Mac OS · macOS
Factory Reset a Mac and Reinstall macOS Safely
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Back up first. Use Erase All Content and Settings on supported Apple silicon or T2 Macs; otherwise erase the startup disk in Recovery and reinstall macOS.
Back up and prepare
Copy important data, sign out or transfer licenses where required, connect power, and confirm the Mac is online.
Use Erase Assistant when available
Open System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings and follow the prompts.
Use Recovery on older Macs
Start macOS Recovery, erase only the correct startup volume in Disk Utility, then choose Reinstall macOS.
Stop at Setup Assistant
For a sale or handoff, do not create a new user; shut down when Setup Assistant appears.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If “Factory Reset a Mac and Reinstall macOS Safely” remains unresolved, identify the first numbered step that produces a different result and preserve that screen, file, log, or message. Recheck the specific account, permission, storage, connection, source-media, or hardware prerequisite above, then follow only the matching Apple Support recovery path; do not combine unrelated resets, bypasses, unofficial installers, or third-party repair tools.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: macOS.
Reviewed against the linked first-party guidance; interface labels can vary by current app, service, or operating-system version.