Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings
Use the Erase All Content and Settings feature to quickly and securely erase all settings, data and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed.
Use Erase All Content and Settings
Find out which macOS your Mac is using, then follow the appropriate steps:
macOS Ventura 13 or later: From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then scroll down on the right and click Transfer or Reset. Click Erase All Content and Settings. Can’t see this button?
macOS Monterey 12: From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Preferences. From the System Preferences menu in the menu bar, choose Erase All Content and Settings. Can’t see this option?
macOS Big Sur 11 or earlier: Find out what to do if you can’t use Erase All Content and Settings.
An erase assistant will open. When asked to sign in with your administrator credentials, enter the password that you use to log in to your Mac. Forgot your login password?
You might be asked if you want to back up your Mac with Time Machine before resetting it.
You will see a summary of all the settings, media, data and other items that will be turned off or erased. This does not affect the settings or content on any of your other Apple devices. Click Continue.
If asked to sign out of your Apple Account and Apple services, enter the password for your Apple Account. Forgot your Apple Account password? You can ignore any alert you might then receive to sign back in to continue using iCloud or your Apple Account.
Click the Erase All Content & Settings button to confirm that you want to proceed.
Your Mac will restart. As it starts up:
You might be asked to turn on your Bluetooth accessory, such as a keyboard or mouse. If the accessory doesn’t connect within 30 seconds, turn the accessory off and back on.
You might be asked to select a Wi-Fi network. You can use the Wi-Fi menu
in the corner of the screen to select a network.
Your Mac will activate, then restart again. A setup assistant then guides you through the setup process, as if you’re setting up your Mac for the first time. If you're selling, giving away or trading in your Mac and want to leave it in an out-of-box state, don't use the setup assistant or your previously connected bluetooth devices, if any. Just press and hold the power button on your Mac until it turns off.
Regardless of the model or condition of your device, we can turn it into something good for you and good for the planet: Find out how to trade in or recycle your Mac with Apple Trade In.
If you can’t use Erase All Content and Settings
Erase All Content and Settings is available only in macOS Monterey 12 or later, and only on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip. If this feature isn’t available or doesn’t work:
To both erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings, follow the steps in what to do before you sell, give away, trade in or recycle your Mac, but disregard the instructions for using Erase All Content and Settings.
To only erase your Mac without resetting it to factory settings, find out how to erase a Mac with Apple silicon or erase an Intel-based Mac.
If you see a message explaining that other volumes need to be erased before you can erase all content and settings, you may have used Boot Camp to install Microsoft Windows. In that case, use Boot Camp to remove Windows and its partition.
