When you reset your macOS to factory settings and wipe it, you can set it up just like a brand-new Mac. This is useful if you just want to fix a Mac that is acting up or if you want to sell it. Have you ever had to perform a factory reset on your Mac to get rid of a virus so that you do not suffer any more damage? When you want to upgrade to the newest model and give your older Mac to your siblings, you can perform a factory reset on your Mac. By using the top techniques listed below, you can successfully perform a factory reset on your MacBook Air and Pro without a password.
If you need to restore your Mac to its factory default settings but have forgotten your login information. Before you proceed, you should think about backing up your Mac or finding a tool to recover lost data. The precise procedure will be explained on this page. Additionally, the technique can be used to factory reset a MacBook Air without a password. Computer viruses can infect the MacBook, and you must immediately perform a factory reset on your Mac to get rid of them and prevent further damage. When you want to upgrade to the newest model and give your older Mac to your siblings, you can perform a factory reset on your Mac.
If you need to perform a factory reset on your Mac without any passwords and you discover that you have already forgotten the password.
How to Factory Reset a Macbook
Without a password, resetting a MacBook Pro will erase all data on the device, but if you do not mind starting over with your device, the procedure is simpler than you might imagine.
Make sure your Mac is currently online and plugged into a power source before wiping everything from it. This will prevent the possibility of battery depletion. Without a password, you are unable to perform an advanced backup of your Mac.
To remove all of your Mac’s data, use Disk Utility or the Reinstall macOS option after entering Recovery Mode to perform a factory reset on your Mac without passwords.
How to Enter Recovery Mode on Mac
For Apple silicon Macs and Intel Macs, entering Recovery Mode requires different steps. On Apple’s official website, locate your Mac model and review the details. Alternatively, you can simply google it to check your chip.
- Users of Apple Silicon Macs: Make sure the login windows are open. To enter recovery mode, select “Shut Down” and then press and hold the power button or Touch ID.
- Users of Intel Macs: Verify that you are in the login windows. To enter Recovery Mode, click “Shut Down” while holding down the Command and R keys.
Factory Reset Mac Without Password [Use Disk Utility]
You can unlock locked Macs using the Disk Utility feature after booting into Recovery Mode on your Mac without a password.
- Next, select the “Macintosh HD” disk. It is the disk that you use to boot up. Locate and choose the appropriate disk if you change the disk’s name.
- Click “Erase” from the menu.
- You can shut down Disk Utility once the procedure is finished.
#2. Reinstall macOS as Needed
Choose Reinstall macOS from the utility, then adhere to the on-screen directions to reinstall macOS. Any version of macOS that is currently installed on your Mac, including Catalina, will begin to download and install. Following a restart, the Welcome screen will appear on your Mac. Wait until the procedure is complete before making a new account. You are free to configure your Mac if you want to continue using it.
How to Factory Reset a MacBook Pro
#1. Using macOS Monterey
Because macOS Monterey supports the Erase Assistant feature, restoring a brand-new Mac to its factory settings is very simple.
- Open System Preferences
System Preferences can be accessed by selecting it from the drop-down menu that appears when you click the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen.
- Open Erase Assistant
Erase All Contents and Settings can be selected from the drop-down menu that appears when you select the System Preferences option from the menu bar that is visible next to the Apple logo.
- Adhere to the Erase Assistant instructions.
The factory reset procedure will be explained to you by Erase Assistant, but it will not be finished until you have logged out of iCloud.
When you have finished, your Mac will reboot and go back to its default settings, but it will still be running the most recent version of macOS rather than the one that came pre-installed.
#2. With an Intel Chip or MacOS Big Sur and Older
You will not have as much success factory resetting your current Mac if it was made in 2017 or earlier, even if it runs macOS Monterey. Simply put, the Erase Assistant cannot function on these Macs because of hardware limitations. Although you will enter slightly more technical territory when factory resetting these machines, it is still straightforward if you know what you are doing. You can upgrade to Monterey and then adhere to the directions above if your Mac was made in 2018 or later. However, if you are still using macOS Big Sur or an earlier version, follow the steps below and use your current OS.
- Launch recovery mode on your Mac.
Shut down your Mac, then restart it while holding Option, Command, P, and R. You will enter recovery mode after booting.
- Select disk utility
Then, from the macOS Recovery menu, choose Disk Utility. Hit the Continue button.
- Erase the drive
After selecting Macintosh HD, press the Erase button. Leave the format type’s default settings alone unless you are an expert.
Your Mac will perform a factory reset and reboot after you have completed these steps. You must install macOS from scratch to use the Mac once more. To accomplish this, turn on the Mac, choose macOS Recovery, select Reinstall macOS, and then adhere to the on-screen instructions.
How to Factory Reset a MacBook Pro Without Password
#1. Start up your MacBook in Recovery Mode.
- Selecting the Apple menu icon in the top left corner of the screen will bring up Restart.
- A spinning globe or the Apple logo will appear if you continue to hold down the Command + R keys. Next, let go of the keys.
- The Mac will take some time to boot up in this mode.
- The Recovery Mode utility window will appear on the following screen.
#2. Delete Your Mac’s Hard Drive Using Disk Utility
- Select Disk Utility in the Utilities window of macOS Recovery. Afterward, click Continue.
- To choose this Macintosh HD – Data drive, click on it.
- Next, select Edit > Delete APFS volume in the menu bar.
- Press the Delete button after receiving a confirmation request.
- Exit Disk Utility once finished.
#3. If necessary, Reinstall macOS.
Choose Reinstall macOS from the utility, then adhere to the on-screen directions to reinstall macOS. Any version of macOS that is currently installed on your Mac, including Catalina, will begin to download and install. Following a restart, the Welcome screen will appear on your Mac.
How to Reset MacBook Air Password.
It is time to factory reset your MacBook Air after you have backed up your user data using Time Machine or another backup program of your choice. To completely erase all user data still present on the MacBook Air, performing a factory reset is also necessary.
How to Reset Password with Apple ID and Unlock MacBook Air
Resetting your Mac password using your Apple ID will allow you to unlock your MacBook Air. So you can continue entering a random password three times into the login box.
Your Mac account and your Apple ID will be connected, so follow the instructions below to change your Mac password using your Apple ID:
- In the Password Hint window, click the arrow.
- Your Apple ID and password are required.
- After that, select “Reset Password.”
- Each time your PC asks you to restart it, select “Restart to continue.”
- You must now unlock it by entering your new password to log in.
How to Factory Reset MacBook Air Without Password
You should restore the MacBook Air to its default settings if you have used it or have considered selling an old Mac model. By starting the MacBook Air in recovery mode, you can restore factory settings without entering a password. Here are the steps we will take:
- Select “Restart” by clicking the “Apple” logo in the top left corner of the MacBook’s display.
- Press the Command and R keys simultaneously until you see an Apple logo or a spinning globe.
- The MacBook Air will now take some time to boot up.
- You may see a screen asking you to select a language.
- The following screen will display a “Recovery Mode” utility window.
- Select Mac Disk Utility, then proceed.
- Then, select Macintosh HD and delete it.
- Reinstalling macOS Monterey or Ventura is possible after wiping the Macintosh HD.
Factory Reset MacBook Air with Erase Assistant
Use Erase Assistant to return the settings on your MacBook Air to their default positions before selling it. If you want to reinstall macOS, you can use the erase assistant to completely erase all of your data and settings from the MacBook Air. To reset your MacBook Air to factory settings using Erase Assistant, follow these steps.
- Open “System Preferences” by clicking on it in the menu bar.
- Click “Erase All Content and Settings.”
- Enter your MacBook Air’s password, then click Ok.
- You must carefully follow each instruction.
- When the reset prompts have been selected and accepted, your MacBook will restart immediately.
How to Reset MacBook Pro to Factory Settings without Apple ID?
- Choose “Restart” from the menu on the Apple device.
- After the startup chime, keep holding down “Command + R.”
- You will start in recovery mode after restarting.
- From the menu, choose “Disk Utility.”
- Select your primary disk, then select “Erase.”
- Choose “Erase” and type the disk’s name and format.
- From the menu, choose “Quit Disk Utility,” then go back to the utilities window.
- Select “Continue” after clicking “Reinstall macOS.”
- Reinstalling macOS requires following the instructions and accepting the terms.
How Do You Factory Reset a MacBook That is Locked?
- To enter Recovery Mode, select “Shut Down” and press the Command and R keys simultaneously.
- Select Disk Utility from the menu.
- Choose the “Macintosh HD” disk after that.
- Select “Erase” from the menu.
How Do I Delete All Content and Settings on My Mac?
Erase All Content and Settings Using a Mac to delete data on a Mac is a useful option. The location of this option differs slightly between macOS Monterey and Ventura.
Find Erase All Content and Settings [macOS Ventura]
- Select “System Settings” from the Apple menu.
- The next step is to select “General.”
- Then select “Transfer or Reset.”
- In this window, there are two buttons. Click “Erase All Content and Settings.”
Erase All Content and Settings [macOS Monterey]
- Open the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”
- Select “Erase All Content and Settings.”
- After entering the password for your MacBook Air, press Ok.
Can a Locked Mac Be Erased?
You must first boot into Recovery Mode before using Disk Utility or the Reinstall macOS option to completely wipe the contents of your Mac to perform a factory reset without passwords.
How Do I Factory Reset My Macbook Air Without Logging In?
- You can access Recovery Mode using the power button, the Command key, or the R key.
- To completely wipe the startup disk of all data, use the Disk Utility.
- Reinstall macOS and reset your Mac using the Reinstall macOS button.
How Do I Factory Reset My Computer Without Settings?
Press and hold Command-R while selecting the Apple menu > Restart. Disk Utility should be chosen, then you should click Continue in the Recovery app window. Click Erase in the toolbar of Disk Utility after selecting the volume you want to delete from the sidebar.
Conclusion
Instances of data loss or compromised security features can result from resetting your Mac without an Apple ID password. As a result, it is imperative to take caution when carrying out the steps. Before wiping the slate clean on your Mac, we advise making a backup of all of your important files and documents. Additionally, make sure you can access a different device in case the reset goes wrong. Before beginning the reset, make sure that all of your crucial data is backed up to prevent problems when using a Mac without an Apple ID password. Hopefully, this blog post helped you reset your Mac without incident.
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