Can a MacBook be tracked by the previous user after a factory reset? (2024)

FAQs

Can a MacBook be tracked by the previous user after a factory reset? ›

Yes, the former user can still track your Mac's location if you didn't sign into your iCloud account.

If you erase a device that had iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or later installed, you can use Find My to locate or play a sound on the device. Otherwise, you won't be able to locate or play a sound on it. You may still be able to locate your Mac or Apple Watch if it's near a previously used Wi-Fi network.

In reality, when you reset to factory settings, all the data stored on your hard drive becomes inaccessible. However, it still remains there until it is overwritten with new data. Note: After a factory reset, you can only recover your files if the hard drive is not overwritten with new data.

Find My Mac is the only Apple service that can help track or locate a lost Mac.

If you've had a malware attack on your device, you may want to consider performing a factory reset. This hard reset will wipe out the device data. When that happens, the dangerous viruses get deleted.

Lock your Windows device remotelyWhen you find your device on the map, select Lock > Next. If that is the case then it cannot be tracked anymore. Either the laptop is powered off or it was factory reset.

Restore Your Data

To recover data after factory reset Android, navigate to the "Backup and Restore" section under "Settings." Now, look for the "Restore" option, and choose the backup file you created before resetting your Android phone. Select the file and restore all of your data.

What to do? To recover after deleting a Macintosh HD with Disk Utility, you need to restore both the operating system and your files from your Time Machine backup disk: Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command (⌘)-R. Click Continue and select your Time Machine backup disk.

Step 6: Reinstall macOS

You've reformatted your hard drive and reset your Mac to factory settings. Now you can reinstall your operating system. Simply click Reinstall macOS from the Utilities menu. Confirm that you really want to do it and follow the instructions you'll see on the screen.

Can a Macbook IP address be traced? ›

Much like IP addresses, MAC addresses are assigned to network devices and are easy to determine with tools like Command Prompt. On the other hand, they're unlike IP addresses in that they can't be researched to find the owner.

In the Find My app on your Mac, you can see the location of a missing Apple device or get notified when it's located. To locate a missing device, you must add it to Find My before it's lost.

Can you be traced via Wi-Fi using a MAC address? The short answer is yes — you can absolutely be tracked through your MAC address.

Will a factory reset remove a virus? Performing a factory reset is the best way to get rid of viruses, spyware, and other malware. A factory reset will delete everything that wasn't originally installed on the device. This includes any viruses that infected your operating system and files.

Still, a factory reset can be an effective strategy to use against many types of malware. However, it may not cure everything. For example, performing a factory reset can't remove hackers from your online accounts or destroy malware that has attached itself deeply in your device's hardware or system files.

Before doing so, back up your important files, as a factory reset will wipe all of your files and personal data from your phone's internal storage. On the plus side, a factory reset will also remove any malicious files a hacker may have been using.

It's important to note that this process will erase all your data, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding. If you have an Intel-based Mac, you can follow these steps to perform a factory reset: Turn off your Mac. Hold down the Command and R keys on your keyboard.

This MAC address remains the same until factory reset. The MAC address does not get re-randomized if the user forgets and re-adds the Wi-Fi network since the MAC addressed depends on the parameters of the network profile.

Yes, there are ways to track a stolen laptop, but only if it's connected to the internet. You must first register the device with the laptop's manufacturer (like Apple or Microsoft) if they offer a tracking feature. There may also be third-party laptop tracking services you can sign up for.

Can you be traced via Wi-Fi using a MAC address? The short answer is yes — you can absolutely be tracked through your MAC address.