Do you want to factory reset your MacBook Pro? Follow this guide on how to factory reset MacBook Pro and Air in 2 different ways.

How to Factory Reset MacBook Pro Automatically 

Here, we have shared the steps to factory reset your MacBook Air and Pro that runs on macOS Ventura and macOS Monetary and later versions.

• First, open the Apple menu and then select the system settings or system preference option.

• Tap general and then select the transfer or reset option.

• After that click on the erase all content and settings option.

• After that sign in with the password that you use to log in to your MacOS, and tap unlock. 

• Back up your MacBook data using the time machine feature.

• Tap on Continue to erase all your settings, media, and data.

• Tap erase all content and settings to process.

• After that, the system asks the select a wi-fi network or attach the network cable; use the wi-fi menu and select the network.

• Your Mac will activate now. Tap restart.

After the restart, follow the setup assistant’s instructions for setting up your Mac as you want.

How to Factory Reset MacBook Pro Manually

You can follow these steps to factory reset the MacBook Pro and Air without a password.

• First of all, open the macOS recovery mode:

–For Intel-based MacBook: Shut down your Mac, press and hold the command and R keys simultaneously. After that, long press the power button until Recovery Mode is opened.

–MacBook with Apple Silicon: Turn off the Mac, and hold the power button until you see the Recovery Mode.

• Once you are in your Mac recovery mode without entering your password, click on the disk utility option and continue.
• Now, choose Macintosh HD.
• In the toolbar, tap on the erase tab and then enter the requested details: In the name field, add “Macintosh HD,” and in the format field, add “APFS” or “Mac OS Extended (Journaled).”

• Now click on the erase tab.
• After that, enter your Apple ID if required.
• Close the disk utility window and go back to the utilities window.

Things you must do Before Doing a Factory reset MacBook Pro

If you are factory resetting your MacBook Pro or Air, first, you must back up all of your MacBook data, sign out of all your accounts, unpair Bluetooth devices, and reset the NVRAM if required.

How to Back Up a MacBook

Backup your data is important before factory reset MacBook because if you don’t do that, you can lose all the data, including personal information, files, email, photos, and music. The time machine feature on MacBook stores the backup in physical external storage. So, you will need an external hard drive like a USB drive or a Thunderbolt drive to back up your data.

• Connect the external hard drive, open the time machine settings, and choose your external storage drive.
• Now open the Apple menu in the system settings > time machine > follow the on-screen instructions to back up your data.

Sign out of all your Accounts

Another thing you have to do is sign out of all accounts, including iCloud, iTunes, and iMessage, to ensure the privacy and security of your data when factory resetting your MacBook.

–Sign out with iTunes: Choose iTunes from the menu bar > Accounts > Authorizations > Deauthorize this computer. Now enter your Apple ID and password and tap the deauthorize.

–Sign out the iCloud: Open the Apple menu > system preference settings > iCloud > sign out.

–Sign out of the iMessage: Open the message app > message > Settings > iMessage > iCloud.

Disconnect the Bluetooth Devices

Before resetting your MacBook, you must disconnect all the Bluetooth devices from your Mac. To do that:

Go to the menu system settings or system preference >Bluetooth > Choose the device you want to unpair and then click on the X or disconnect tab.

How to Reset NVRAM

You can reset NVRAM if you have a Mac with an Intel processor. Here is how to reset NVRAM on a MacBook.

• Shut down your MacBook then start it again.
• Once you turn on your Mac, immediately press and hold the Option, Command, P, and R keys for 20 seconds at the same time.
• Now your Mac will restart once it starts again; adjust the system settings that were reset.

Restore all Saved Data After the Factory Reset MacBook

You can follow this step to restore your data after the factory reset.

• Once you have, reinstall your Mac operating system then connect your Time Machine backup disk to your Mac and turn on the Disk.
• Launch the migrating assistants from the Utilities folder.
• You will see a prompt asking you how you want to transfer your information.
• Choose transfer from the Mac, time machine, and start-up disk, and tap on continue.
• Choose the time machine backup and hit on the continue tab.
• Select a backup option you like > tap on the continue, and select the data you want to transfer.

NOTE: Before clicking on Continue, choose the type of transfer you want if you are moving a user account. The Migration Assistant will ask you to rename or replace any accounts that have the same name on your Mac. If you choose to rename it, the account in your Time Machine backup will show up as an extra user on your Mac with a different login and home folder. However, if you choose to replace it, the account on your Time Machine backup will take the place of the Mac account with the same name.

• The process takes hours to complete; after it is done, tap Continue to start the transfer procedure.
• Once the process is complete, close migration assistant and log into the transferred account to see your content.

How to Reinstall MacOS on your MacBook Pro and Air?

Once you have done the factory reset MacBook Pro or Air the next step you have to do is reinstall it from the recovery mode.

• First, start your Mac in a recovery mode.
• Once recovery mode is launched, click on the Reinstall macOS.
• Now click on the Continue tab and follow the on-screen instructions. During the installation do not put your Mac on sleep mode.

The reinstallation procedure may take time, but once it is complete, your MacBook will restart. It will go into set-up mode here; follow the on-screen instructions to make a new admin user account and set up your MacBook as you want.

FAQs

Q: What is a factory reset on a MacBook?
The factory reset on a MacBook removes all the data from the device, reinstalls a clean and unchecked version of macOS, and returns it to the state it was in when you bought it.

Q.  Does the Factory reset MacBook delete everything?
Yes, a factory reset deletes everything in your MacBook Pro. This includes all data, including photos, videos, documents, and other personal information or files, as well as the application, settings, and user account.  

Q. How to Hard Reset your Mac?
The Hard Reset uses your MacBook to remove all data. This is a feature-rich modern version of the Mac that removes all content and settings; in the old operating system, you boot in recovery mode and wipe the Mac’s startup using the Disk utility.    

Q: Why Factory reset MacBook?
The reason for factory resetting the MacBook is that you recently bought it, and the previous user hasn’t removed their user accounts, settings, or data. Another reason is that you forgot your MacBook, and all other options to get access have failed.

Conclusion

In this post, we have shared a detailed guide on how to factory reset MacBook Pro or Air. Keep in mind before resetting your Mac that you must back up your data, disconnect connected devices, and sign out of all your accounts.