notably, macOS Monterey includes a handy new erase option similar on iOS. Read forth for how to manufactory reset MacBook and other Macs.

Before you factory reset your Mac, brand certain that you accept a current fill-in.

And if you're running macOS Large Sur or earlier you lot'll want sign out of iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime. It doesn't hurt to sign out of whatever other accounts underOrganisation Preferences → Internet Accounts, besides. Yous may want to unpair whatever Bluetooth devices as well.

If y'all program on selling your MacBook with a butterfly keyboard on your own, information technology may be a practiced thought to have it replaced for free if y'all haven't already. We've also got a detailed guide on all the best options to trade in your Mac.

Selling your MacBook? Here'south how to repair the butterfly keyboard for gratuitous and get more than money
How to Trade in Your MacBook — The Ultimate Guide

How to factory reset MacBook and Mac desktops

Manufacturing plant reset MacBook running macOS Monterey

macOS Monterey offers an all-new Erase Banana for 2022 and afterward Macs. If you lot haven't upgraded already, it'due south easiest to factory reset a Mac that'southward running Monterey.

Make a fresh fill-in of your Mac
Open System Preferences
Click Organization Preferences in the carte bar > Erase All Contents and Settings
Follow the prompts to fully erase your Mac
Like iOS, the new erase process in macOS Monterey handles everything to fully wipe your Mac
The currently installed macOS version will remain

Here'south how the procedure looks:

You can read more about the new Erase Assistant in macOS Monterey in Apple'due south support certificate hither.

Note: If your M1/M1 Pro/M1 Max MacBook won't beginning upwardly properly, you may need to restore or revive it.

How to revive and restore M1 Macs, what the departure is, and when to employ them

Factory reset MacBook running macOS Big Sur or earlier

Make a fresh backup of your Mac
Sign out of iCloud (Arrangement Preferences > Apple ID > Overview > Sign Out)
Sign out of iMessage and FaceTime (in Preferences for each app)
Reset NVRAM (see below for details on steps four-7)
Boot into macOS Recovery
Erase your startup disk
Reinstall a fresh copy of macOS

Reset NVRAM

Apple notes in a back up document that resetting the NVRAM is important to do for Intel Macs without the Apple T2 Security Fleck as it wipes out user settings and restores security defaults. Hither'southward how to exercise it:

Shut down your Mac, so turn it on and immediately press and concord these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R. Release the keys after nearly 20 seconds.

Boot into macOS Recovery

On Apple tree Silicon Macs

Power down your Mac if it's on
Printing and hold the power button to turn it on and continue to concur it until you see the startup options
Choose macOS Recovery
Select Reinstall macOS
Follow the prompts

On Intel Macs

For Intel Macs, macOS Recovery will install a different version of macOS depending on the central combination you use when starting upwards your Mac (no installation discs or macOS loaded onto an external drive is needed). Agree downward one of the following central combinations correct after powering on your Mac, and permit get when you lot see the globe or Apple logo.

⌘R (Command R) = Reinstall the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac, without upgrading to a later version.
⌥⌘R (Option Command R) = Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac

Apple notes on its support page, "if you're selling or giving away a Mac that is using Bone Ten El Capitan or before, employ Option-Command-R to make sure that the installation isn't associated with your Apple ID." This also installs the latest available software.

how to factory reset MacBook Pro walkthrough 1

how to factory reset MacBook Pro walkthrough 2

Loading time for macOS Recovery will vary depending on your internet connection. When the process is complete, y'all'll see the macOS Utilities window.

how to factory reset MacBook Pro walkthrough

Erase your startup deejay (hard drive/solid state bulldoze)

Click Disk Utility in the utilities window, so click Continue.
Select your startup disk in the sidebar of Disk Utility (click the summit detail likeApple SSD, not the volume name,Macintosh Hard disk)
ClickErasein the top area of the utility window
Enter a name for the disk (Macintosh Hd is the default on a new Mac), useMac Os Extended (Journaled) for formatting, andGUID Segmentation Map for scheme or APFS, whatever is recommended by Disk Utility
Click Erase (in one case complete, in the bill of fare bar clickDeejay Utility→Quit Disk Utility to render to the macOS Utilities window)

Finish factory reset by reinstalling macOS

Back on the primary macOS Utilities window, click onReinstall macOS
Follow the prompts and select which disk y'all'd similar to install macOS (if you lot take multiple drives)
Plug in your ability cable if you're using a Mac notebook
ClickInstall
If you have an SSD yous may meet a x-20 minute installation judge, if you take an HDD likely longer
When the installation is complete you lot'll see the welcome screen with the region selector. If keeping your Mac, keep on with the setup procedure. If selling or giving your Mac to someone else, use the keyboard shortcut ⌘Q to quit the setup assistant and ability your Mac down.