Performing a factory reset can be an effective way to thoroughly clean and restore a Mac to its original settings and condition. A factory reset erases all data and settings from the Mac and reinstalls the operating system and software that came with it. This process removes any files, applications, accounts, and modifications made by the user. While it takes time and effort, a factory reset allows you to start fresh with a clean Mac.
What exactly does a factory reset do?
When you factory reset a Mac, the following actions occur:
- All user accounts and related data are deleted, including documents, photos, music, apps, and settings.
- The operating system is reinstalled from scratch, updating to the latest version.
- Any applications that did not originally come with the Mac are removed.
- All system settings are reset to their defaults.
- The Mac reboots and starts up like it’s brand new out of the box.
Essentially, the Mac is restored to its original factory condition, as if you just bought it. This gives you a fresh start and removes any residual files, software issues, or personalized configurations.
What steps are involved in factory resetting a Mac?
Performing a factory reset involves the following steps:
- Back up your Mac data if needed – Any important files should be copied to an external location before resetting.
- Sign out of Apple ID accounts – This includes iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, iTunes, and the App Store.
- Erase the startup drive – This can be done through macOS Utilities or Disk Utility.
- Reinstall macOS – The latest macOS version will be downloaded and installed.
- Set up Mac with new configurations – Create a new user account and customize basic settings.
The exact process depends on the macOS version and Mac model. Newer Macs with Apple silicon allow bootable drive erasing during setup assistant. Older Macs require booting into recovery mode or installation media to wipe the drive.
How to factory reset a Mac with Apple silicon
Here are the steps to factory reset Mac computers with M1 or M2 chips using the bootable startup drive erase method:
- Back up your Mac to an external hard drive or storage service.
- Make sure your Mac is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi.
- Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the power button.
- After the startup options window appears, select Options, then Continue.
- Select Disk Utility, then Continue. Select your startup disk from the sidebar.
- Click Erase at the top of the Disk Utility window. Give the erased volume a name, use APFS format, GUID partition map.
- Quit Disk Utility, then select Reinstall macOS from the macOS Utilities window. Follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall the latest macOS version.
- After installation, go through setup assistant to create a new account and configure settings.
This will completely clear the startup drive and do a fresh macOS install without needing to go through recovery mode.
How to factory reset an Intel-based Mac
For older Intel-based Macs, here are the steps to factory reset using macOS Recovery:
- Back up your Mac data to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
- Restart your Mac and immediately press Command + R keys to boot into Recovery mode.
- When the macOS Utilities screen appears, select Disk Utility then click Continue.
- Select your startup disk in the sidebar, click Erase at the top. Name it, format as APFS, GUID map.
- Quit Disk Utility, then select Reinstall macOS to begin the fresh installation.
- Follow the setup assistant prompts to create a new admin account and configure your reset Mac.
This will completely wipe the existing OS install and do a fresh reinstallation from recovery mode.
Will a factory reset improve Mac performance?
Yes, performing a factory reset can often improve your Mac’s performance and speed by:
- Clearing out clutter and files that slow down the system.
- Removing unneeded apps and processes running in the background.
- Resetting system settings that may have been misconfigured.
- Updating to the latest macOS version for performance enhancements.
- Fixing system errors, damaged files or software issues.
The fresh start provided by a factory reset clears out any technical debt that has accumulated on your Mac over time. This allows the computer to run faster and more efficiently after the reset.
What data and settings are lost with a factory reset?
These items will be permanently erased from your Mac with a factory reset:
- User accounts and related preferences
- Apps, documents, media files
- Messages, emails, bookmarks
- System settings and configurations
- Home folder contents
- Keychain passwords
However, files stored on external drives or in cloud storage will remain intact after resetting. Be sure to backup anything important before wiping your Mac.
Is a factory reset bad for your Mac?
Generally no, performing a factory reset is not bad or harmful for your Mac. The process erases the computer’s contents and reinstalls the OS, but does not affect the physical hardware. There are some caveats though:
- Very frequent factory resets can possibly wear out the internal storage hardware over time.
- Resetting deletes important files if you forget backups.
- Reinstallation of OS can fail in rare cases and leave Mac unusable.
However, for the most part, an occasional factory reset as needed is safe for Macs. Just use care and caution before wiping your computer.
Will factory reset remove malware or viruses?
Yes, performing a factory reset can help remove malicious software like malware or viruses from your Mac. The process does the following:
- Erases infected system files and applications.
- Clears out infected user data and settings.
- Reinstalls clean versions of system software.
- Forces a fresh configuration of settings.
By fully wiping the storage drive and reinstalling macOS from scratch, the reset eliminates any infections present on the system. This is an effective way to disinfect a Mac plagued by malware.
Cautions About Resetting to Remove Malware
Keep in mind potential malware caveats when resetting Macs:
- Some sophisticated malware may persist through resets by infecting the recovery partition.
- Malware could be reintroduced if backups are restored after resetting.
- Users should reset passwords after reset to thwart potential data access.
For severe infections, the most foolproof way to remove malware is to wipe the disk and reinstall macOS from external installation media.
Will factory reset remove user profiles on Mac?
Yes, a factory reset will delete all user accounts and their associated profiles on a Mac. During the reset process, these items are erased:
- User folders like Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music
- Desktop files
- Application preferences and settings
- Email, messages, social app data
- Web bookmarks and browsing history
- Keychain passwords
Everything customized or configured per-user is removed, returning the Mac to a single default admin account like when new. Be sure to backup your profile before reset if needed.
Should I factory reset before selling my Mac?
Yes, it’s highly recommended to perform a factory reset on your Mac before selling or giving it away. This is crucial to protect your privacy and security.
A factory reset makes sure all your personal data is wiped from the Mac before ownership changes. Without resetting, your private information remains accessible to whoever gets the computer next.
Resetting also lets you hand off the Mac in like-new condition to the next owner. They can start fresh without inheriting any old data or customizations.
If I factory reset, will apps be deleted?
Any third-party applications installed on your Mac will be deleted after a factory reset. Here’s what happens to apps:
- Apps you installed – Removed from Applications folder.
- Preferences and data – Associated app data/configs are deleted.
- App Store apps – Can be redownloaded after resetting.
- Built-in Apple apps – Reinstalled fresh during OS reinstall.
You’ll start with a clean slate apps-wise after resetting. Reinstall just the apps you need for a clutter-free fresh start.
What data remains after a factory reset?
While most data is deleted, some files may still remain on your Mac after a factory reset in certain circumstances:
- Recovery partition – This hidden partition remains intact.
- Firmware files – Core system firmware files are preserved.
- Remnant system files – Scattered files may avoid deletion.
- External devices – Drives/volumes besides startup disk untouched.
For most people, these remnant files aren’t a concern. But for maximum data erasure, physical destruction or disk overwrite is required.
Will factory reset remove iCloud account?
The factory reset process itself does not remove or unlink your iCloud account from the Mac. However, you will be signed out of iCloud and unable to access your account after resetting.
During the reset, iCloud data like photos, emails, contacts is erased. Your account still exists but won’t be associated with the wiped Mac.
To use iCloud again, you’ll need to set up a new user account and re-sign-in to iCloud after the reset to re-link your account.
How long does a factory reset take?
The full factory reset process can take 1-4 hours to complete. Here’s a breakdown of approximate times:
- Data backup: 30 min to 2 hours
- Drive erasure: 5-10 minutes
- macOS reinstall: 30-90 minutes
- Account setup: 10 minutes
Actual duration depends on amount of data, Mac model specs, OS version and internet speed. Schedule ample time so the reset isn’t interrupted.
Can I reverse a factory reset?
Unfortunately no, there is no way to reverse or undo a factory reset after it has completed. The original data erased during the reset is not recoverable.
The only way to get back some data is if you backed up your files and settings before resetting. You can then restore data from Time Machine, iCloud or other backups.
Otherwise, a factory reset permanently deletes all user accounts, apps, documents, media, and customizations on the wiped Mac.
Conclusion
In summary, performing a factory reset can be a good solution if you want to fully wipe and restore your Mac to a like-new state. This thorough cleaning erases any residual clutter, accounts, viruses or problems from the computer.
Just be absolutely sure to backup all important files first. Also set aside ample time for the multi-step reset process. When completed properly, you’ll enjoy a fresh start with a performance-boosted Mac.