What Is a Factory Reset?
Of course, learning how to wipe a MacBook is extremely crucial. However, if it’s your first time doing something like this, you might not understand what that means. While there are multiple steps involved in how to wipe a MacBook, the biggest one is undoubtedly the factory reset. What is a factory reset, you ask? In principle, a factory reset is pretty simple. It’s a general term that hardware manufacturers use referring to the act of wiping user data from a device. In other words, when you factory reset a MacBook Pro, that laptop will no longer retain any of your special settings. It will return to the default settings back when it was fresh out of the factory. Moreover, a factory reset not only deletes your settings, but also your data. Hence, experts recommend that users create a backup of all their important files before factory resetting. On the other hand, it also fixes multiple problems like bugs, performance issues, and even removes viruses. So it’s the perfect way to reset your MacBook and start with a clean slate. As you can imagine, a factory reset is useful for different scenarios. Sometimes, users reset a Mac computer to restore its data and resolve persistent software issues. However, users often keep this option at the very bottom of the list — as a last resort, if you will. That’s because a factory reset is irreversible so there’s no undoing it once you’ve completed the process. On the other hand, some users learn how to wipe a MacBook through a factory reset to sell their device. This is one of the most practical uses of a factory reset as it is convenient and all-encompassing.
Before Wiping Your MacBook: How to Back Up Your Mac
First things first: back up your data to a trusted third-party device or hosting service. You can back up your data to a USB, a new Mac, or iCloud, depending on your preferences. To do this, you might think that the only way is to sort through your files one by one. However, there’s a quicker way to do this and that is through Time Machine or some other third-party app. If you already have a third-party app handy, then simply use that and follow the developer’s instructions. However, if you’ll use Time Machine, here’s a quick run-down of how to use the app to backup your data:
How to Set a Mac as Your Time Machine Backup Location
Here’s how to set up a different Mac as your backup destination using Time Machine:
How to Set a USB as Your Time Machine Backup Location
Here’s how to format and set a USB as Time Machine’s backup file location:
How to Exclude Files from Your Time Machine Backup
Unfortunately, Time Machine is programmed to back up all your files and folders by default, including those with unnecessary data. For example, Time Machine won’t distinguish between regular files and app installers (which you can download on your new device). While some users may want Time Machine to do this, it’s not necessary. That’s especially true if you’re only aiming to migrate your files to a new device. It only makes the backup process take longer and wastes time. Thankfully, Time Machine does provide a way for you to exclude certain files from the backup. Here’s how:
How to Wipe a MacBook
Now that you’ve successfully backed up your data, it’s time to learn how to wipe a MacBook. We’ll be going over multiple steps before getting to the factory reset, so buckle up and let’s get started.
Disable Find My Mac
If you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem, chances are you’ll have Find My Mac enabled for your device. However, disabling this feature is an important part of how to wipe a MacBook for sale or donation. That’s because you’ll no longer need to find this specific device once it’s somebody else’s possession. To do this, simply log into your iCloud account in iCloud.com. Locate Find My iPhone and then hit All Devices. From this list, select the Mac computers you want to erase from your iCloud account. Then, hit the Erase button on the device and don’t enter a phone number or message. Afterward, click the Remove from Account button and you’re finished.
Sign Out of iTunes, iCloud, and iMessage
Before proceeding to learn how to wipe a MacBook, it’s important to first sign out of various accounts. These include iCloud, iTunes, and iMessage. Here’s how to do just that on your MacBook.
For iCloud
For iTunes
For iMessage
Deauthorize the Mac from Your Apple Account
If you use Music, Apple TV, or Apple Books, chances are you’ll have your Mac registered on those apps. However, part of how to wipe a MacBook means deauthorizing it from your Apple account on those multiple apps. Thankfully, the process for each of these apps is pretty similar. To deauthorize your MacBook, follow these steps:
Unpair Bluetooth Devices
Even after a factory reset, your Mac can, unfortunately, still connect to your old Bluetooth devices. Hence, if you have Bluetooth earphones, headphones, mice, keyboard, and other accessories paired, you need to unpair them manually. If you want to accomplish this task, just follow the given steps:
Reset NVRAM
Before we learn how to factory reset MacBook Pro, it’s important to reset the NVRAM first. This simply resets various peripheral settings like your sound volume, display resolution, time zone, and more. Resetting your NVRAM will help clear issues related to those settings and give it a clean slate. Here’s how: Afterward, this should clear various settings and restore multiple security features on your MacBook.
Factory Reset
Finally, it’s time to learn how to wipe a MacBook through a factory reset. The first step you need to take is to learn how to access the Mac recovery mode. Being in this mode is the only way to wipe your Mac and erase its hard drive. Take note that it doesn’t matter what kind of MacBook model you have. The method for how to factory reset MacBook Air and how to factory reset MacBook Pro are the same. However, what you do need to concern yourself with is whether your MacBook is running an Intel or M1 chip. That’s because the steps for putting your Mac in recovery mode will vary based on what processor it runs. However, the steps do converge once you’ve successfully entered recovery mode. Without further ado, here’s how to put each Mac device in recovery mode.
How to Get Into macOS Recovery Mode for Intel-Based Mac
Afterward, your Mac should successfully be in Recovery Mode.
How to Get into macOS Recovery Mode for M1 Mac
How to Wipe Your Startup Disk and Conduct a Factory Reset through Recovery Mode
Once you’ve put your MacBook in Recovery Mode, it’s time to conduct a factory reset. Here’s how to do it:
Reinstall macOS
Afterward, we’ll focus on reinstalling macOS. We’ll pick up from where we left off in the macOS Utilities window: Afterward, you should have successfully learned how to wipe a MacBook and reinstall macOS on your computer. This should make your MacBook operate with a clean slate, ready for you to sell or give away.
Why Wipe a MacBook Before Selling or Giving It Away?
Whether it’s a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, it’s important to learn how to wipe a MacBook before the sale. Why? Well, there are several reasons why this is a crucial step.
Protect Your Private Information
Firstly, learning how to wipe a MacBook before giving it to someone else protects your information. Of course, this is self-explanatory when it comes to files and folders. After all, you don’t want your files falling into the hands of someone else. If you’re giving it to a friend or relative, this might be less of a problem. You might trust them enough not to misuse your data or accounts for selfish reasons. However, despite somebody’s good intentions, accidents can still happen. For example, if you’re still logged into iCloud on your old MacBook, your friend might accidentally wipe the data there. They could do this while thinking they’re messing with their account when in reality, they’ve touched yours.
Avoid Data Theft or Cybercrime
On the other hand, selling your Mac to a stranger will expose your files to bad actors. This could put you at risk, as the bad actor could leak your user information or misuse your accounts. Even worse, they could lock you out of your account and you could lose access forever. That’s why most experts recommend learning how to wipe a MacBook before you ever sell it to anyone else.
Avoid Inconveniences for the Next Owner
On the other hand, how someone uses a Mac will depend on their personal needs. You might have certain configurations that are non-negotiable for your use case. However, someone else might use the Mac differently and want your configurations removed. Learning how to wipe a MacBook and doing so will eliminate problems for the other person, making migration easier.
Remember to Wipe Your MacBook Before Parting Ways With It
Learning how to wipe a MacBook is a useful skill for anyone who owns a Mac. That’s because computers, no matter how durable, have a lifespan that will run out at some point. Hence, people who buy them will have to get rid of their old devices sooner or later. Thankfully, wiping a MacBook doesn’t take too much time if you know what you’re doing. Moreover, it’s fairly easy and a great way to safeguard your information and maintain your account’s security. Just remember to follow the steps and you should have no problems down the line.
