To reset your Mac to factory settings, first back up your data using Time Machine or an external/cloud storage, ensuring all essential files are included and enough space is available. 2. Sign out of iCloud, iTunes, and the App Store to avoid activation lock issues by going to System Settings > Apple ID and signing out, then deauthorizing individually for each service. 3. Boot into Recovery Mode by holding Command R at startup, use Disk Utility to erase your main drive, and then reinstall macOS following on-screen prompts. Afterward, your Mac will restart to a clean setup screen, ready for a new user or a fresh start.

If you're planning to sell, give away, or just start fresh with your Mac, resetting it to factory settings is a solid move. The key points are: back up your data first, make sure you know your Apple ID credentials, and follow the steps carefully to wipe everything cleanly.

Back Up Your Data Before Anything Else

This step can’t be stressed enough. Once you reset your Mac, all personal data—photos, documents, apps, and settings—will be wiped. Use Time Machine to create a full backup, or manually copy important files to an external drive or cloud storage like iCloud or Google Drive.

• Make sure your backup destination has enough space.
• Double-check that all essential files are included.
• If using Time Machine, connect the drive and let it complete a full backup before proceeding.

It might seem obvious, but many people skip this or assume things are saved somewhere else. Don’t be one of them.

Sign Out of iCloud and the App Store

Before wiping your Mac, you need to deauthorize it from your Apple ID. This helps prevent activation lock issues later on and ensures a smooth reset.

Here’s what to do:

• Go to System Settings > Apple ID and click "Sign Out."
• When prompted, choose to remove your account from the Mac.
• Also sign out of iCloud, iTunes, and the App Store individually just to be safe.

If you forget this step, the reset Mac might still be tied to your Apple ID, which can complicate handing it off to someone else.

Use Recovery Mode to Erase and Reinstall macOS

Now comes the real reset. You’ll boot into Recovery Mode and use Disk Utility to erase your startup disk. Here’s how:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Turn it on and immediately hold down Command R until you see the loading screen.
3. In the Utilities window, select Disk Utility, then click Continue.
4. Choose your main drive (usually named “Macintosh HD”), click Erase, and confirm.
5. After erasing, quit Disk Utility to return to the main Recovery window.
6. Select Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts.

This process takes some time—anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour—so don’t rush it. Let it finish without interruption.

What Happens After the Reset?

Once macOS finishes reinstalling, your Mac will restart and show the welcome setup screen. At this point, it's completely clean and ready for a new owner—or for you to set it up again from scratch.

If you’re keeping it, you’ll have the option to restore from a Time Machine backup during setup. But if you're passing it on, just leave it at the setup screen. No need to log in.

That’s basically it. It’s not complicated, but there are enough small steps that skipping one can cause problems later. Take your time, double-check each step, and you'll have a clean Mac in no time.

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