Following in the footsteps ofiPhoneIniPadApple Silicon Macs and Intel Macs with a T2 security chip (2017-2020 models) now have the "Erase All Content and Settings" option available in macOS Monterey and later. This article explains how to use it to wipe and reset your Mac if you plan to give it away, sell it, or trade it in. If you have an older Mac from before 2017,follow this link insteadto wipe your machine and reset it to factory settings.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channelfor more videos.
Traditionally, wiping a Mac and resetting it to factory settings meant manually logging out of a number of services, wiping your Mac's internal drive, and then reinstalling macOS.These steps are quite complicated, especially considering how easy it is to erase an iPhone or iPad. Doing this is simply a matter of selecting an option in iOS calledDelete all content and settings(found inSettings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone).
Fortunately, Apple has added the same option to newer Macs running macOS Monterey and later. Erase All Content and Settings in macOS provides a very simple and straightforward way to erase your Mac without having to reinstall the operating system. Thanks to the way storage on Macs is encrypted using Apple Silicon or the T2 chip, this option is able to instantly and securely "erase" all user data by destroying the encryption keys.
This will not only effectively delete all user data and user-installed apps from your Mac without reinstalling macOS, but also wipe yourApple-id, deletes yourPress IDfingerprints, purchases and all Apple Wallet items and will be disabledSearch minand Activation Lock, which makes it much easier to restore your Mac to its new factory settings.
The following steps show you how to do this. Whether you just want to start over with your Mac or plan to sell or gift your computer to someone else, after you wipe it with this option, your Mac will show up in Setup Assistant and be ready to run like new. to be configured.
- click onApple () symbolin the menu bar and selectSystem settings(System preferences...if you are not using macOS Ventura or later).
- If you're using macOS Ventura or later, selectGeneralin the sidebar and then selectTransfer or reset -> Erase all content and settings.... Otherwise you have to chooseSystem Preferences -> Clear all content and settingsfrom the menu bar.
- Enter your administrator password in the Erase Assistant dialog box and clickOkay.
- If you haven't already backed up your important data, follow the Time Machine onscreen advice. Click otherwiseGet on.
- Make a note of all settings, data, media, and other items that will be deleted. ClickGet onif you are sure.
- Click to sign out of your Apple ID and then clickDelete all content and settingsat the prompt to confirm.
After following these steps, let the removal process complete. Your Mac may restart several times during the process. When you're done, you'll see the "hello" message on your Mac's screen, indicating that your Mac has been reset to factory settings and Setup Assistant is ready to start over.
Popular stories
iPhone 16 Pro is expected later this year with these 12 new features
Disabled Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 7:50 AM PDTPersonal MacRumors
Although the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are still months away from launch, there are already more than a dozen rumors surrounding the devices. Below we've rounded up the new features and changes expected for the devices so far. These are some of the top rumors for the iPhone 16 Pro models from April 2024: Larger screens: iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will come with large...
Read the entire article
Batterygate: iPhone users in Canada can now file claims for a payout of up to $150 from Apple
Friday, April 5, 2024 at 2:01 PM PDT byJoe Rossignol
Apple agreed to pay up to $14.4 million (CAD) to settle a class action lawsuit in Canada alleging that the company secretly limited the performance of some iPhone models ("batterygate" ), and eligible customers can now submit a claim for payment. Apple's settlement was approved by the court on March 4, and according to law firm Rochon Genova LLP, the claims period began today. To submit a...
Read the entire article•58 comments
Tim Cook sells almost 200,000 Apple shares
Disabled Friday, April 5, 2024 at 7:55 AM PDTJoe Rossignol
Apple CEO Tim Cook this week sold 196,410 shares of the company's stock, which had a total value of about $33.2 million based on the average sales price of the transactions, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. After taxes, Cook made nearly $16.4 million from the sale. Cook received all the shares he sold this week as a performance-based stock...
Read the entire article•156 comments
When can we expect the next iPad Mini and Low-End iPad models to be launched
Disabled Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 6:45 AM PDTJoe Rossignol
While the rumors focus on new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, some Apple customers are wondering when the next iPad mini will arrive. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said new iPad mini and entry-level iPad models won't be released until late 2024 at the earliest. "The company is also working on new versions of the low-cost iPad and iPad mini, but those...
Read the entire article•73 comments
Best Buy's weekend sale has the best prices ever on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, TVs and more
Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 9:08 AM PDT byMitchel Broussard
This weekend, Best Buy is having a sale on MacBooks, including the previous generation 15-inch MacBook Air and the M3 MacBook Pro. As usual, Best Buy's sale includes much more than just Apple products, and you'll also find deep discounts on TVs, video games, and more during the event. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate of Best Buy. When you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive…
Read the entire article•20 comments
Best Buy is introducing record low prices for every 10th generation iPad
Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 8:01 AM PDT byMitchel Broussard
After some notable discounts on MacBooks yesterday, Best Buy today introduced a sale on the 10th generation iPad, including several rock-bottom prices on the tablet. Prices start at $349.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model and include $100 off both Wi-Fi and mobile devices. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate of Best Buy. When you click on a link and make a purchase, we may...
Read the entire article•36 comments
OpenAI's Jony Ive and Sam Altman are seeking funding for a personal AI device
Disabled Friday, April 5, 2024 at 3:35 PM PDTJuly piano
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple design chief Jony Ive have officially teamed up to design an AI-powered personal device and are seeking funding, The Information reports. Little is known about the AI device at this point, but it won't look like a smartphone. Altman is a major investor in the Humane AI Foundation, a wearable AI device that doesn't have a screen, so it's possible he...
Read the entire article•177 comments
