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How to factory reset your Mac
How to factory reset your Mac

Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings.

Updated over a week ago

Use Erase All Content and Settings to quickly and securely erase all of your settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed.

Use Erase All Content and Settings

This feature requires macOS Monterey or later and a Mac with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip.

macOS Ventura

  1. From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings.

  2. Click General in the sidebar.

  3. Click Transfer or Reset on the right.

  4. Click Erase All Content and Settings.

macOS Monterey

  1. From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Preferences.

  2. From the System Preferences menu in the menu bar, choose Erase All Content and Settings.


After choosing Erase All Content and Settings, follow these steps to continue:

  1. An erase assistant asks you to sign in with your administrator credentials. Enter the password that you use to log in to your Mac, then click OK.

  2. If you're asked to back up your Mac before resetting it, you can open Time Machine and back up to an external storage device. Or click Continue to proceed without making a new backup.

    macOS Erase All Content & Settings Time Machine Backup window
  3. Click Continue to allow your settings, media, data, and the other listed items to be removed.

    macOS Erase All Content & Settings window showing items that will also be removed
  4. If you're asked to sign out of Apple ID, enter your Apple ID password and click Continue.

  5. Click Erase All Content & Settings to confirm that you want to proceed.

    "You are about to erase all content and settings from this Mac" popup window
  6. Your Mac restarts and shows a black screen or progress bar. If it needs to reconnect to a Bluetooth accessory such as a keyboard or mouse, you might be asked to turn on the accessory. If the accessory doesn't connect within 30 seconds, turn the accessory off and back on. When reconnecting to a Bluetooth keyboard, you're asked to choose a language.

  7. You might be asked to select a Wi-Fi network or attach a network cable. To select a Wi-Fi network, use the Wi-Fi menu

    in the upper-right corner of the screen.

  8. After joining a network, your Mac activates. Click Restart.

    macOS  "Your Mac is activated" window
  9. After restart, a setup assistant guides you through the setup process, as if you're setting up your Mac for the first time.

    If you're selling, giving away, or trading-in your Mac and want to leave it in an out-of-box state, don't use the setup assistant or your previously connected Bluetooth devices, if any. Just press and hold the power button on your Mac until it turns off.


If you can't use Erase All Content and Settings

Erase All Content and Settings is available only in macOS Monterey or later, and only on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip. If this feature isn't available or doesn't work on your Mac:

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