How to Hard Reset a Macbook Pro to Factory Settings

Want to erase everything on your MacBook Pro and start fresh? Whether you’re troubleshooting an issue or planning to give away your laptop, here’s an easy way to erase everything and restore your MacBook to its original factory settings. On macOS Monterey and Ventura, you can use “Erase All Content and Settings” to reset your MacBook safely. For older versions, you can wipe your MacBook clean and reinstall the operating system in Recovery Mode. This article will guide you through resetting any MacBook Pro in minutes.

Quick Steps for Factory Resetting on MacBook Pro

1. On macOS Ventura and Monterey, open your System Settings.
2. Select General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings.
3. Enter your password and click OK.
4. Follow the prompts to back up your computer and select the content you want erased.
5. Restart your computer to complete the factory reset.
6. On older models, Erase All Content and Settings is found in the System Preferences menu bar.

Method 1: macOS Ventura

1. Open System Settings
   • Find this option in the Apple menu at the top-left corner of your screen.
   • Note: Resetting your MacBook Pro will delete all of the data on your computer. If you haven’t already created a backup, you should do so now.
2. Click General in the Left Sidebar
3. Click Transfer or Reset in the Right Panel
4. Click Erase All Content and Settings
   • This opens the Erase Assistant on your MacBook Pro, which will prompt you for your password.
   • Note: This option is only available if you’re using macOS Ventura on a MacBook Pro with the Apple Silicon chip (2021 models and later) or the Apple T2 Security chip (models from 2018 and later).
5. Enter Your Password and Click OK
   • Use the password you use to log in to your MacBook Pro.
6. Create a Backup When Prompted
   • Depending on your backup settings, you may be prompted to back up your Mac to an external hard drive using Time Machine.
   • To create a backup, connect an external drive (such as a USB flash drive), click Open Time Machine, and follow the on-screen instructions.
   • If you’ve already created a backup or don’t have any data you want to keep, click Continue to skip backing up again.
7. Review the Data to Be Erased and Click Continue
   • This screen displays a list of all items that will be deleted if you proceed with resetting your MacBook Pro.
   • If prompted to sign out of your Apple ID, enter your Apple ID passcode and click Continue.
8. Click Erase All Content & Settings
   • Your Mac will now restart and display either a progress bar or a black screen.
9. Activate Your Mac
   • After erasing, you may be asked to connect a network cable or select a Wi-Fi network to begin activation. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate your Mac.
10. Click Restart to Complete the Reset
    • This restarts your MacBook Pro and launches the setup assistant, guiding you through setting up your laptop as if it were new.
    • If you’re selling, giving away, recycling, or trading in your MacBook, you’re finished. The new owner, if any, should complete the setup process.
    • If you’re keeping your MacBook Pro, follow the on-screen instructions in the setup assistant to sign in and restore your backed-up data.

Method 2: macOS Monterey

1. Open System Preferences
   • Found in the Apple menu at the top-left corner of your screen.
   • Note: Resetting your MacBook Pro will delete all of the data on your computer. If you’ve created a backup using Time Machine, you’ll be prompted to back up again before you reset your MacBook. If not, be sure to make a backup before you reset your computer.
2. Click System Preferences Menu
   • It will be in your menu bar at the top-left corner of the screen.
3. Click Erase All Content and Settings on the Menu
   • This opens the Erase Assistant on your MacBook Pro, prompting you for your password.
   • Note: This option is only available if you’re using macOS Monterey on a MacBook Pro with the Apple Silicon chip (2021 models and later) or the Apple T2 Security chip (models from 2018 and later).
4. Enter Your Password and Click OK
   • Use the password you use to log in to your MacBook Pro.
5. Create a Backup if Prompted
   • If you’ve previously used Time Machine to create a backup of your MacBook Pro, you’ll be prompted to create a new backup before you continue.
   • To create a backup, connect an external drive (such as a USB flash drive), click ‘Open Time Machine, and follow the on-screen instructions.
   • If you’ve already created a backup or don’t have any data you want to keep, click Continue to skip backing up again.
6. Review the Data to Be Erased and Click Continue
   • This screen displays a list of all items that will be deleted if you proceed with resetting your MacBook Pro.
   • If prompted to sign out of your Apple ID, enter your Apple ID passcode and click Continue.
7. Click Erase All Content & Settings
   • Your Mac will now restart and display either a progress bar or a black screen.
8. Activate Your Mac
   • After erasing, you may be asked to connect a network cable or select a Wi-Fi network to begin activation. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate your Mac.
9. Click Restart to Complete the Reset
   • This restarts your MacBook Pro and launches the setup assistant, guiding you through setting up your laptop as if it were new.
   • If you’re selling, giving away, recycling, or trading in your MacBook, you’re finished. The new owner, if any, should complete the setup process.
   • If you’re keeping your MacBook Pro, follow the on-screen instructions in the setup assistant to sign in and restore your backed-up data.

Method 3: Earlier Versions & Intel Processors

Before You Begin

• Back Up Your Mac
  • Restoring your Mac to factory settings will erase everything on your hard drive. Save anything you want to keep before proceeding.

Determine Your Processor Type

• Check Your Processor
  • Click the Apple menu.
  • Click About This Mac.
  • If you have Apple Silicon, you’ll see a “Chip” section with a name starting with “Apple”.
  • If you have an Intel processor, you’ll see a “Processor” section with the name of an Intel processor.

Sign Out of Accounts

• Sign Out of iTunes (macOS Mojave or Earlier)
  • Open iTunes on your MacBook.
  • Click the iTunes menu and go to Account > Authorizations.
  • Click Deauthorize This Computer and follow the on-screen instructions.
• Sign Out of iCloud and iMessage
  • Ventura:
    • Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
    • Click your name in the sidebar.
    • Click Sign Out on the right panel.
    • Open the Messages app.
    • Click the Messages menu and select Settings.
    • Select iMessage and click Sign Out.
  • Earlier Versions:
    • Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
    • Click Apple ID (Catalina, Big Sur, and Monterey) or iCloud (earlier versions).
    • Click Sign Out.
    • Open the Messages app.
    • Click the Messages menu and select Settings.
    • Select iMessage and click Sign Out.

Start in Recovery Mode

• Apple Processors:
  • Shut down your Mac. Wait until the screen is black before continuing.
  • Press and hold the power button to start your MacBook. Do not lift your finger until you see the startup option screen, displaying your disks and an “Options” gear icon.
  • If prompted, enter your password to continue.
• Intel Processors:
  • Shut down your Mac. Wait until the screen is black before continuing.
  • Turn on your MacBook Pro, then immediately press and hold Command + R simultaneously. Keep holding these keys until you see the Apple logo or another image.
  • If prompted, enter your password to continue.

Using Disk Utility

1. Select Disk Utility and Click Continue
   • You’ll see Disk Utility in the list of recovery options.
2. Select Your Mac’s Hard Drive
   • Click the name of your Mac’s hard drive in the upper-left side of the Disk Utility window.
   • If you didn’t rename it, the default name is “Macintosh HD”.
   • If you have an Apple Silicon processor and previously used Disk Utility to create volumes, you’ll need to delete those volumes. Select each volume and click the – symbol, ignoring any volumes called “Macintosh HD” or “Macintosh HD – Data”.
3. Click the Erase Tab
   • It’s at the top of the Disk Utility window. A new window will open.
4. Enter a Name and Format Type
   • Use the name Macintosh HD in the Name field.
   • In the Format area, use the default option suggested by Disk Utility, which will be either APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
5. Click Erase
   • If you see Erase Volume Group, click that instead. This will erase the data on your MacBook Pro.
   • If you have an Apple processor, click Erase Mac and Restart to confirm.
   • If prompted, enter your Apple ID username and password to continue.
6. Click Done When Prompted
   • Your Mac is now completely erased.
   • Close the Disk Utility window to return to the utilities window.

Reinstall macOS

1. Click Reinstall macOS and Follow the On-screen Instructions
   • These steps will guide you through reinstalling macOS on your MacBook Pro. It will be the same version of macOS that came preinstalled.
   • When prompted, select a wireless network or connect your Mac to the internet using an ethernet cable.
2. Complete the Installation
   • Once macOS finishes downloading, you can install and set up the operating system as though the Mac were brand-new.
   • If you plan to sell or give away your MacBook Pro, follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS. When you reach the “Your Mac is Activated” screen, click Restart, and allow the next owner to complete the final setup steps.