Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings

Use Erase your Mac and reset – Erase All Content and Settings to quickly and securely erase all of your settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed.

Erase your Mac and reset – Use Erase All Content and Settings

This feature requires macOS Monterey or later and a Mac with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip. Learn what to do if you can’t use Erase All Content and Settings.

Erase your Mac and reset – macOS Ventura

From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings.
Click General in the sidebar.
Click Transfer or Reset on the right.
Click Erase All Content and Settings. Don’t see this button?

Erase your Mac and reset – macOS Monterey

From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Preferences.
From the System Preferences menu in the menu bar, choose Erase All Content and Settings. Don’t see this option?

After choosing Erase All Content and Settings, follow these steps to continue:

An erase assistant asks you to sign in with your administrator credentials. Enter the password that you use to log in to your Mac, then click OK. Forgot your login password?
If you’re asked to back up your Mac before resetting it, you can open Time Machine and back up to an external storage device. Or click Continue to proceed without making a new backup.
Click Continue to allow your settings, media, data, and the other listed items to be removed.
If you’re asked to sign out of Apple ID, enter your Apple ID password and click Continue. Forgot your Apple ID password?
Click Erase All Content & Settings to confirm that you want to proceed
Your Mac restarts and shows a black screen or progress bar. If it needs to reconnect to a Bluetooth accessory such as a keyboard or mouse, you might be ask to turn on the accessory. If the accessory doesn’t connect within 30 seconds, turn the accessory off and back on. When reconnecting to a Bluetooth keyboard, you’re ask to choose a language.
You might be ask to select a Wi-Fi network or attach a network cable. To select a Wi-Fi network, use the Wi-Fi menu in the upper-right corner of the screen.
After joining a network, your Mac activates. Click Restart.
After restart, a setup assistant guides you through the setup process, as if you’re setting up your Mac for the first time.
If you’re selling, giving away, or trading-in your Mac and want to leave it in an out-of-box state, don’t use the setup assistant or your previously connected Bluetooth devices, if any. Just press and hold the power button on your Mac until it turns off.