How to reset your MacBook or Mac desktop before selling or giving it away

When you’re able to promote, commerce in, or give away your Mac or wipe it for an additional cause, there are totally different steps to the method relying on what Mac you have got and what model of macOS you’re on. Notably, current macOS releases embody a helpful trendy erase choice like iOS. Learn on for reset MacBooks and Mac desktops.

Earlier than you reset your Mac, just be sure you have a recent backup.

In case you’re working macOS Large Sur or earlier, you’ll need to signal out of iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime. It doesn’t harm to signal out of another accounts beneath System Preferences → Web Accounts, too. You could need to unpair any Bluetooth units as nicely.

When you’re on a current model of macOS, you gained’t want to fret about these steps. Let’s dig into reset Macs in macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Large Sur, and earlier.

Easy methods to reset MacBooks and Mac desktops

macOS Ventura and Sonoma: Easy methods to reset your Mac

1. Open the System Settings app in your Mac
2. Select Common from the left sidebar
3. Now click on Switch or Reset > Erase All Contents and Settings
4. Enter your password if required, then comply with the steps to reset your Mac

Shortcut: You may also search your Mac for “erase” with Highlight search (magnifying glass in high proper nook or use keyboard shortcut cmd + spacebar)

macOS Monterey: Easy methods to reset your Mac

macOS Monterey provides a brand new Erase Assistant for 2018 and later Macs. When you haven’t upgraded already, it’s best to manufacturing unit reset a Mac that’s working Monterey.

1. Make a recent backup of your Mac
2. Open System Preferences
3. Click on System Preferences within the menu bar > Erase All Contents and Settings
4. Observe the prompts to completely erase your Mac
5. Like iOS, the brand new erase course of in macOS Monterey handles the whole lot to completely wipe your Mac
6. The presently put in macOS model will stay

Right here’s how the method seems to be:

You possibly can learn extra in regards to the new Erase Assistant in macOS Monterey in Apple’s help doc right here.

Word: In case your Apple Silicon MacBook gained’t begin up correctly, chances are you’ll want to revive or revive it.

Reset MacBooks and Mac desktops on macOS Large Sur or earlier

1. Make a recent backup of your Mac
2. Signal out of iCloud (System Preferences > Apple ID > Overview > Signal Out)
3. Signal out of iMessage and FaceTime (in Preferences for every app)
4. Reset NVRAM (see under for particulars on steps 4-7)
5. Boot into macOS Restoration
6. Erase your startup disk
7. Reinstall a recent copy of macOS

Reset NVRAM

Apple notes in a help doc that resetting the NVRAM is necessary to do for Intel Macs with out the Apple T2 Safety Chip because it wipes out person settings and restores safety defaults. Right here’s do it:

Shut down your Mac, then flip it on and instantly press and maintain these 4 keys collectively: Choice, Command, P, and R. Launch the keys after about 20 seconds.

Boot into macOS Restoration

On Apple Silicon Macs

• Energy down your Mac if it’s on
• Press and maintain the ability button to show it on and proceed to carry it till you see the startup choices
• Select macOS Restoration
• Choose Reinstall macOS
• Observe the prompts

On Intel Macs

For Intel Macs, macOS Restoration will set up a distinct model of macOS relying on the important thing mixture you employ when beginning up your Mac (no set up discs or macOS loaded onto an exterior drive is required). Maintain down one of many following key combos proper after powering in your Mac, and let go if you see the globe or Apple emblem.

• ⌘R (Command R) = Reinstall the most recent macOS that was put in in your Mac, with out upgrading to a later model.
• ⌥⌘R (Choice Command R) = Improve to the most recent macOS that’s suitable together with your Mac

Apple notes on its help web page, “in case you’re promoting or gifting away a Mac that’s utilizing OS X El Capitan or earlier, use Choice-Command-R to guarantee that the set up isn’t related together with your Apple ID.” This additionally installs the most recent accessible software program.

Loading time for macOS Restoration will differ relying in your web connection. When the method is full, you’ll see the macOS Utilities window.

Erase your startup disk (onerous drive/stable state drive)

1. Click on Disk Utility within the Utilities window, then click on Proceed.
2. Choose your startup disk within the sidebar of Disk Utility (click on the highest merchandise like Apple SSD, not the amount title, Macintosh HD)
3. Click on Erase within the high space of the utility window
4. Enter a reputation for the disk (Macintosh HD is the default on a brand new Mac), use Mac OS Prolonged (Journaled) for formatting, and GUID Partition Map for scheme or APFS, no matter is advisable by Disk Utility
5. Click on Erase (as soon as full, within the menu bar click on Disk Utility → Stop Disk Utility to return to the macOS Utilities window)

End reset by reinstalling macOS

1. Again on the primary macOS Utilities window, click on on Reinstall macOS
2. Observe the prompts and choose which disk you’d like to put in macOS (if in case you have a number of drives)
3. Plug in your energy cable in case you’re utilizing a Mac pocket book
4. Click on Set up
5. When you’ve got an SSD you might even see a 10-20 minute set up estimate, if in case you have an HDD probably longer
6. When the set up is full you’ll see the welcome display with the area selector. If conserving your Mac, proceed on with the setup course of. If promoting or giving your Mac to another person, use the keyboard shortcut ⌘Q to give up the setup assistant and energy your Mac down.

Thanks for studying our information on reset MacBooks and Mac desktops!

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