What Resetting to Factory Settings Does

Resetting your Mac to factory settings erases everything on the drive—all files, applications, settings, and user accounts—and reinstalls a fresh copy of macOS. This is different from restarting your computer. A factory reset returns your Mac to the state it was in when it left the factory, as if no one had ever used it.

Most people reset a Mac when they plan to sell it, give it away, or troubleshoot a serious software problem that won't go away any other way. The process takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on your Mac model and internet speed, because it downloads and reinstalls the operating system.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up all your files to an external drive or cloud storage before you start, because a factory reset deletes everything on your Mac permanently.
  • On newer Macs with Apple Silicon chips, use Erase All Content and Settings from System Settings; on older Intel Macs, use Recovery Mode and Disk Utility.
  • Your Mac must be plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi for the entire reset process, which can take several hours.
  • After the reset completes, your Mac will restart and show the setup screen as if it were brand new, and you can choose not to restore any files.

Back Up Your Files Before You Start

Before you do anything else, copy every file you want to keep to an external hard drive, USB stick, or cloud storage service like iCloud or Google Drive. A factory reset cannot be undone. Once the process starts, there is no way to recover files that were on your Mac.

The fastest way to back up is to plug in an external drive and use Time Machine, which is built into macOS. Open System Settings, click General, then Time Machine, and select your external drive. Let it run until it says the backup is complete. If you do not have an external drive, you can copy individual folders to cloud storage by dragging them into your cloud service folder on your Mac.

Factory Reset on Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, and Newer)

If your Mac has an Apple Silicon chip (M1, M2, M3, M4, or newer), the simplest path is Erase All Content and Settings. Open System Settings, click General on the left sidebar, then scroll down and click Transfer or Reset. Click Erase All Content and Settings.

Your Mac will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID and confirm your choice. It will then erase your drive and reinstall macOS automatically. You do not need to restart into Recovery Mode. Keep your Mac plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi the entire time. The process usually takes 1 to 3 hours.

When it finishes, your Mac will restart and show the setup screen. You can choose to set it up as a new Mac or restore from a backup—but if you are selling or giving away the Mac, you should set it up as new and then shut it down without signing in.

Factory Reset on Intel Macs (Older Models)

If your Mac has an Intel processor, you will use Recovery Mode and Disk Utility instead. Shut down your Mac completely. Then turn it back on and when ready hold Command + R until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe. This boots your Mac into Recovery Mode.

Once Recovery Mode loads, click Utilities in the menu bar, then Disk Utility. On the left sidebar, click your main drive (usually called Macintosh HD). Click the Erase button at the top. A dialog will appear asking you to name the drive and choose a format. Leave the name as Macintosh HD and set the format to APFS (or Mac OS Extended if your Mac is very old). Click Erase.

Disk Utility will erase your drive, which takes a few minutes. When it finishes, close Disk Utility and you will return to the Recovery Mode menu. Click Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts. Your Mac will read and install the operating system, which can take 1 to 4 hours depending on your internet speed. Keep your Mac plugged in and do not interrupt the process.

What to Do If Your Mac Gets Stuck During Reset

If your Mac freezes or the progress bar stops moving for more than 30 minutes, unplug it and wait 10 seconds, then plug it back in. If it is stuck on the setup screen, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a shutdown, then turn it back on and try again.

If you are stuck in Recovery Mode and cannot proceed, restart into Recovery Mode again (Command + R on startup) and try Disk Utility one more time. If Disk Utility shows an error, your drive may have a hardware problem, and you should take your Mac to an Apple Store or authorized repair shop.

After the Reset Is Complete

When your Mac finishes resetting and restarts, it will show the setup screen you see on a brand new Mac. If you are keeping the Mac, you can sign in with your Apple ID and choose to restore files from a Time Machine backup. If you are selling or giving it away, shut down the Mac without signing in. The next owner will see the setup screen when they turn it on.

If you want to restore your files and settings after the reset, plug in your Time Machine backup drive, go through the setup process, and when asked whether to restore from a backup, select your Time Machine drive. This will copy all your files, applications, and settings back onto your Mac. The restore process takes as long as the original backup did.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove a virus or malware from my Mac?

Yes. A factory reset erases everything on your drive, including any malware. However, if you restore from a backup afterward, you may restore the malware too. If you suspect your Mac had malware, set it up as a new Mac after the reset and do not restore from a backup.

Can I stop a factory reset once it has started?

On Apple Silicon Macs, once Erase All Content and Settings begins, you cannot stop it safely. On Intel Macs in Recovery Mode, you can close Disk Utility and restart your Mac normally, but any erasing that already happened cannot be undone. Always back up first.

Do I need to know my Apple ID password to reset my Mac?

Yes. On newer Macs, you will be asked to sign in with your Apple ID before the reset begins. This is a security feature to prevent someone else from erasing your Mac without permission. If you do not remember your password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you start the factory reset.

How long does a factory reset actually take?

The erase part takes 5 to 15 minutes. Downloading and reinstalling macOS takes 1 to 4 hours depending on your internet speed and Mac model. Older Macs and slower internet connections take longer. Plan for at least 2 to 3 hours total and keep your Mac plugged in the whole time.

What if I want to keep my Mac but just clean it up?

A factory reset is the most thorough option, but if you want to keep your files and settings, you can instead delete unused applications, clear your Downloads folder, and run Disk Utility's First Aid to check for drive errors. These steps clean up your Mac without erasing everything.