macOS Monterey Factory Reset

Why factory reset a Mac on macOS Monterey?

Factory resetting your Mac on macOS Monterey can help you fix common software bugs or prepare your Mac for the next person you gift, sell, or donate it to. Alternatively, you may just want to start afresh by wiping your Mac device completely clean.

A note from our experts: 

 

If you’re looking for a fast and effective way to get rid of junk files, look no further than MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup. Developed by Clario Tech, the software safely gets rid of files taking up disk space—including installation files, mail attachments, logs, caches, trash, and languages. It helps you prepare to factory reset your MacBook. And most importantly, since MacKeeper is notarized by Apple, you can rest assured that you’re using a solution that’s not only safe and secure, but trustworthy too.

 

Ready to get started? Follow the instructions below to clean your Mac with MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool.

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.
2. Head to the left sidebar and click on Safe Cleanup > Start Scan.
3. Wait for the scan to complete, check that the right boxes are ticked, and hit the Clean Junk Files button.

How to factory reset macOS Monterey

To factory reset macOS Monterey, start by backing up your data to prevent data loss. The next step is to unlink licensed apps. Sign out of iCloud and Apple ID. Use the “Erase All Content and Settings” feature. Finally, reset your Mac via Recovery Mode.

Don’t worry, we’ve detailed the exact steps for each solution below. Follow them carefully to factory reset macOS Monterey without hassle.

1. Backup your data

Because resetting Monterey to factory settings erases all of its files, we always start by backing up all our data to ensure we don’t lose it. You can either do this on an external storage device or using Mac’s Time Machine tool. In this guide, we’ll focus on the Time Machine method.

Here's how to back up your personal data using Mac’s Time Machine:

1. Connect an external hard drive to your Mac (make sure you choose one with enough storage space to store all your files).
2. Go to System Preferences and open Time Machine.
3. Now decide whether you want to enable ongoing backups or simply back up your files immediately. Once you’ve made your decision, choose the relevant option between Back Up Automatically and Back Up Now.
4. Verify that your backup is complete within Time Machine.

2. Unlink licensed apps

Do you have apps linked to your Apple ID on your Mac? You’ll need to sign out of them before saying goodbye to your MacBook to protect your data. Apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader and others can be accessed by the new Mac owner, so we always make sure we unlink our accounts before any handovers. The same goes for your Apple account and Apple apps. We always deauthorize our Apple account on a Mac to prevent others from accessing any content we previously purchased from Apple services associated with our Apple ID.

Follow the steps below to deauthorize your Mac:

1. Open the Music app.
2. Go to the menu bar and click on Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.

3. Sign out of iCloud and Apple ID

For a seamless setup on your new MacBook, sign out of iCloud to disable Find My and Activation Lock. From our test, this also prevents unauthorized access to your account.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Click on System Preferences > Apple ID > Overview > Sign Out.
2. Select the iCloud data you want to keep a copy of and hit the Keep a Copy button.

4. Use the “Erase All Content and Settings” feature

macOS Monterey’s “Erase all Content and Settings” feature is the simplest way to perform a factory reset. Some users struggle to find it on their respective macOS versions, but you can find it on macOS Monterey in a few easy steps.

Here’s how to use the “Erase all Content and Settings” feature on macOS Monterey:

1. In the Apple menu, click on System Preferences.
2. Open the General tab and find the Transfer or Reset option.
3. Select Erase All Content and Settings > Erase All Content and Settings. You may have to enter your admin password.

5. Reset your Mac via Recovery Mode (for Intel or older Macs)

You can also use macOS Recovery Mode to erase and reinstall macOS manually. Just ensure you have a stable internet connection to download the operating system and keep your Mac plugged in to a power source to avoid disruptions.

Follow the relevant instructions below to enter Recovery Mode based on your Mac model.

For an Intel-based Mac with the Apple T2 security chip:

1. Erase your MacBook using Apple’s Erase Assistant.
2. Click the Restart option in the Apple menu and quickly use the relevant keyboard shortcut listed below:
   • To reinstall your current macOS version, press Command + R.
   • To install the latest macOS version available, press Option + Command + R.
   • To reinstall your Mac’s original macOS version with available updates, press Option + Shift + Command + R.
3. Now, click on Reinstall for your macOS release > Continue when it pops up in the Recovery app window and complete the process.

For an Intel Mac without the Apple T2 security chip:

1. Restart your Mac laptop.
2. As soon as it turns on, hold down the Command + R keys until the Apple logo pops up, then release.  
3. Now that you’re in Recovery Mode, select Disk Utility > Continue.
4. Choose the volume you want to erase and click the Erase button.
5. Type a volume name and go to Format > APFS > Erase Volume Group.
6. Once the process is complete, click Done > Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility.
7. Now click on Reinstall for your macOS release > Continue in the Recovery app window and follow the prompts.

What to do after resetting macOS Monterey to factory settings

Now that you’ve restored macOS Monterey to factory settings, you need to check if the macOS reset was successful and that all accounts were disabled. The next steps depend on your reasons for resetting your Mac. Set up your Mac as new, restore your data from backup, or prepare your device for resale. Make sure you wipe free space to ensure no data is left behind.  

An important question for you: 

 

Are you planning to upgrade to a second-hand Mac? Learn what to check when buying a used MacBook.

Factory reset macOS 12 easily

Though factory resetting macOS Monterey may seem daunting at first, it’s a simple process that requires a bit of preparation and time. We advise you to back up your data to prevent data loss, unlink your licensed apps, and sign out of your iCloud and Apple ID accounts. Use the “Erase All Content and Settings” feature, and then reset your Mac via Recovery Mode (by the way, you can also factory reset your MacBook Pro without a password).

To make things easier, ensure you remove all junk files before a factory reset. Not sure how to do this? Simply use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup, which safely clears mail attachments, caches, logs, and more to optimize your Mac and prepare it for a factory reset. Also, explore more guides like this in the MacKeeper blog—including our guide about FileVault disk encryption.