The reliability of Mac computers is normally high. But as with any computer, sometimes gadgets behave nastily. Before you pay huge on a new Mac, though, try a factory reset, which cleans your computer and reinstalls a perfect version of macOS.
A factory reset Macbook Pro is also a decent way to prepare your old computer for a new owner to make sure no personal leftover data goes into the hands of the wrongdoer.
The procedure has been similar for years on MacBook Pro with Intel processors. Nonetheless, the shifting to Apple silicon has changed the method little for cleaning and reinstalling the operating system.
Here’s how to remove your hard drive and reinstall the operating system on your MacBook Pro, whether it has Apple’s M1 chip or features Intel components.
Go to Recovery Mode
In order to use the options for wiping your data and reinstalling the operating system, you require to reach macOS Recovery. However, there are now two distinct ways of doing this, with the release of the new Macs, depending on the chip inside your computer.
For Intel-Based MacBook Pro
For MacBook Pro having an Intel processor, press down the power button, then select the Restart option from the pop-up menu. Otherwise, click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen and select Restart. From here, press down Command + R until the Apple logo comes up. Release the keys and enable the Mac to boot up and open into Recovery.
Related Article: How to Block emails From iPhones/iPad
For Apple Silicon-Based MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro using Apple silicon need a different procedure where you must completely turn off the computer. Click the Apple menu, click Shut Down, press down the power button, and choose Shut Down from the pop-up menu. Press down the power button to turn the Mac on again and hold for several seconds until you see “Loading startup options.” Select Options from the startup screen to enter macOS Recovery.
If you are in a position where your computer is hanged and the standard ways of resetting are not working, try the Control + Command + Eject (or power button) shortcut.
Delete Your Data
No matter your process of getting here, you must then choose a user with administrator privileges and enter their account details before getting access to the computer’s startup options. Once entirely in macOS Recovery, choose Disk Utility to clear the hard drive.
Select the drive Macintosh HD under the Internal heading and click Erase in the top toolbar in the Disk Utility menu. A dialog box will pop up requiring the drive name and format. Keep the name Macintosh HD and make sure the format is set to APFS or Mac OS Extended.
Click Erase Volume Group (or Erase if that button is not shown) to clear the drive, then make sure any other internal drives are also deleted in order to completely clear the computer and avoid any errors during the reinstall process. Exit out of the Disk Utility window to go back to the Recovery screen.
Be aware that once this method is done, you will no longer recover any deleted data that was left on the drive. If you think you may still require what is on your hard drive, we suggest you first back it up through sync important files to iCloud.
Reinstall and Restore
If you intend to sell the computer, you can stop here and let the new owner install a clear MacBook Pro version. For those who want to keep their Mac, your following step should be to reinstall macOS onto the computer.
Your computer should be hooked up to a power source and connected to the internet. Back at the macOS utility screen, click Reinstall macOS and understand the directions to download a new operating system version.
If you stored your files through a Time Machine backup, you could now restore those files through the Migration Assistant as part of the reinstall method. You will be inquired if you want to transfer data from another Mac or a Time Machine backup. Select Time Machine and resume the process to restore your files.
If you decided not to do this action while clearing your Mac, you can go back into the macOS Recovery screen and pick the Restore From Time Machine Backup option. Choose the suitable backup from the list to reinstall your saved files.
What to do before you reset your MacBook?
The guide above is focused on resetting your MacBook, but there are suggested actions to take before factory resetting your MacBook that you should be aware of. These tips will ensure that you do not miss any personal files, images, or apps when you move from one MacBook to another.
Here are some things to acknowledge doing before you reset your MacBook.
Create a backup
Make sure that you have a current backup of your essential files.
Sign out of iTunes in macOS Mojave or earlier
Suppose you are using macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes. From the menu bar at the top of the screen or iTunes window, Click Account, then Authorizations, then Deauthorize This Computer. Then insert your Apple ID and password and select Deauthorize.
Learn more about deauthorizing computers used with your iTunes account.
Sign out of iCloud
If you are using macOS Catalina or later, choose the Apple menu, then System Preferences, then click Apple ID. Click Overview in the sidebar, then click Sign Out.
If you are using macOS Mojave or earlier, Select the Apple menu, then System Preferences, click iCloud, then click Sign Out.
You will be required whether to keep a copy of your iCloud data on this Mac. You can click Keep a Copy because you are deleting your Mac later. Your iCloud data remains in iCloud and on any other devices signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
Sign out of iMessage
If you are using OS X Mountain Lion or later, open the Messages app, then pick Messages, then Preferences from the menu bar. Click iMessage, then click Sign Out.
Reset NVRAM
Shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. This clears user settings from memory and restores certain security features that might have been altered.
Optional: Unpair Bluetooth devices that you’re keeping
If your Mac is paired with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, trackpad, or other Bluetooth devices that you plan to keep, you can unpair it. This optional action stops accidental input when the Mac and device have separate owners but remain in the Bluetooth range of each other.
If you are unpairing Bluetooth input devices from a desktop computer such as an iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Pro, you must plug in a USB keyboard and mouse to perform the remaining steps. To unpair a Bluetooth device, pick the Apple menu, then System Preferences, then click Bluetooth. Move your pointer over the device you require to unpair, then select the remove (x) button next to the device name.
All the above steps of factory reset MacBook pro and restoring your data are not tricky until you follow the instructions; then it will be a great convenience.