Resetting your Mac can help resolve a lot of issues you may be experiencing. A reset can clear out problematic files, settings, and other data that may be causing your Mac problems. Here are some quick answers about resetting a Mac:
What are the benefits of resetting my Mac?
Resetting your Mac can help:
- Resolve performance issues like slowdowns, crashes, or freezes
- Fix software problems like apps freezing or unexpected quits
- Resolve issues caused by outdated or corrupt files/settings
- Clear out clutter and free up storage space
- Restore Mac to factory settings to start fresh
When should I reset my Mac?
You may want to reset your Mac if you experience:
- Slow performance with no clear cause
- Apps crashing or freezing frequently
- Odd behaviors like menus not working right
- Problems after a major macOS update
- Hard drive errors or problems with data
- Inability to empty Trash or delete files
- Installation issues with apps, plugins, or peripherals
- Strange user account issues or login problems
Resetting can help eliminate the source of these types of stubborn or unexplained problems.
What will I lose when resetting my Mac?
It depends on the reset method, but in general:
- A standard reset will remove all apps and files not included with macOS
- Your user accounts and data will remain unchanged
- System settings will return to default values
- A more advanced reset can optionally delete all user data too
So you’ll lose downloaded apps, files in your user folder, and custom settings – but not the actual user accounts or folders unless you opt to delete those too.
How do I backup before resetting Mac?
To preserve your user data, be sure to backup your Mac before resetting:
- Use Time Machine to backup to an external drive
- Use iCloud to backup your files and data
- Manually copy important files to an external hard drive
- Sync files to cloud storage like Dropbox or OneDrive
This will ensure you don’t lose any important documents, photos, or other personal data.
What are the steps to reset a Mac?
Here are the key steps:
- Backup your Mac data
- Restart your Mac and boot into Recovery Mode
- Use Disk Utility to erase/reformat the startup drive
- Reinstall macOS cleanly via Recovery Mode
- Set up your user account and migrate data back
This will wipe the drive and do a fresh macOS install, giving you a clean slate.
How do I boot into Recovery Mode?
To start up from macOS Recovery:
- Restart your Mac and hold down Command + R as it boots
- Select “Disk Utility” then click “Continue”
- Choose your startup drive then click “Erase”
- After it erases, quit Disk Utility and choose Reinstall macOS
This will launch the recovery options to erase your drive and reinstall macOS.
How do I reinstall macOS in Recovery?
To reinstall the OS:
- Boot into Recovery Mode
- Connect to WiFi if prompted
- Select “Reinstall macOS” from the Utilities window
- Click “Continue” then follow the prompts to reinstall
- Choose your startup drive when asked where to install
This will begin a fresh macOS installation on your drive.
How can I reset without losing my data?
To preserve your data when resetting:
- Backup your Mac with Time Machine or another method
- Choose a standard reset option when erasing your drive
- Select your current Mac user account when setting the Mac back up
- Use Migration Assistant to transfer data back from your backup
This will restore your user folders and files after the OS reinstall.
What is the easiest way to reset a Mac?
The easiest way is using these steps:
- Backup data to an external drive or iCloud
- Restart Mac and hold Command + R to boot to Recovery
- Select “Disk Utility” > “Erase” to wipe the startup drive
- Quit Disk Utility then choose “Reinstall macOS”
- Follow prompts to install fresh macOS
- Restore data from backup after setup
This method doesn’t require creating a bootable installer drive.
Can I use Internet Recovery to reset?
Yes, you can use Internet Recovery for resetting if:
- Your Mac is connected to the internet by Ethernet
- Your Mac model supports Internet Recovery
- You hold Option + Command + R at startup
This will boot to Apple’s servers to download and install macOS over the internet.
How can I erase my hard drive before resetting?
To erase your startup drive before reinstalling macOS:
- Boot to Recovery Mode
- Open Disk Utility from the Utilities window
- Select your startup drive in the sidebar
- Click “Erase” at the top
- Choose a name, format, and scheme
- Click “Erase” to wipe the drive
This will completely wipe your drive before the OS reinstall.
Should I reformat my drive when resetting Mac?
Reformatting (or erasing) your startup drive is recommended when resetting for a few reasons:
- It clears any corrupted files or folders
- It removes any lingering issues that may affect the fresh install
- It gives you a blank slate for macOS to install onto
- It refreshes the drive format/structure to correct problems
So reformatting as part of the reset gives you the cleanest base for a fresh macOS setup.
How can I erase and format APFS drive?
To erase and format an APFS drive before reinstalling macOS:
- Boot to Recovery Mode
- Open Disk Utility and select your drive
- Click “Erase” and choose APFS format
- Set the name for the drive
- Select GUID Partition Map scheme
- Click Erase to reformat as APFS
This will quickly format the drive as a clean APFS container.
Is Internet Recovery slower than local reinstall?
Yes, Internet Recovery tends to be much slower than a local macOS reinstallation from a bootable drive. This is because:
- Internet Recovery downloads the full OS installer over your internet connection
- Download speeds will be limited by your available bandwidth
- WiFi will be slower than a wired Ethernet connection
- Large macOS installer files have to download before installing
A local reinstall from a bootable USB drive avoids these slowdowns by installing macOS directly from the drive.
Internet Recovery Speed Estimates
| Connection Type | Download Speed | Estimated Time |
| Ethernet | 25 Mbps | 20-30 minutes |
| WiFi | 15 Mbps | 30-45 minutes |
| DSL | 5 Mbps | 1-2 hours |
So Internet Recovery can take significantly longer on slower connections. A local USB install will usually take 10-20 minutes instead.
Should I repair or erase disk before reinstalling macOS?
If you’re experiencing disk errors or problems with macOS, it’s generally better to erase the disk rather than try to repair it before reinstalling. Here’s why:
- Repairs can sometimes fail to fix underlying file system problems
- An erase completely resets the drive to factory condition
- Erasing removes any corrupted files that could affect reinstallation
- Starting fresh helps prevent lingering issues from previous installs
- APFS formatting before reinstall often fixes disk errors
So unless you need data recovery, erasing the disk first provides the cleanest slate for macOS to be reinstalled onto. Repairing first risks inherited problems persisting.
Should I reformat my fusion drive when resetting Mac?
If you want to completely start fresh when resetting your Mac, it’s a good idea to reformat your fusion drive. Here’s why:
- It clears away any lingering corruption on the drive
- It deletes any cruft that may have built up over time
- It allows macOS to be reinstalled onto a blank slate
- Formatting can fix errors caused by misconfigured partitions
- APFS reformats usually improve performance of fusion drives
The only downside to reformatting is losing all data on the drive that isn’t separately backed up. But for a true reset to factory condition, reformatting the fusion drive is recommended.
Is it better to erase SSD or HDD before reinstalling macOS?
Generally speaking, it’s better to erase an SSD than HDD before reinstalling macOS for optimal performance. Here’s why:
- Reformatting helps align SSD partitions properly
- An SSD erase resets all cells to maximum performance
- Wiping SSD clears out any prior macOS artifacts
- AHCI reset from an SSD erase may resolve bugs
- An HDD won’t see the same level of benefit from erasing
With SSD prices being low, the small added cost of a new SSD can be worth it for the boost in speed and reliability versus an HDD. So if possible, use an SSD as your macOS startup drive.
Should I reset SMC and NVRAM when reinstalling macOS?
It’s a good idea to reset the SMC and NVRAM when reinstalling macOS to clear out these system settings and start fresh. Here’s why:
- Resets any existing kernel panics or startup issues
- Fixes incorrectly set NVRAM variables
- Clears power management and battery data
- Helps resolve quirky system behaviors
- Often recommended after major system changes
- Quick process done during initial startup
Resetting SMC and NVRAM gets your Mac into a clean “known good” state before macOS gets reinstalled. Try it if you’re having any unexplained issues.
How to Reset SMC and NVRAM
SMC – Shut down Mac > Unplug power cable > Press and hold power button 10 seconds > Reconnect and boot
NVRAM – Press Option-Command-P-R on startup until you hear the startup chime a second time
How can I get macOS back after wiping my hard drive?
If you erased your entire hard drive before backing up macOS, here are some ways to get it back:
- Reinstall from macOS Recovery – Hold Command + R on boot
- Reinstall from a bootable USB installer drive
- Use Internet Recovery – Hold Option + Command + R on boot
- Take into Apple Store and ask for macOS reinstallation
- Visit friend/family member’s Mac to create bootable installer
As long as your Mac hardware is working, you can always reobtain the macOS installer through internet recovery or the Apple Store. Just be sure to backup your data first!
Can I upgrade to new macOS after resetting?
Yes, after resetting and reinstalling your current version of macOS, you can then upgrade to a newer version. Here’s how:
- Backup data and reset Mac to factory settings
- Reinstall current macOS from Recovery Mode
- Upgrade to desired version of macOS
- Restore user data from backup
This allows you to wipe your Mac and start fresh before upgrading. Be sure to check Apple’s compatibility list before upgrading versions.
How can I reset a MacBook if locked out?
If you’re locked out of your MacBook and need to reset it, you have a few options:
- Boot to Recovery Mode by holding Command + R – This allows you to erase the drive and reinstall macOS
- Use a remote management tool like Find My to erase the device
- Take to an Apple Store with proof of purchase for unlocking
- Remove drive and connect to another Mac to backup data
As long as you can physically access the MacBook, you should be able to boot to Recovery Mode for resetting, even if locked out of the normal OS.
Can I reset a MacBook if I forgot my password?
If you forgot your MacBook login password, you can still reset it by:
- Booting to Recovery Mode and erasing the drive – This will let you reinstall macOS without needing the password
- Using an external bootable installer drive to access data and reset password
- Taking to an Apple Store with proof of purchase for unlocking
- Using a password reset/unlocking tool like Single User Mode
So you have options even without your login password. The key is accessing Recovery Mode or using an external drive to reinstall macOS.
How can I fix my Mac if a reset doesn’t work?
If resetting your Mac doesn’t resolve the problem, here are some troubleshooting steps:
- Test hardware components like RAM and drive – Replace if faulty
- Try safe mode startup to isolate software issues
- Reset SMC and NVRAM again after macOS reinstall
- Review system logs for clues on startup problems
- Boot from external installer drive to test fresh OS setup
- Try Apple diagnostic tests to pinpoint hardware faults
- Back up data and schedule a Genius Bar appointment
Persistent issues after a reset often point to underlying hardware problems. Contact Apple support for help investigating further.
Conclusion
Resetting your Mac is an effective way to wipe the slate clean and resolve many system issues. Be sure to backup important data first, then boot into Recovery Mode to securely erase your hard drive and perform a clean macOS install. Taking the time to restart fresh helps eliminate software gremlins and gives you peace of mind. With the right precautions, you can reset your Mac and have it running like new again.