How to factory reset and erase your Mac

Follow this guide to securely erase your Mac, remove personal data, and reset it to factory settings before selling or giving it away.

1. Perform a final Time Machine backup. Ensure all data is migrated to your new device. Connect an external storage drive and run a full Time Machine backup to guarantee no critical files are lost before the drive is formatted.
2. Sign out of iCloud and services. Navigate to System Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password to disable Find My Mac and remove the Activation Lock.
3. Open Erase Assistant. Go to System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset. Click the Erase All Content and Settings button to launch the automated wipe utility.
4. Authorize the reset. Enter your administrator password when prompted. The utility will display a summary of items to be removed, including your Apple ID, Touch ID fingerprints, and third-party accessories.
5. Execute the erasure. Click Continue to finalize. The Mac will restart to a black screen or progress bar while it securely deletes the encryption keys and reinitializes the storage volumes.
6. Verify the status. Once the process completes, the Mac will display the Setup Assistant activation screen showing 'Hello' in multiple languages. Hold the Power button to shut down the device without completing the setup flow.