How to EASILY Erase and Factory Reset Your Mac!

If you plan to give away, sell, or trade in your Mac, the first thing you should do for security and practical reasons is erase the data on it and perform a factory reset. This video/article shows you how. If you've upgraded to macOS Monterey or later on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip (2017-2020 models), follow the steps to erase all content and settings instead of following the steps in this article.

read more -
How to Erase and Factory Reset Your Mac

00:00 Introduction
00:15 Apple Silicon & T2 Chip Mac - Erase Content & Settings
00:46 Older Macs - Erase & Install macOS

[macrumors]

Please Note: for those who are on Ventura go to system Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings

[squidward]

Oh thank goodness! It works!
I couldn't freaking figure it out by reading the written instructions on Apple's site - this was so easy. I wasted 30 mins trying to understand the written directions when I could've watched this from the jump and be done in a few minutes. Thanks!

[Hugo]

Just got my MacBook reseted, even tho my Mac is older and not on the same language I still figured it out thanks to you’re well explained tutorial! 😀👍

[a.cnlx]

Thank you so much!! I used this to factory reset my MacBook Pro from 2017 which still uses Intel & it worked PERFECTLY. Straight & to the point.

[pedrogperezgarcia]

By the way y’all, I followed the instructions in this video and I have MacOS Ventura and this method worked just fine for me with no problems.

[jaredcaya]

Thank you so much! You cut right to the chase and kept it simplistic!

[tinavest]

This is the best and only video I could find that was quick easy and worked. Bought restored Mac’s not realizing they were older than was I was replacing 😩. Factory reset and was successful and I was able to return the Mac’s thank you so mych

[LucidFocus]

Your video was a tremendous help! I'm so excited about having my iMac functioning to the level when I purchased it a few years ago. Cheers to you Dan!

[allisonlafazia]

I used this video to factory reset my MacBook Pro13" ~ purchase year 2018. It was very easy to reset thanks to the instructions MacRumors stated in the video. Would definitely reccomend for others looking to Factory reset/Wipe your laptop before recycling, giving as a gift, or trading in

[tuomaspirinen]

Thank you much! Finally a clear video, covering both old and new!

[gordonsiewert]

This worked. Better video than a lot of the rest! great job.

[KathrynWard]

Thank you! I’d searched for 15 min trying to find written instructions with no luck. This short video helped immediately. 🎉

[Hugebear]

Thanks for the info. Your video was short and to the point. Very helpful. I'm not going to say that I'm old, just up in age so I don't have the patience for the long drawn out videos. Great job sir. Thanks again, I'm keeping this one in my YouTube tutorial.

[LauraMalvoyante]

Thanks so much for this video. I was stuck for a while because I kept pressing (CMD) + (-) + R because that's how I read it in Apples instructions. Your explanation was clear and concise.

[jencheng]

Was struggling to clean my older macbook, this video helped big time! Thank you!

[mikejasilionis]

Hi Dan. Thank you for helping me. Im glad that when I googled "how to factory reset macbook" a video you made came up!

[jt.thestoryteller]

This is how you make a tutorial, easy & to the point. Thank you jiii thank youu😘

[leewhitecross]

This guy knows what he’s talking about.very helpful.

[brieferrara]

So easy and simple. I got overwhelmed with the restart and this literally saved me!!! Thank you!

[Abr]

First method work on my M1 pro.
Bundle of thanks Man you really add many hours in my life which i was going to spend on resetting my mac an re installing the mac os. That was really pain in the ass