If y'all are selling your MacBook or Mac, trading information technology in, or just passing it on to friends or family - yous would exist wise to wipe the Mac and restore it to manufactory settings outset. This is partly and then that your information stays rubber, but it volition as well avert any bug at a later engagement that could come up about if yous don't disconnect that Mac from diverse services and software you might use. It besides means the new user can restart the Mac as if it was brand new.

Just remember that if someone is going to exist using the Mac after y'all, removing personal information alone isn't plenty - you likewise need to make sure in that location's a working version of macOS installed afterwards. Read our guide to selling a Mac.

Another reason why you might want to wipe your Mac is to perform a clean install of macOS - which tin can be a good style to prepare issues with your Mac if it'due south starting to behave oddly or yous are worried you might have a virus. Wiping a faulty Mac volition allow you lot to set it up like a new Mac - which will hopefully ready any software-related issues you are having.

Follow our guide to exercise the following:

  • Clone or dorsum upwardly your Mac
  • Erase all your information from your Mac
  • Restore your Mac to its mill settings
  • Reinstall macOS

First a fleck of good news: If you take macOS Monterey on an M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, or a Mac with a T2 chip, the process for erasing the content on your Mac has just got and so much easier thank you to a new option in Arrangement Preferences. Nosotros'll run through the new steps below.

Step 1: Support your Mac

Before you do anything y'all should support or clone your Mac. This is considering - equally y'all would expect - resetting a Mac to mill settings gets rid of all the data stored on that motorcar.

Don't autumn in to the trap nosotros barbarous into: Because nosotros utilise iCloud to sync all files across all our Apple tree devices we causeless that we could but recover everything nosotros needed from the deject - which was true to a certain extent, just it wasn't until subsequently we wiped the Mac that nosotros realised that the data for one non-Apple tree app we used wasn't in the cloud. In these days of working predominantly in the cloud it is an easy mistake to brand! Unfortunately you lot tin't withal support everything on your Mac to iCloud.

Luckily backing upwards your Mac is easy to practise - equally long equally y'all have a external difficult bulldoze to use. This tin exist done very merely using Apple's Time Machine software - here'due south how to back upwardly using Fourth dimension Machine. The best thing virtually backing up with Fourth dimension Car is it makes it really piece of cake to move your information to a new Mac afterwards.

If you lot don't want to use Apple'southward free Time Machine software, or you can make a clone of the whole hard bulldoze using a program like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper (both are available as free trials).

This cloned drive can be re-cloned back to the main drive if you determine to restore your Mac, or information technology can be used to access all the original files and transfer them and all your settings to your new calculator.

Nosotros have a complete guide that explains how to back upwardly a Mac also equally this guide to the all-time Mac Backup Software.

Step 2: Prepare and erase your Mac

You know you need to erase the Mac before you pass it on, only before you delete everything there'southward some more admin to practise starting time.

If y'all have a M1 Mac, or an Intel Mac with a T2 flake within, and y'all are running macOS Monterey, this procedure is a little easier with many of the steps taken care of past a new choice in System Preferences. If your Mac is older then the steps you lot need to take are a picayune more complicated, nosotros'll run though the steps for older Macs below.

M1 Macs and Intel Mac with T2 flake running macOS Monterey

If you accept a M1 Mac, or an Intel Mac with a T2 chip within, and you are running macOS Monterey this process is a trivial easier with many of the steps taken care of by a new option in System Preferences.

These Intel Macs have the T2 security chip:

  • MacBook Air from 2018
  • MacBook Pro from 2018
  • Mac mini from 2018
  • iMac 27-inch from 2020
  • iMac Pro
  • Mac Pro from 2019

How to erase an M1 Mac, or a Mac with T2 bit

A new option arrived in System Preferences in macOS Monterey that takes care of a lot of the complicated steps involved in wiping your Mac - as long equally it is an M1 Mac or one with a T2 chip, every bit detailed in a higher place.

If you click on the new Erase All Content and Settings pick and so everything will be taken care of, including removal of your stored fingerprints for Touch ID, your Apple tree ID, anything in the Wallet app, and Notice My. Activation Lock will also be removed and Bluetooth devices volition exist unpaired. Information technology also removes all your data and user-installed applications.

  1. Open System Preferences.
  2. Click on System Preferences in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
  3. Click on Erase All Content and Settings. How to delete Mac
  4. Enter your password.
  5. You'll be reminded to do a backup with Time Car before you brainstorm deletion - but you lot can skip that stride.
  6. A window will testify you what will be deleted, including Apple ID, Affect ID, accessories, and Find My settings.
  7. Finally you will need to log out of your Mac and all related services using your Apple ID.
  8. Before your Mac is erased you receive a final warning, so if you accept 2nd thoughts at least y'all tin stop at this indicate! Erase Mac Monterey
  9. Having clicked the second Erase All Content & Settings your Mac will restart. Eventually you will see a black screen while it restarts.
  10. Once your Mac restarts you can become through the steps to set it up as new, or you can leave information technology at this stage for the side by side owner to set up. Just plow the Mac off beginning.

How to gear up and erase an older Mac

Unfortunately if your Mac is older than those above, or doesn't have Monterey installed (if the latter is the example and then y'all volition probably exist ameliorate off updating the software first every bit it will make things simpler for you), you lot will demand to run through the steps beneath:

1. Deauthorise your accounts

You lot need to disconnect the Mac from any services you are linked to.

That means signing out of things similar Apple tree Music/iTunes, iCloud, Messages, and Find My.

For example, in the Music app (or iTunes in older versions of macOS) you will need to deauthorise your iTunes Shop account and log out. This is important because you tin only use upwardly to five Macs to play music and movies that are locked to your iTunes/Music account. The method of deauthorising your music services varies depending on which version yous've got.

  1. Open the Music or iTunes app and click on Account, then log out.
  2. Open the App Store app, click on Shop, then log out.
  3. Click on System Preferences > Apple tree ID. And so click on Overview and Sign Out. When information technology asks if you want to keep a re-create of the iCloud information only deselect everything (of grade make sure you lot back that data upward somewhere). Then click Continue and await for it to sign out (which may accept a while). You'll eventually be asked if you lot want to download photos to the Mac (you don't unless you want to make a back upwards). Finally enter your Apple ID Countersign to confirm, and enter the countersign for the Mac.

2. Unpair Bluetooth devices

This is especially important if you are passing your Mac on to someone in your abode or office as any Bluetooth device that may have in one case been paired with your sometime Mac may connect to the old ane once more - which could be frustrating if you want to use it with your new Mac. It might also mean your new keyboard or mouse won't work.

3. Turn off FileVault (if you use it)

FileVault encryption tin can make it difficult for unauthorized persons to admission the data on your Mac. If you lot are using FileVault to encrypt the data on your Mac before yous delete your data and set the Mac for auction you lot should plow it off - this seems illogical equally you lot want to protect your data, but y'all will exist removing the data.

  1. To turn information technology of go to Arrangement Preferences
  2. Click Security & Privacy.
  3. Click on FIleVault.
  4. Click on the lock and enter your name and password.
  5. Click Plow Off FileVault.

4. Reset NVRAM

Another way to be absolutely certain that none of your personal settings remain on the Mac is to reset the NVRAM.

The NVRAM is a small amount of memory that your Mac uses to store sure settings. Resetting information technology will clear your user settings and restore any security features you might take adjusted.

Here's how to reset the NVRAM:

  1. Agree downwards Option/Alt, Control, P and R.
  2. Wait 20 seconds and release the keys.

Note, y'all tin't reset the NVRAM on an M1 Mac in the same mode. You tin can alter the settings only yous tin can't reset it. All the same, y'all may not need to because it seems to exist the case that the M1 Flake tests the NVRAM when the computer is started from shutdown (i.eastward. non after a normal reboot). If something is wrong with the memory it is reset automatically. We describe how to reset NVRAM in this article: How to reset NVRAM on an M1 or Intel Mac. Of form, if you lot accept an M1 Mac y'all won't demand to do this footstep anyway.

5. Restart your Mac in Recovery

Now you lot have backed everything up, deauthorised your accounts and unpaired devices, yous are set to get-go to erase everything on the Mac. To do so yous need to enter Recovery mode. This will enable yous to wipe the Mac.

How to enter Recovery on an Intel Mac

  1. Click the Apple logo at the top left of the screen and select Restart.
  2. Immediately hold downward the Control and R keys until you see an Apple logo or spinning world. (You may be better off using a dissimilar key combination depending on the age of your Mac, and which macOS you want installed or was installed on the Mac when you bought it - we accept a complete guide to starting a Mac in Recovery Mode here). For instance, Apple recommends that "if you're selling or giving away a Mac that is using Os 10 El Capitan or before, use Option-Command-R to make sure that the installation isn't associated with your Apple tree ID".
  3. Expect it to take a while for the Mac to start upwards in this mode.
  4. You may run into a screen asking you to choose a language.
  5. The next screen yous'll see is the Recovery Mode Utilities window. Since macOS Sierra and afterwards it looks something like this:

How to factory-reset a Mac: Recovery Mode Utilities

If you're having problems considering Command + R isn't doing the trick, read this: How to reinstall macOS if Recovery won't piece of work.

Note: The process past which you access Recovery on a M1 Mac is unlike to the process on an older Intel-powered Mac, just, because if you lot have an M1 Mac you will probably have used the Erase All Settings this shouldn't be necessary for y'all. If yous practise want to enter Recovery on an M1 Mac, instead of pressing the Command and R buttons when you restart your Mac y'all volition demand to practise the following:

  1. Turn off the computer by clicking on the Apple logo and choosing Close Downwards...
  2. At present press and hold the power button to turn the Mac on once more. Go along belongings the power button!
  3. When the Apple logo appears you lot'll also see text informing you that if you continue holding y'all will be able to admission startup options.
  4. Continue to hold the button down (probably for effectually 5 more seconds) and the text should switch to Loading Startup Options.
  5. Somewhen you will be able to select Options > Go on.
  6. This will open up upward Recovery.

We too detail how to admission Recovery on an M1 Mac in this article: How to do everything on an M1 Mac.

6. Erase and reformat your Mac

Now you take entered Recovery you can erase your Mac.

Again, the instructions are a petty different depending on the version of macOS yous are using and whether your Mac is Intel or M1.

We'll run through the method in Monterey, Large Sur and Catalina, before moving onto Mojave and previous versions of macOS below that.

How to delete your Mac in Big Sur/Monterey on an Intel Mac

  1. Now that you are in Recovery, as per the instructions to a higher place, yous need to select Disk Utility from the listing.
  2. In one case in Disk Utility select Macintosh HD (or whatever you have called your 'difficult drive').
  3. At that place are diverse options forth the elevation: click on Erase.
  4. You should see the name of your drive and the format should be APFS. Underneath you should meet an option to Delete Volume Grouping (this will ensure you delete both the Macintosh Hard disk and Macintosh Hd Data.)
  5. Once you have deleted the Macintosh Hd you can then click on whatsoever other drives and volumes and click the - to delete the volume.

To make sure yous delete everything you will demand to cull Erase Book Group, if y'all don't meet this option try the instructions below.

How to delete your Mac in Catalina

When Apple introduced macOS Catalina in 2019 it added a new read-only volume where the operating arrangement lives. This volume is Macintosh Hard disk drive (yours may have a dissimilar proper name). Alongside it y'all volition too have a Macintosh Hd - Data volume. This is where your data resides.

The reason Apple separated the 2 volumes in Catalina is to ensure that critical operating system data can't be overwritten. Because of this actress volume the process is a petty different to how it works on older Mac.

  1. As per the steps above start up your Mac in Recovery.
  2. Once Recovery starts upward cull Disk Utility.
  3. You should see two disks - Macintosh Hard disk and Macintosh Hard disk drive - data (shown below - sorry about epitome quality!) This data drive is where your data is stored separately to the macOS installation. (It's possible your bulldoze is chosen something else, like Abode HD for example). Macintosh HD Data
  4. Click on this Macintosh HD - Data drive to select it.
  5. Either click on the - button or go to the menu and choose Edit > Delete APFS volume.
  6. Y'all will meet a message warning you that this volition permanently erase your information. Click on Delete.
  7. Wait while the volume is deleted. Delete Macintosh HD Data
  8. At present you lot need to go back to Disk Utility to delete the Macintosh Hd. You take to do both steps as you lot won't merely be able to reinstall macOS over the top of macOS. And you volition demand to reinstall the macOS in order to recreate the Macintosh Hard disk-Information volume. Click on Macintosh Hd to select information technology.
  9. We recommend that you click Unmount. Initially when we tried to delete Macintosh HD we saw an mistake message that stated: Erase process has failed because volume Macintosh HD on disk 2s5 couldn't be unmounted because it is in apply by process 793 (kextcache). Unmounting get-go fixed this problem.
  10. With Macintosh HD notwithstanding selected click on Erase. Erase Macintosh HD
  11. Enter a name you want to give the drive in one case you lot take reformatted it, such equally Macintosh Hd.
  12. Choose the format. This is will exist APFS if you are using Catalina - older OSs might take had the option of  Mac Bone Extended (Journaled).
  13. Click Erase and enter your Apple ID if required. Wait.
  14. Now quit Disk Utility to return to the MacOS Utilities screen.

How to delete your Mac in Mojave or earlier

The procedure for deleting and reformatting your Mac is slightly less complicated in macOS Mojave or earlier as there isn't the 2d Data book to delete kickoff.

As above, get-go upward in Recovery.

  1. Select Disk Utility from the options, and click Go along.
  2. Click on your main hard drive, typically called Macintosh HD, in the sidebar on the left. You're looking for the deejay proper noun, not the book name indented underneath information technology if that appears. How to factory-reset a Mac: Disk Utility
  3. To wipe your difficult drive, click the Erase push, then click Erase. Note that this permanently erases all information on the hard drive and then don't do this unless you've cloned the drive or are happy to never access anything on that drive once again. How to factory-reset a Mac: Erasing the hard drive
  4. When it'south finished, exit the program by going to the top card and selecting Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility.

Stride 3: Reinstall macOS

The next step involves reinstalling macOS - you tin't merely sell your Mac having erased the contents - if y'all do the new user volition exist confronted with a flashing question mark when they starting time upward the Mac because in that location will be no operating organisation installed. You demand to reinstall macOS before y'all can sell it on.

If you accept an M1 Mac, or a Mac with the T2 bit, this will be handled by the Erase All Contents and Settings option in Organisation Preferences, every bit detailed above. Just if that isn't an option for you then the below guide should assistance:

How to reinstall macOS

Whether you are reselling the Mac, or just planning to go on to use the Mac and only wanted to do a clean install you lot volition want to install a version of macOS.

Y'all should still be in macOS Utilities as per the steps above.

  1. Choose Reinstall macOS from Utilities and follow the instructions that appear  to reinstall macOS.
  2. Your Mac will commencement to download and install which ever version of macOS your Mac was running - alternatively, if you wanted to install an older version of macOS we take more information below.
  3. Eventually after the longest-ever 49 mins or so your Mac will restart. But the wait isn't over. It volition all the same take a lilliputian time while you kickoff upwardly and watch the white bar. Ours said 11 minutes remaining around that time, merely it took a lot longer than that. Just exit your Mac to get on with it and ignore whatsoever time remaining indicators.
  4. Finally you will encounter the Welcome screen. If you are selling or passing on your Mac you tin can go out it at this phase considering the new user will need to input their details. If yous desire to go along to use the Mac then follow the steps to set it up.

How to install an older version or downgrade macOS

The method in a higher place will work if you lot want to install the latest version of macOS installed on the Mac. It won't upgrade you to the latest version if you aren't already running it.

At that place are other options if yous want to install a different version of the macOS.

Instead of pressing Command + R at start upwardly you could press Shift + Choice/Alt + Command R (if you are running Sierra 10.12.iv of later) to install the version of macOS that came with your Mac, or the one closest to it that is however available. (Command + R won't work on an M1 Mac).

Alternatively y'all could make a bootable bulldoze containing the version of macOS that you desire to run and install it on your Mac using that. Read how to do that here: How to make a bootable macOS installer on an external drive.

If you need to install an older version of the Mac operating organization and are wondering how you lot tin do that if you haven't got the original discs, read this: How to install onetime versions of macOS or Mac OS X.

We take another commodity that goes into more detail on how to install an older version of macOS using Recovery manner.