How to Factory Reset MacBook Pro without Password

If your MacBook Pro is acting up, slowing down, or freezing, the best thing to do is to factory reset or wipe it to improve its performance. Without an administrator’s password, that can be tricky, but it’s possible.

Before we start:

Often, your MacBook’s performance issues are the result of a cluttered disk. When left unattended, junk files can eventually weigh your Mac down, causing it to perform poorly. With MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool, you can automatically remove unwanted junk files and optimize your Mac computer. It removes caches, logs, trash, language files, and mail attachments, so you can focus on being productive without your device slowing you down.

Follow these steps to clear junk files from your MacBook using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool:

1. Download and install MacKeeper, and click Safe Cleanup in the sidebar.
2. Click the Start Scan button and wait while MacKeeper scans your computer.
3. When the scan is done, hit the Clean Junk Files button to complete the process.

Just as you can unlock a MacBook Pro without a password or Apple ID, you can also perform a factory reset on your MacBook Pro without a password. Stick around to learn how.

Why factory reset your MacBook without a password

There are several instances when you might need to factory reset your MacBook Pro without a password. Perhaps you bought your device from a friend or it was handed down to you by a family member who forgot to wipe it. Or maybe you’ve misplaced your password (which happens when you haven’t saved it digitally) and want to reset your device. Performing a factory reset will enable you to completely clear your Mac laptop, so you can start on a clean slate and make it your own.

How to prepare to factory reset MacBook Pro without a password

It’s essential to prepare to factory reset your MacBook Pro without a password. We recommend following our recommendations below to do this:

1. Backup your MacBook to avoid losing your data.
2. Save important files to iCloud for safekeeping.
3. Sign out of all online accounts.
4. Clean your Mac for optimal performance.

A note from our experts: 

Using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup is an essential preparation step before factory resetting a Mac. It scans it for redundant junk files you probably don’t even realize are there and automatically clears them. All you have to do is click a button and MacKeeper does the rest.

Here’s how to leverage MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup utility to prepare your Mac for a factory reset:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your MacBook Pro device and choose the Safe Cleanup option from the sidebar.
2. To kick off the scan, click the Start Scan button at the bottom of the window.
3. Wait for the scan to complete, and then press the Clean Junk Files button.
4. That’s it—your MacBook is now ready for a factory reset.

How to wipe a MacBook Pro without password

We followed the approach below to reset a MacBook Pro without a password and recommend it to you:

1. Use macOS Recovery Mode to reset the MacBook.
2. Resetting a MacBook device via Mac’s Terminal utility.
3. Factory reset a Mac computer using Apple ID.
4. Reinstall macOS and restore data after resetting a Mac.

1. Use macOS Recovery Mode

Booting your Mac into Recovery Mode (not to be confused with safe mode) enables you to repair your Mac’s system and load basic services using command line tools. Not only that, but it can also help you wipe your Mac, though it can be a tedious process.

Here’s how we used Recovery Mode to factory reset our MacBook Pro:

1. Ensure your Wi-Fi and broadband connections are strong.
2. For Intel-based Macs: Switch off your device, hold down the Command + R keys, and hit the power button. Release the keys when the Apple logo appears on the screen, or when you hear the chime.
3. For Mac devices with Apple Silicon: Switch off your computer and press and hold the power button until you see the startup options on the screen. Next, select Options, followed by Continue. You should now be looking at the macOS Utilities window.
4. Choose Disk Utility and select the boot disk from the sidebar. In many cases, this is Macintosh HD.
5. Select Erase, give the disk a name, and then format it as APFS.
6. When you’re done, select Erase again and exit Disk Utility.

A tip from the MacKeeper team: 

Recovery Mode comes in handy in several situations. When you experience performance issues on your computer, Mac’s Recovery Mode can help you fix and diagnose those problems. This includes security concerns, system errors, issues with data recovery, disk problems, and software installation issues. Additionally, Recovery Mode enables you to restore your device from Recovery Mode when your MacBook won't turn on.

2. Resetting via Terminal

Mac’s Single User mode allows you to troubleshoot Mac issues using a text-based terminal, even when you don’t have your Mac’s password.

If you’re comfortable with using Terminal commands, we recommend trying these steps to reset your Mac without a password:

1. Switch off your Mac, hold down the power button, and press and hold the Command + S keys.
2. When the running texts stop moving, mount the hard drive by entering this command and pressing Return to mount the hard drive: mount -uw /
3. Now remove the Apple setupdone file by entering the command: rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
4. Switch off your Mac using the command: shutdown /h now
5. Start your Mac and begin the setup process.

3. Factory reset using Apple ID

If you don’t know your Mac’s password, you can factory reset your device with your Apple ID. We've tried this method on our MacBook Pro laptop, and you can, too.

Here’s how to factory reset your Mac using your Apple ID:

1. Enter a random password for your Mac three times. Don’t worry, the goal is to reset the password.
2. Select the option to Reset it using your Apple ID.
3. Enter your Apple ID and password, and then reset the password.

4. Reinstall macOS and restore data after resetting Mac

Now that you’ve wiped your device, proceed to reinstall macOS. This allows you to set up your Mac and personalize it.

We reinstalled macOS using the approach below:

1. Select the Reinstall macOS option from the macOS Utilities menu and follow the prompts.
2. Once the reinstallation process is complete, your Mac will restart. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up your Mac according to your preferences.

Wipe your MacBook Pro without a password and customize it

Although it may seem impossible to wipe your MacBook without a password at first, you can certainly do it. Use the various methods outlined in our guide to factory reset your MacBook Pro device and customize it to your preference to make it your own. Note that factory resetting your MacBook device can also rectify issues such as a Kernel Panic in extreme cases.

When resetting your Mac, preparation is key. Ensure you take the time to get your MacBook ready for a factory reset. The steps you must take include backing up your MacBook and sending sensitive files to your iCloud account to avoid losing your data. In addition, sign out of all online accounts and clean your Mac for optimal performance. To that end, we recommend using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool to safely clear your computer of junk files before wiping it. This ensures it performs optimally.