How to format MacBook/MacBook Air/MacBook Pro with AweEraser for Mac? First of all, just download and install AweEraser for Mac on your MacBook/MacBook Air/MacBook Pro, and run this software from Launchpad. You will see three options, you can choose the mode 2 – 'Erase Hard Drive' to help you format/erase hard drive on MacBook/MacBook Air/MacBook Pro. Question MacBook Air 2020 vs MacBook Pro 2020: Question Buying a Macbook Air or Pro: Looking for personalized processor, rAM, and storage recommendations? Question Is there an adapter for a macbook air ssd? Question Macbook Pro 2019 External Monitor Suggestions: Question Suggest best older Macbook Pro/Air model for 4k edit: how can format. Your MacBook Air comes with 90 days of complimentary technical support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase AppleCare+ to extend your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and add up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage every 12 months, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other repairable damage.
BEFORE WE BEGIN:
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If you are all set to sell or give away your existing MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, you should consider wiping your machine and perform a factory reset. In this guide, we'll list step by step instructions to backup entire data, sign-out from Apple Services, and reinstall macOS. We'll also be sharing important tips that you should keep in mind to reset MacBook to original default factory settings.
Factory Reset MacBook Pro/MacBook Air
List of Contents
PART 1: What You Need To Do Before Factory Resetting Your MacBook Pro/MacBook Air?
There are certain recommended actions that you need to take before factory resetting your MacBook. These will ensure that you do not lose any important data when you switch to another macOS or Windows system.
1. Backup Your MacBook
We can't certainly overstate the importance of backing up your entire data. Does macbook have touch id. If you don't perform this step, all your data would disappear when you perform a factory reset.
To create a backup using Time Machine, follow the steps below:
- Connect an external storage device to your Mac.
- Click the Apple icon.
- Navigate to the System Preferences.
- Hit the Time Machine option.
- Click on the option – Select Backup Disk.
- Next, you need to select the External Storage Device and click the option Encrypt backups, followed by the Use Disk option.
- To wrap up, hit the ON button!
Time Machine will soon create a backup of your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air device.
Additional Tip
Though Time Machine is an excellent way to backup and restore data on Mac. But, in case you don't want to go through the manual hassles, we recommend using a reliable Cloud Storage & Backup Solution like Right Backup. It allows you to securely store all your important files and folders in an encrypted format that can only be accessed by you and no one else. To know more about Right Backup, you can check out the Review here!
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Alternatively, you can check out the step-by-step guide to backup Mac using multiple methods!
2. Sign Out Of iTunes
De-authorizing yourself from Apple Services is small but a significant step you need to perform before you reset your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.
Follow the instructions carefully to deauthorize your iTunes account:
- Launch the iTunes application.
- From the Menu, navigate to the Accounts section.
- Head towards the Authorizations section and click the option – Deauthorize The Computer.
- You need to enter your Apple ID and Password to complete the process.
- Finally, hit the option Deauthorize!
Now that you have successfully performed all the steps, it's time to log out from your iCloud account!
3. Sign Out Of iCloud
We are so seamlessly dependent on iCloud that removing entire data chiefly means signing out. Make sure you have deauthorized your MacBook carefully.
Users running macOS Catalina & above can follow the steps to sign-out from an iCloud account:
- Hit the Apple icon from the top-left corner of the screen.
- Head towards System Preferences.
- You might need to enter your Apple ID.
- From the sidebar, navigate to the Overview section and simply Sign out.
In case you are running macOS Mojave or an earlier version, the process is much easier:
- Hit the Apple icon.
- Navigate to System Preferences.
- Choose the iCloud and hit the Sign Out button!
4. Sign Out Of iMessage
Since certain applications will require to be manually unlinked, sign-out of your iMessage service too. Follow the steps below to sign-out from iMessage:
Logging out of your iMessage is super-easy:
- Find and launch your Messages application
- You need to click the Messages by clicking on the Apple logo and further navigating to the Preferences option.
- Locate iMessage and hit the option Sign out!
For Beginners: How to Set-up an iCloud Account on your Mac?
5. Turn Off FileVault
FileVault helps users to encrypt the files from the hard drive. Now, since you are wiping all the files soon, security should not create a hurdle in your entire process of resetting MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.
To disable FileVault on MacBook, follow the steps below:
- Navigate to System Preferences.
- Head towards the Security & Privacy menu.
- Go to the FileVault tab.
- Make sure to check the option that says: FileVault is turned off for the disc (name of the main hard drive). If it is already switched off, you don't need to do anything.
- If it is switched on, you have to click on the padlock icon.
- Enter your username and password to unlock successfully.
- At this point, you can Turn Off FileVault.
If required, you might have to enter the credentials again to let the decryption process take place!
6. Unpair Bluetooth Devices
If you are planning to sell or give away your Mac but thinking to keep your wireless mouse or keyboard, performing this step is crucial. If you don't unlink the Bluetooth devices, you and the new owner can face inconvenience while using Bluetooth across different ranges of peripherals.
Perform the following steps to unlink the Bluetooth device:
- Hit the Apple icon > System Preferences.
- Head towards the Bluetooth tab.
- Go to the device you wish to unlink.
- Hit the ‘X' button to complete the process!
You might want to read: Mac Bluetooth Not Working – Here's 5 Simple Hacks
7. Reset NVRAM
Last but not the least, resetting NVRAM will help you erase particular settings on your MacBook such as Time Zone, recent Kernel Panic Information, Configurations of startup-disk, display, volume, and so on.
- Hit the Apple icon.
- Select option Shut Down.
- You need to press and hold the keys: Option + Command + P & R altogether.
- Turn back ‘On' your MacBook and instantly hit the keys: Option + Command + P & R altogether.
- Make sure you press and hold the keys for at least 20 seconds before you release them!
For more details, you can follow our complete guide: What, When, Why & How To Reset NVRAM On MacBook Pro?
PART 2: How To Reset A MacBook Pro Or MacBook Air?
Now that you have successfully fulfilled all the prerequisites for performing a factory reset on MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, follow the steps below:
- Boot up your Mac in Recovery Mode.
- You can press and hold Command + R keys altogether until you see the Apple logo.
- Once it appears, navigate to the Utilities window.
- Click on the option Disk Utility > press the Continue button.
- Now hit the View option, followed by Show All Devices.
- At this point, select your Hard Drive and click the option Erase.
- From the Format section, you can select the following options:
- If you are running macOS High Sierra or later: APFS
- If you are running macOS Sierra or earlier: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
- Once you have selected the desired option, hit the Erase button!
Keep patience as the process might take a few minutes to complete the entire factory resetting process. Best software to use for 3d printing. Once done, you can skip to PART 3.
PART 3: Finish Factory Resetting By Reinstalling macOS
To reinstall the macOS version, follow the instructions below:
- Get back to the macOS utilities window.
- Hit the Reinstall macOS button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, you might need to select the disk to install macOS.
- Simply attach your Power cable (in case you are using a Mac Notebook).
- Click the option Install.
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PART 4: Read More Systweak Tutorials: For Mac
If you are dealing with any other issues related to the Mac Operating System, you can follow the steps below:
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These instructions are only applicable for Mac computers with an Intel processor.
Erasing your Mac deletes all of its files permanently, so make sure you create a backup of any files that you want to keep. If you're attempting to restore your Mac to its factory settings, first find out what to do before you sell, give away or trade in your Mac.
Start up from macOS Recovery
Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold Command (⌘) and R until you see an Apple logo or another image. You may then be asked to select a user you know the password for. Select the user, then click Next and enter their administrator password.
Use Disk Utility to erase your disk
- From the utilities window in macOS Recovery, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
- Select Macintosh HD in the sidebar of Disk Utility. Can't see Macintosh HD?
- Click the Erase button in the toolbar, then enter the requested details:
- Name: continue to use Macintosh HD as the name or enter a different name.
- Format: continue to use APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journalled), as recommended by Disk Utility.
- Click Erase Volume Group. If you can't see this button, click Erase instead.
- If Find My is turned on for this Mac, you may be asked to enter your Apple ID to authorise the erase process. Forgotten your Apple ID?
- After the erase process has been completed, select any other internal volumes that may be listed in the sidebar, then click the delete volume (–) button in the toolbar to delete each volume.
You don't need to delete the Macintosh HD volume you've just erased, or any external volumes or disk images. - Quit Disk Utility to return to the utilities window.
- If you want to start up again from the disk you've erased, you should now reinstall macOS on that disk.
Reset Macbook Air To Factory Settings
If you can't see Macintosh HD in Disk Utility
Your built-in startup disk should be the first item listed in the Disk Utility sidebar. It's called Macintosh HD unless you've changed its name. If you can't see it there, choose Apple menu > Shut Down, then unplug all non-essential devices from your Mac and try again.
If your disk still doesn't appear in Disk Utility or Disk Utility reports that the erase process has failed, your Mac may need a service. If you need help, please contact Apple Support.
Format Macbook Air To Factory Settings
Learn more
For more information about using Disk Utility, see the Disk Utility User Guide.