A factory reset is the solution for you whether you’re preparing to upgrade to the newest M4 MacBook Air or you just want a fresh start to eliminate any performance problems. In addition to making it simpler for the next owner to get started, factory resetting a Mac before selling or trading it is an essential privacy and security measure.

You should remove all of your personal data and files from your Mac before selling it, giving it to a friend or family member, recycling it, or donating it to a charity. It is an important security precaution that you should not overlook. Even if you have faith in the future owner of your Mac, the hard drive is overflowing with private data that you would want not to be accessible. The possibility of malware infiltrating and obtaining your personal information is always there.

Are you prepared to erase all data and restore your old Mac to its original factory settings? Which MacBook model and operating system you’re using will determine the precise actions you need to perform. You may use whatever guide works best for your laptop by following the instructions we’ve provided for both earlier and newer models (running Monterey OS or later and having Apple Silicon or the Apple T2 security chip).

How to use macOS Monterey or later to factory reset a more recent MacBook
A built-in erase assistance in the settings of more recent MacBook models makes it easy to swiftly delete your data and do a factory reset. You should be able to use the Erase All Content and Settings feature if your MacBook is running macOS Monterey or later and contains an Apple Silicon or Apple T2 security chip.

1. Launch the erase assistant
   Click the Apple symbol in the top-right corner of your screen and choose System Settings if you’re using macOS Ventura or later. Select General > Erase All Content and Settings > Transfer or Reset. After that, the erase helper will launch. Click the Apple symbol in the top-right corner of your screen and choose System Preferences if you’re using macOS Monterey. Select Erase All Content and Settings from the menu bar. The wipe assistance will then appear if your laptop is compatible. It’s possible that your MacBook is older and you’ll need to reset it using a different method if you don’t see the Erase All Content and Settings option or get an error message saying that the erase assistant isn’t supported. For our second set of instructions for earlier MacBooks, scroll below.
2. Review your data and adhere to the on-screen directions.
   What will be wiped will be summarized for you by the erase assistance. Then, to proceed with the factory reset, adhere to the instructions shown on the screen. You must provide your MacBook’s administrative credentials. After that, sign the MacBook out of Find My Mac by using your Apple account login. Before starting the reset procedure, you could be prompted to backup your data. Before erasing anything, it’s a good idea to stop and backup your data to an external hard drive if you neglected to do so before.
3. Verify that you want to remove all data and settings from the MacBook screen by indicating that you want to do so.
   Apple If you continue, a popup will appear indicating that your data and settings will be permanently deleted. To confirm that you want to reset your MacBook, choose Erase All Content & Settings when you’re ready to go on. After that, your laptop will restart and start the process of wiping off all of your data. During this part of the procedure, you could see a progress bar or your screen may go black. During this deletion procedure, you can also be prompted to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network. Additionally, your laptop will often disconnect from Bluetooth peripherals like an external keyboard or mouse. The Activate Mac screen will appear when the reset is finished, letting you know that your MacBook has been restored to factory settings and is ready for recycling or sale. You may start the setup procedure from scratch with the Setup Assistant if you want to retain the laptop or want to configure it for a family member. Turn on the Mac screen on an Apple MacBook. How to restore an older MacBook to factory defaults
   Before selling or giving your MacBook, you will need to go through a somewhat lengthier procedure to delete your data if you are using an older operating system or if your model does not include the Apple Silicon or T2 chip.
4. Log off of your accounts.
   It’s time to erase all evidence of you from the computer after moving your data to your new Mac or creating a last backup to protect your data. You must first log out of every account you have. This was done with iTunes years ago, but today you have to sign out of each of the three applications separately: books, TV, and music. Select Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer after launching any of those applications. After entering your password and Apple ID, you must click the Deauthorize option. MacOS app deauthorization Matt Elliott/CNET After that, log out of iCloud and disable Find My Mac. Uncheck Find My Mac after selecting iCloud on the left side under System Preferences > Apple ID. After that, choose Overview from the panel on the left, and then select Sign Out. Finally, you will need to exit Messages. Navigate to Messages > Preferences, choose the iMessage tab, and then select Sign Out after launching the Messages app.
5. Unpairing Bluetooth
   Unpairing any Bluetooth devices is a smart idea if you’re giving your old Mac to your child or another family member so that your mouse or keyboard may manage the new Mac without interfering with the old one. To unpair a device, choose System Preferences > Bluetooth, place your mouse pointer over it, click the X icon next to its name, and then select Remove. Unpairing Bluetooth on a Mac
   Matt Elliott/CNET 3. NVRAM reset
   Screen resolution, time zone, volume level, and initial disk selection are among the crucial variables that your Mac keeps in its NVRAM before running macOS. Resetting the NVRAM will offer your Mac’s future owner a fresh start since these files may sometimes get damaged. To do this, switch on your Mac after shutting it down, then hit and hold the Option, Command, P, and R keys simultaneously. After around twenty seconds, you may let off of the keys. That’s it! The NVRAM on your Mac has been reset.
6. Resetting the factory
   To remove all of your data and reinstall MacOS, you must put your MacBook into Recovery Mode. When an old Intel-based Mac restarts, press and hold Command-R to enter Recovery Mode. After you see the Apple logo, you may let go of the keys. Booting into Recovery Mode on a Mac with an M1 processor is a little different. To access the utilities window, just press and hold the power button until the starting choices window appears, then choose choices and Proceed.) utility-erase-volume The MacOS Utilities window will then appear. Select Disk Utility, click Proceed, and then pick your starting disk. Unless you changed the name, it’s probably called Macintosh HD or something. Next, complete these two fields and click the Erase button at the top of the Disk Utility window: Name: Give the brand-new volume a name. Why not use the well-known Macintosh HD instead?
   Select the APFS format.
   Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format if you’re seeking to sell an old Mac with a mechanical hard disk rather than a solid-state drive. After Disk Utility has finished its task, click the Erase Volume Group button and exit the program. (Click the Erase button in the lower-right corner if the Erase Volume Group button isn’t visible in the lower-left corner.) Go back to the MacOS Utilities window now. In the event that it doesn’t, restart your Mac by holding down Command-R. To install the operating system, choose Reinstall MacOS from the MacOS Utilities window and adhere to the prompts. The Setup Assistant will appear once MacOS has been restored; you may exit it to end the Mac’s operation. It is now prepared for its new owner to start again. How to restore a MacBook’s factory settings without signing in
   There is still hope if you discover that you are unable to recall the password for your MacBook. Try changing the password on your Mac first, but if that doesn’t work, you may still factory reset the device. The procedures described above for resetting an earlier MacBook are essentially the same as those for factory resetting your MacBook without your password. In actuality, you may complete the task by following the identical procedures from step 3 forward whether you’re using a Mac with or without Apple Silicon or a T2 chip. We always advise periodically backing up your Mac since this method will not allow you to backup any of your data.