How to Factory Reset MacBook Air?

Performing a factory reset can help you solve most sorts of bugs and problems with your MacBook Air, including issues with slow Internet, and freezing applications. To know how to perform a factory reset MacBook Air, follow the steps mentioned below.

Things to do before Factory Settings

Create a Back up before Factory settings

It is important that you back up your data before doing a factory reset. let’s see how to do it!

Back up with Time Machine

• Connect a Mac external hard device to your MacBook Air.
• Click Apple menu > System Preferences > Time Machine.

• Click Select Backup Disk.

• Now select your external drive and tap “Use Disk“.

Back up with iCloud

• Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud.
• Enter your Apple ID and password and click on Next.
• A prompt will appear asking if you want to merge iCloud with your Contacts, Calendar, and Safari.
• Click Merge and your stored data can then be accessed from any other device

Sign out before Factory Settings

• iTunes/Music Apps: Open iTunes. Go to the Menu bar > Account > Sign out.
• iMessage: Go to Messages > Preferences. Choose your iMessage account. Tap on Sign out.
• iCloud: Go to Apple logo > System preferences. Choose your Apple ID. Under your Apple ID, click on Overview > Sign out.

Perform a factory reset Using System Preferences

Note: If your MacBook Air is running macOS Monterey (12.0) or later, you have to choose this method to factory reset.

• Click the Apple icon on the menu bar in the upper-left corner of the screen.

• Select System Preferences > Erase All Content and Settings in the menu.

• Then, Erase Assistant opens and asks you to sign in with your admin credentials.
• Now, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac, then click OK.

• Click Continue to allow your settings, media, data, and the other items to remove.

• Then, enter your Apple ID password and select Continue to sign out of your Apple ID. After that, you will see a warning screen.

• Click Erase All Content & Settings to confirm that you want to proceed.

Perform a factory reset Using Disk Utility

• Click Apple menu > Restart, then immediately press and hold Command-R.
• In the Utility window, select Disk Utility.

• Tap Continue > View > Show All Devices.
• Then, select the volume you want to erase.

Tip: In the Format field, choose the APFS option on macOS High Sierra or later. On macOS Sierra or earlier, choose the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) option.

• Click Erase.
• When done, quit Disk Utility to return to the utilities window.

FAQ{Frequently Asked Questions}