How to Factory Reset a MacBook Air or Pro: Complete Guide

Factory resetting your MacBook Air or Pro returns it to its original state, removing all your personal data, settings, and applications. Whether you’re selling your MacBook, troubleshooting persistent issues, or starting fresh, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process safely and effectively.

Why Factory Reset Your MacBook?

Common reasons to perform a factory reset:

• 📦 Selling or giving away your MacBook
• 🔄 Trading in to Apple or a retailer
• 🐛 Fixing persistent software issues that other solutions can’t resolve
• 🆕 Starting fresh with a clean installation
• 🔒 Removing malware or suspicious software
• ⚡ Improving performance by clearing accumulated files
• 🎓 Returning a work/school MacBook to your organization

Before You Begin: Critical Preparation Steps

Step 1: Back Up Your Data

⚠️ WARNING: Factory resetting permanently deletes all your data. Back up everything important first!

Option A: Time Machine Backup (Recommended)

1. Connect an external hard drive (at least 256GB recommended)
2. Go to System Settings/System Preferences > Time Machine
3. Click Select Backup Disk
4. Choose your external drive
5. Click Use Disk
6. Wait for the initial backup to complete (may take several hours)

Option B: iCloud Backup

1. Go to System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud
2. Enable iCloud Drive
3. Upload important files to iCloud
4. Ensure you have enough iCloud storage

Option C: Manual Backup

1. Copy important files to an external drive or cloud storage
2. Export browser bookmarks
3. Save passwords from Keychain
4. Export photos, documents, and media files
5. Note down any important settings or configurations

Step 2: Sign Out of Important Services

Deauthorize iTunes/Music

1. Open Music (or iTunes on older macOS)
2. Click Account in the menu bar
3. Select Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer
4. Enter your Apple ID and password
5. Click Deauthorize

Note: You can only authorize up to 5 computers with your Apple ID.

Sign Out of iCloud

For macOS Ventura (13.0) and later:

1. Go to System Settings
2. Click your Apple ID name at the top
3. Scroll down and click Sign Out
4. Choose whether to keep copies of iCloud data on your Mac (doesn’t matter if resetting)
5. Enter your Apple ID password
6. Click Continue

For macOS Monterey (12.0) and earlier:

1. Go to System Preferences
2. Click Apple ID
3. Click Overview in the sidebar
4. Click Sign Out
5. Follow the prompts

Disable Find My Mac

Find My should automatically disable when signing out of iCloud, but verify:

1. Go to System Settings/Preferences > Apple ID
2. Click iCloud (if still signed in)
3. Toggle off Find My Mac
4. Enter your Apple ID password

Sign Out of iMessage

1. Open Messages
2. Go to Messages > Settings/Preferences
3. Click the iMessage tab
4. Click Sign Out

Step 3: Unpair Bluetooth Devices (Optional)

If you’re keeping your Bluetooth accessories:

1. Go to System Settings/Preferences > Bluetooth
2. Hover over each device
3. Click the X or Remove button
4. Confirm removal

Step 4: Check for Firmware Password

A firmware password can prevent erasure:

1. Restart your Mac
2. Immediately hold Option key
3. If you see a lock icon, you have a firmware password
4. Remove it before proceeding (see firmware password removal section below)

How to Factory Reset Your MacBook

The process differs between Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) and Intel-based MacBooks.

For Apple Silicon MacBooks (M1, M2, M3, M4 and later)

Method 1: Using System Settings (Easiest – macOS Monterey 12.0.1 and later)

1. Go to System Settings (click Apple menu > System Settings)
2. Click General in the sidebar
3. Click Transfer or Reset on the right
4. Click Erase All Content and Settings
5. Enter your administrator password
6. Review what will be erased
7. Click Continue
8. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password to disable Find My and Activation Lock
9. Click Erase All Content & Settings
10. Wait for the process to complete (15-30 minutes)
11. Your Mac will restart and show the setup assistant

Advantages:

• Fastest method
• Most user-friendly
• No need for Recovery Mode
• Keeps macOS installed

Method 2: Using Recovery Mode (Complete Reset)

1. Shut down your MacBook completely
2. Press and hold the power button until you see “Loading startup options”
3. Click Options > Continue
4. Select your user account and enter your password
5. From the menu bar, choose Utilities > Disk Utility
6. Click View > Show All Devices
7. Select the topmost internal drive (usually “Apple SSD” or similar)
8. Click Erase
9. Configure the erase settings:
   • Name: Macintosh HD (or your preference)
   • Format: APFS
   • Scheme: GUID Partition Map
10. Click Erase
11. Wait for the erase to complete
12. Click Done
13. Close Disk Utility
14. Select Reinstall macOS [Version Name]
15. Click Continue
16. Follow the on-screen prompts to reinstall macOS
17. Wait for installation to complete (30-60 minutes)

For Intel-Based MacBooks

Step-by-Step Process

1. Shut down your MacBook
2. Turn it on and immediately press and hold Command (⌘) + R
3. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo or spinning globe
4. Wait for macOS Recovery to load
5. Connect to WiFi if prompted (click the WiFi icon in the menu bar)

Erase Your Drive

1. From the macOS Utilities window, select Disk Utility
2. Click Continue
3. Click View in the toolbar > Show All Devices
4. Select your main internal drive (topmost entry, usually “Apple SSD”)
   • Don’t select just the volume (Macintosh HD)
   • Select the physical drive above it
5. Click Erase in the toolbar
6. Configure erase settings:
   • Name: Macintosh HD
   • Format:
     • For macOS High Sierra and later: APFS
     • For macOS Sierra and earlier: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
   • Scheme: GUID Partition Map
7. Click Erase
8. Wait for the process to complete (5-15 minutes)
9. Click Done
10. Close Disk Utility (Command + Q or Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility)

Reinstall macOS

1. Back in the macOS Utilities window, select Reinstall macOS
2. Click Continue
3. Click Agree to the terms and conditions
4. Select your Macintosh HD drive
5. Click Install
6. Wait for macOS to download and install (30-90 minutes depending on internet speed)
7. Your Mac will restart several times during installation

Note: By default, Recovery Mode reinstalls the macOS version that came with your Mac. To install a different version, see the “Installing Different macOS Versions” section below.

Alternative: Erase and Reinstall in One Step

Using Internet Recovery (Intel Macs)

If you can’t access regular Recovery Mode:

1. Shut down your MacBook
2. Turn it on and immediately press and hold:
   • Option + Command + R (installs the latest compatible macOS)
   • Shift + Option + Command + R (installs the original macOS that came with your Mac)
3. Keep holding until you see a spinning globe
4. Connect to WiFi
5. Wait for Internet Recovery to load (10-20 minutes)
6. Follow the same Disk Utility and reinstall steps as above

Installing Different macOS Versions

On Apple Silicon Macs

1. Boot into Recovery Mode (hold power button)
2. Before reinstalling, you can only install the current macOS or newer
3. To install older versions, you need to create a bootable installer

On Intel Macs

Option 1: Latest Compatible Version

• Hold Option + Command + R during startup

Option 2: Original Version

• Hold Shift + Option + Command + R during startup

Option 3: Current Version

• Hold Command + R during startup

What Happens After Factory Reset?

After the process completes, your MacBook will:

1. Restart automatically
2. Show the Setup Assistant (Welcome screen)
3. Display language selection and regional settings
4. Prompt for WiFi connection

If You’re Keeping the MacBook

Follow the Setup Assistant:

1. Select your country/region
2. Choose your keyboard layout
3. Connect to WiFi
4. Transfer Information (or choose “Not now”)
5. Sign in with your Apple ID
6. Create your user account
7. Set up Siri, Touch ID, Apple Pay, etc.
8. Choose privacy settings
9. Complete setup

If You’re Selling/Giving Away

Do NOT complete the Setup Assistant:

1. When you see the Welcome screen, press Command + Q
2. Click Shut Down
3. Your MacBook is now ready for the new owner
4. Leave it powered off

Removing Firmware Password (If Applicable)

If you set a firmware password, remove it before resetting:

Apple Silicon Macs

1. Boot into Recovery (hold power button)
2. Click Options > Continue
3. Select Utilities > Startup Security Utility
4. Click Turn Off Firmware Password
5. Enter the firmware password
6. Click Turn Off Password

Intel Macs

1. Boot into Recovery Mode (Command + R)
2. Select Utilities > Firmware Password Utility
3. Click Turn Off Firmware Password
4. Enter the current password
5. Click Turn Off Password

If you forgot your firmware password:

• Contact Apple Support with proof of purchase
• Visit an Apple Store with government ID and original receipt
• There’s no way to bypass it without Apple’s assistance

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem 1: Can’t Boot into Recovery Mode

Solutions:

• Ensure you’re holding the correct key combination
• Hold keys immediately after hearing the startup chime or seeing the Apple logo
• Try Internet Recovery instead (Option + Command + R)
• For Apple Silicon: Hold power button longer (10-15 seconds)
• Check for a firmware password
• Try an external keyboard if using a wireless one

Problem 2: Disk Utility Won’t Erase Drive

Error: “MediaKit reports not enough space on device for requested operation”

Solutions:

1. In Disk Utility, make sure you selected the top-level drive, not just a volume
2. Click View > Show All Devices
3. Select the physical drive (indented items are volumes)
4. Try erasing as APFS first, then erase again
5. Use Terminal to force erase:diskutil list diskutil eraseDisk APFS "Macintosh HD" GPT disk0 (Replace disk0 with your disk identifier)

Problem 3: “macOS Could Not Be Installed” Error

Solutions:

• Check your internet connection (reliable WiFi required)