Reset MacBook or iMac to factory settings
Related Videos: How to Erase and Factory Reset your Mac! (May 2024).
If you want to sell your MacBook or iMac, you should reset the device to the factory settings. We explain how it works.
Reset iMac and MacBook to factory settings
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To reset the Mac, you have to restart it first
When restarting, keep the [⌘] and [R] keys pressed
In the window, select the "Disk Utility" entry
Select your start volume and click on the "Delete" button above
Confirm the process with "Delete"
Exit the hard disk utility
Now go to "Reinstall macOS"
Follow the instructions to install the latest operating system on your Mac
Before you start, you should back up your personal data. The easiest way to do this is with a Time Machine Backup. You can see how this works in the video under point 9. You can also follow the steps below in our picture gallery.
- Then connect to the internet.
- From the menu, click Apple> Restart. Now hold down the command key [⌘] and the key [R].
- Select "Disk Utility" from the menu and click "Continue".
- Now look for your start volume. In most cases, it is the largest volume called "Macintosh HD".
- Click the "Delete" button.
- In the "Format" menu, select "APFS". You can also rename your hard drive. Then click "Delete" to confirm the operation.
- Once your hard drive is formatted, click "Disk Utility" and select "Exit Disk Utility".
- Check that you are connected to the internet. You can recognize this as usual from the icon in the top right of the toolbar. If not, you can connect to a WiFi network here.
- Select "Reinstall macOS" and click "Continue". Now follow the instructions. The download and installation may take some time depending on the device and connection. Your MacBook is then reset to the factory settings.
Emergency plan: New MacBook or new iMac
If your MacBook or iMac no longer works, you will find strong and affordable mini PCs and hot MacBook alternatives in our leaderboards.
You can do a lot more with the Time Machine: In another article, we present the three best tips for the backup tool.