How to factory reset Macbook step-by-step

This detailed guide on how to factory reset Macbook and Mac outlines steps to reset and erase date for reselling, and reset while saving data if you are troubleshooting problems.

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Apple is a company that knows how much their customers love novelty. Accordingly, fireworks of new Macs are regularly set off at the Apple Keynote – or not. If you want a new Mac or have already bought it, you can often sell the old one used at a very good price. Since Macs are comparatively rare, the used prices are high and it is nonsense to keep the old device in the closet and let it become obsolete there. However, before you selll it, you should also make sure to reset the laptop to the factory settings beforehand. This is the only way to guarantee that no data or settings of yours will remain.

Factory resetting a MacBook can also fix a number of issues. 

How to factory reset MacBook: steps

Apple has made its devices reasonably user-friendly. In contrast to Windows, resetting is quick and uncomplicated.

Before you take the steps below, if you are resetting the Macbook to sell it, we will now simply assume that your new Mac is already set up and ready for use and that you have transferred the data, for example using the Time Machine hard drive. All you have to do is erase the old device’s data and detach it from iCloud, using the factory reset steps below.

1. First of all, restart the MacBook. To do this, click the Apple symbol in the top left and select “Restart” from the menu.
2. Now use the [Command] + [R] keys at the same time while the MacBook is starting up.
3. If a WLAN connection is possible, select it now.
4. Otherwise, click on “Next” and then select the “Disk Utility”.
5. Now select the hard drive you are using and select the “Delete” tab on the right.
6. Select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” as the new file format and give the hard disk a new name of your choice.
7. Finally click on “Delete” again.

How does the reinstallation work?

1. To reinstall an operating system, switch to the start menu as before and this time select “Reinstall OS X”.
2. Now select an operating system and click on “Next”.
3. Just follow the instructions on the screen and wait for the process to complete.

How to factory reset Macbook without losing data

Is your Mac not running as fast as it used to under a new operating system? Do you want to factory reset your MacBook or Mac, but are still worried about data loss during the reset? If you are having problems with your Mac and want to factory reset it as part of the troubleshooting process, below is how to do it without losing your data.

Back Up Important Data on Mac (2 Method) to Avoid Data Loss;
►2. Get your Mac ready for a factory reset;
►3. Reset Mac on macOS High Sierra / Sierra or previous system (3 method).

Follow the guide below to factory reset your Mac without data loss.

1. Back up important data on Mac

In order to avoid data loss, we have a suggestion for you. You should back up your important data on the Mac to an external storage device before performing the reset. You can create the backups through Time Machine or you can use professional Mac backup software.

Method 1. Back up Mac using Time Machine

To make backups with Time Machine, you need an external storage device. After you’ve connected the device and selected it as the backup drive, Time Machine automatically creates hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for all previous months. The oldest backups will be deleted when your backup disk is full.

If you connect an external drive directly to your Mac, you may be asked if you want to use the drive to back up with Time Machine. Select Encrypt Backup Disk (Recommended), then click Use as Backup Disk :

If Time Machine doesn’t ask if you want to use your drive, follow these steps to add it manually.

• Open the Time Machine settings from the Time Machine icon menu in the menu bar. Or choose Apple menu > System Preferences and then click Time Machine .
• Click ” Backup Disk Select “, ” volume selection ” or ” backup volume Add / Remove “:

Method 2. Extract and backup files on Mac using EaseUS

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can still help you extract the important data and back it up to an external hard drive. It can find existing, deleted and hidden files on your MacBook / iMac. With just a few clicks, you can extract the important data. In case you later encountered data loss and accidentally deleted data on Mac, it allows you to recover the files. Download this software and connect an external hard drive to the computer.

Instructions for data recovery:

• Step 1: Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac and select the storage space and click Scan. 
• Step 2: Let this software scan the storage space. This process can take a while. Please wait patiently for it.
•  Step 3: All the data found will be listed. Select the ones you need and click Restore.

2. Prepare your Mac for a factory reset

Before performing the reset, there are a few more preparations you need to do

• disable iTunes;
• Disable FileVault;
• disable iCloud;
• log out iMessage;
• Clear Touch Bar data.

3. Reset Mac on macOS High Sierra / Sierra or previous system

Method 1. Restart Mac in Safe Mode

• Restart your Mac;
• After that, hold down the Command and R keys to open the macOS Utilities .

Method 2. Erase Mac Hard Drive

• Select Disk Utility and click Continue ;
• Select the system disk and click Erase ;

• Select “ Mac OS Extended (Journaled) ” and click Delete;

Method 3. Reinstall macOS on your Mac

After you have formatted and erased the hard drive, you can now reinstall the macOS system. Follow the steps.

• Go to Utilities ;
• Select Reinstall on macOS ;
• Confirm this process and reinstall the system.