How to Factory Reset MacBook Pro High Sierra

To factory reset your MacBook Pro running macOS High Sierra, start by restarting your device and booting into macOS Recovery mode. Next, use Disk Utility to erase your startup disk, and then reinstall macOS.

From our experience, this method can also help if your MacBook won’t turn on.

What to do before factory resetting MacBook Pro with High Sierra?

Before performing a factory reset on your MacBook Pro running High Sierra, we recommend backing up all your documents and settings. It’ll protect your data from being lost during the reset. If you plan to sell your Mac, we also suggest logging out of all your accounts (such as iCloud and Messages) to ensure your information remains secure.

A note from our experts: 

 

Instead of resorting to a factory reset to resolve technical issues with your MacBook, consider using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup feature. Developed by Clario Tech, MacKeeper is trusted by millions of users to efficiently remove old and unnecessary files and optimize your Mac’s performance.

 

Here's how to use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup on your Apple machine:

1. Open the MacKeeper app on your Mac/MacBook.
2. Choose Safe Cleanup from the sidebar.
3. Click Start Scan.
4. Check the box next to the folders on your Mac that you want to scan.
5. Click Clean Junk Files.
6. Click Empty Trash to confirm.
7. Wait until the scanning process is done.

How to reset MacBook Pro High Sierra to factory settings?

To factory reset your MacBook Pro running High Sierra, we recommend this straightforward process: boot your Mac into Recovery mode, erase your startup disk, and reinstall macOS. First, you should restart your Mac, then immediately press Command + R to enter Recovery mode. Next, you should open Disk Utility and use the Erase option to format your startup disk. Finally, we suggest selecting Reinstall macOS to install High Sierra on your device, allowing your MacBook Pro to run smoothly and efficiently.

1. Enter macOS Recovery Mode

As mentioned earlier, the first step in our guide to factory resetting your MacBook Pro with High Sierra is to boot into Recovery mode.

Important: 

 

But what is macOS Recovery mode? This built-in tool is designed to help you diagnose and resolve both software and hardware issues, repair or restore your device, and reinstall macOS–making it essential for this process.

Let’s begin by walking you through the steps to enter Recovery mode on your MacBook Pro:

1. Go to the Apple icon in your menu bar.
2. Select Shut Down from the dropdown menu.
3. Press the power button to turn your Mac back on.
4. Press and hold the Command + R keys.
5. Wait until your Mac enters Recovery mode.

2. Erase your Startup Disk

Our next recommendation is to fully wipe your MacBook Pro with High Sierra. At this stage, we believe it’s important to understand that this process will delete everything on your computer, including files, data, settings, and the operating system itself. Based on our experience, this is a crucial step for thoroughly troubleshooting issues with a factory reset.

Here are our step-by-step tips for safely erasing your Mac’s startup disk:

1. Select Disk Utility from the Recovery mode menu.
2. Click Continue.
3. Find and select your MacBook’s startup disk.
4. Click the Erase icon.
5. Rename your startup disk.
6. Select the APFS format.
7. Click Erase.

3. Reinstall macOS High Sierra

After you erase Mac Pro High Sierra, it’s time to reinstall it. While this step might seem daunting, our step-by-step guide will make the process easier than you think. We want to remind you that reinstalling the operating system is essential. Without it, your MacBook won’t be functional.

Follow these steps to reinstall macOS High Sierra on your Mac:

1. Go back to the Recovery mode menu.
2. Select Reinstall macOS.
3. Click Continue.
4. The macOS High Sierra installer will open on your Mac.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall High Sierra.

Alternative methods to factory reset MacBook Pro High Sierra

Having trouble factory resetting your Mac running High Sierra using the standard process? Do you want to know how to factory reset your MacBook Pro without a password? No matter your situation, we’re here to walk you through a range of alternative solutions so you can easily restore your device to its original state.

To reset your MacBook Pro High Sierra to factory settings using an alternative approach, we’ll first explain how to use a bootable USB installer, then explore how third-party tools can help erase your disk safely.

1. Using a bootable USB installer

If you prefer, you can format your Mac’s internal disk directly using a bootable USB High Sierra installer. If you already have the installer saved on an external drive, this method can streamline the process. However, if you don’t, you’ll need to create the bootable USB first. Regardless of your approach, we strongly suggest backing up your data before proceeding.

Follow these steps to perform a clean installation of High Sierra with a bootable installer:

1. Download the macOS High Sierra installer from the Mac App Store.
2. Connect an external disk to your Mac.
3. Go to the Applications folder.
4. Open the Utilities folder, then launch Disk Utility.
5. Select your external disk from the sidebar.
6. Click the Erase icon at the top.
7. Rename your disk as “MacInstaller”.
8. Select the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format.
9. Click Erase, then Done.
10. Quit Disk Utility.
11. Go back to the Utilities folder, and launch Terminal.
12. Enter the command below to create a bootable High Sierra installer: 
    • sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MacInstaller --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app --nointeraction &&say Done 
13. Go to the Apple icon in the menu bar, and click Restart.
14. Hold down the Option key until you hear the startup chime.
15. Select the Install macOS High Sierra disk.
16. Choose Install macOS, and follow the steps on your screen.

2. Using third-party tools for secure erasure

You might be here because you want to securely delete data from your Mac to free up space. Or perhaps you’re planning to sell your device and want to ensure all your sensitive information is completely erased before performing a factory reset.

Whatever your reason, we recommend using a trusted third-party tool to ensure your data is securely erased. There are several options available, but our top pick is MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup. As an Apple-notarized and industry-leading solution, MacKeeper not only provides robust data deletion but also offers advanced memory optimization features.

Everything about performing a macOS High Sierra factory reset

Performing a factory reset on a MacBook Pro with macOS High Sierra is more straightforward than it appears. All you need to do is erase your Mac’s startup disk and reinstall macOS. This process is especially useful if you plan to sell your computer or want to resolve persistent performance issues.

However, a factory reset should be your last resort, since it’ll erase all data stored on your Mac. As a first step, consider using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup, an industry-leading Mac optimization tool trusted by millions worldwide. MacKeeper not only boosts your Mac’s performance but also offers real-time antivirus protection.