How to Restore MacBook Pro/Air?

How to factory reset MacBook Air? - from Reddit

You may need to restore your MacBook Air or Pro when you are planning to sell, give away, or trade in your MacBook for secure and practical reasons. Here we will show you how to do that in steps.

Part 1: How to Restore MacBook Air/Pro

Before you start restoring, you must back up your data. This will prevent any loss of important files. Restoring your MacBook Air or Pro will erase all its data. So, you must ensure you have a current backup. You can use Time Machine, Apple's built-in backup feature, to create a complete system backup.

Step-by-Step Guide to Entering Recovery Mode

Follow these steps to enter Recovery Mode and restore your MacBook Air or Pro:

1. Click on the Apple menu at the top-left corner of the screen and select "Shut Down."
2. Press the power button to turn on your MacBook.
3. Immediately press and hold the Command (⌘) + R keys simultaneously until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe. This will boot your MacBook into Recovery Mode.

   

4. Once in Recovery Mode, you will see the macOS Utilities window. Select "Disk Utility" and click "Continue."

   

5. In Disk Utility, select your startup disk (usually named "Macintosh HD") from the sidebar. Click on the "Erase" button at the top of the window.
6. Choose a format (usually "APFS" for newer Macs or "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" for older Macs) and give your disk a name. Click "Erase" to confirm. This will erase all data on the disk.

   

7. After completing the erasing process, close Disk Utility to return to the macOS Utilities window.
8. In the macOS Utilities window, select "Reinstall macOS" and click "Continue."
9. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall a fresh copy of macOS on your MacBook.

   

10. After the reinstallation finishes, your MacBook will restart. It will show the Setup Assistant. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up your MacBook as new or restore your data from a backup.

Part 2: How to Factory Reset your MacBook Automatically

You can factory reset your MacBook Pro/Air running macOS Monterey and later versions automatically by following these easy steps:

For macOS Ventura

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select "System Settings."

   

2. In the System Settings window, click on "General" in the sidebar.
3. Under the General section, select "Transfer or Reset."

   

4. Click on "Erase All Content and Settings" and enter your administrator password.

   

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the factory reset. Your MacBook will erase all data and settings and restore the device to its factory settings.

For macOS Monterey

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select "System Preferences."

   

2. In the System Preferences window, click on "System Preferences" in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Select "Erase All Content and Settings" and still enter the account and password information.

   

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the factory reset process.

Part 3: How to Factory Reset your MacBook Pro/Air Manually

Apart from the methods introduced above, you also can factory reset your MacBook Air/Pro manually:

Preparations for Factory Resetting MacBook Air

There are somethings you need to do before factory resetting yout Macbook:

1. Back Up Your Data

Before initiating the factory reset, ensure all your important files and data are backed up using Time Machine or manually transferring them to an external storage device or cloud service.

2. Sign Out of Your Accounts:

It's essential to sign out of all your accounts, including iCloud, iTunes, and any other third-party accounts linked to your MacBook Air. This prevents any potential data loss or unauthorized access to your accounts post-reset.

Sign Out of iTunes:

1. Open the iTunes app.
2. Click on Account and click Sign Out.
3. Or select Authorization->Deauthorize this computer.
4. Enter your Apple ID and password to deauthorize.

Sign Out of iCloud:

MacOS Ventura or later versions users:

1. Open Apple menu.
2. Go to System Settings.
3. Click your Apple ID. Then, sign out.

MacOS Monterey, macOS Big Sur, and macOS Catalina users:

1. Open Apple menu.
2. Go to System preferences.
3. Click the Overview from the sidebar, and click Sign out.

Earlier macOS versions users:

1. Open Apple menu.
2. Go to System preferences->iCloud.
3. Click Sign out.

Sign Out of iMessage:

1. Open the iMessage app.
2. Click on the Messages->Settings(Preferences) option.
3. Click iMessage->Sign out.

3. Unpair Bluetooth Devices:

If you have Bluetooth devices paired with your MacBook Air, such as keyboards, mice, or headphones, unpair them to avoid connectivity issues after the reset.

4. Reset NVRAM

Resetting the Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory (NVRAM) can help resolve any issues related to system settings. To reset NVRAM:

1. Shut down your MacBook Air.
2. Restart it and immediately hold down the Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + P + R keys until you hear the startup sound for the second time.

Note: You can skip the NVRAM resetting step if your MacBook is with Apple silicon processors that were introduced in late 2020.

Steps to Factory Reset MacBook Air in Recovery Mode

Here's a concise guide on factory resetting your MacBook Air using Recovery Mode.

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select "Shut Down."
2. Press and hold the Command (⌘) + R keys simultaneously while pressing the power button to turn on your MacBook Air. Keep holding the keys until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe, indicating that your MacBook Air is booting into Recovery Mode.
3. In the macOS Utilities window, select "Disk Utility" and click "Continue."
4. In Disk Utility, select your startup disk (usually named "Macintosh HD") from the sidebar. Click on the "Erase" button at the top of the window. Choose a format (usually "APFS" for newer Macs or "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" for older Macs) and give your disk a name. Click "Erase" to confirm. This will erase all data on the disk.

   

5. After erasing your hard drive, close Disk Utility to return to the macOS Utilities window. Select "Reinstall macOS" and click "Continue." Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall a fresh copy of macOS on your MacBook Air.

   

Part 4: How to Restore Data from Macbook Air

Introducing a reliable data recovery tool like Recoverit can be key. It can help you retrieve lost or deleted files from your MacBook Air. Recoverit offers several benefits that make it a preferred choice for data recovery:

• Comprehensive Recovery: Recoverit can retrieve various file types, including documents, photos, videos, and more, ensuring that you can recover all types of important data.
• Ease of Use: Recoverit's user-friendly interface makes the data recovery process straightforward, even for users with minimal technical knowledge.
• Advanced Scanning Algorithms: Recoverit utilizes advanced scanning algorithms to thoroughly search your MacBook Air's storage for lost or deleted files, increasing the likelihood of successful recovery.
• Preview Feature: Before proceeding with the recovery process, Recoverit lets you preview the recovered files, enabling you to selectively recover only the files you need.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use Recoverit

When important files are lost or accidentally deleted from your MacBook Air, Recoverit can be your lifesaver. Here's a concise step-by-step guide on using Recoverit to retrieve your valuable data.

Step 1: Download and Install Recoverit

Visit Recoverit's official website and download the software. Follow the on-screen instructions to install it on your MacBook Air.

Step 2: Launch Recoverit

After installation, launch the Recoverit application on your MacBook Air.

Step 3: Select a Location

Choose the drive or partition from which you want to recover data. Click on the "Start" button to initiate the scanning process.

Step 4: Scan for Lost Data

Recoverit will comprehensively scan the selected drive to locate lost or deleted files. You can monitor the scan's progress and pause or stop it if necessary.

Step 5: Preview and Recover Files

Once the scanning process is complete, you will receive a list of recoverable files. You can preview the files to verify their integrity and select the ones you want to recover.

Step 6: Recover Data

After selecting the desired files, click the "Recover" button to initiate recovery. Choose a location to save the recovered files, ensuring it's different from the original location to prevent data overwriting.

Conclusion

In conclusion, whether you're fixing issues, readying your MacBook Air for a new user, or seeking a fresh start, this guide offers a clear way to restore and reset your device. Additionally, Wondershare Recoverit is the best tool for MacBook Air data recovery. It has user-friendly features, advanced capabilities, and a seamless process. By following these instructions and leveraging the power of Recoverit, you can confidently manage your MacBook Air's maintenance and ensure the security and integrity of your valuable data in any scenario.