A factory reset on a MacBook erases all personal data and reinstalls macOS from scratch, ensuring that no sensitive information falls into the wrong hands. In this article, we will guide you through five simple steps to factory reset a MacBook with ease.

Firstly, let’s determine which method is suitable for your device – whether it has an ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ feature or not. If yes, follow these instructions based on the macOS version:

For macOS Monterey (or older):

1. Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
2. Navigate to “Security & Privacy” > “Erase All Content and Settings.” Proceed with your admin credentials when prompted, then confirm the erasure process. If desired, initiate a Time Machine backup before proceeding.

For macOS Ventura (or newer):

1. Click on the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen and choose “System Preferences.”
2. Go to ‘General’ > ‘Transfer or Reset’. Select ‘Erase all Content and Settings’, then sign in with your admin credentials for confirmation. You may opt to create a Time Machine backup if you have an external storage device available. Confirm erasure once more, starting the factory reset process.

However, some MacBooks might not support this feature; in such cases, Disk Utility comes to our rescue:

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1. Turn on your MacBook and press and hold down the command + R keys simultaneously until you see the Apple logo appear. Enter the admin password if required.
2. In Disk Utility, locate “Macintosh HD” under ‘External’, then click ‘Erase’. Choose a name such as ‘Macintosh HD’ in the “Name” field and select either APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. Finally, confirm erasure by choosing “Erase Volume Group” if it appears or simply hit ‘Eraser’. For macOS Catalina users: you might be required to enter your Apple ID during this process.

By following these five simple steps, you can effectively factory reset a MacBook and prepare it for its new owner with peace of mind knowing that all previous data has been securely wiped away.