Factory setting restore is an essential set to perform before giving any smart device. It is important to erase all of the data from your device to avoid data breaches and loss of any important document.
However, performing a factory reset on any of your tech devices is frequently suggested as a remedy for numerous issues. This can be done on a MacBook Air to improve performance and bring your laptop back to its former glory.
Frequently, factory reset proves to be useful when you need to sell your gadget, while at different times, cleaning a MacBook air is a savvy move prior to giving it over to a companion or relative. Regardless, you will have a thorough understanding of MacBook air factory resetting, restoration, and recovery after reading this article.
Let’s now move on to the steps that you need to follow to restore the factory reset for your MacBook air!
Steps You Need To Take Before Resetting Your MacBook:
- Create a backup.
- Sign out of everything.
- Unpair Bluetooth devices.
- Reset NVRAM.
1. Create A Backup:
You shouldn’t skip this important security step. Even if you have faith in the next owner of your laptop, the hard drive of your Mac is full of sensitive data that you would not want to be able to access. Therefore, you need to create a backup of your previously stored information so that your personalized information is not lost when you restore your MacBook to its original settings.
There are two ways of backing data from your MacBook air.
- Backup with Time Machine.
- Backup with iCloud
Backup with Time Machine
On the MacBook Air, Apple makes backing up your data incredibly simple. With Time Machine and an external hard drive, you can back up all of your applications, documents, and other important data.
It’s a great time to buy an external hard drive if you don’t already have one. The AirPort Time Capsule, designed specifically for Time Machine backups, is available from Apple.
Time Machine is a method that copies your Mac digitally and works with external storage. Follow the steps listed below to perform a Time Machine backup:
- Connect your external storage device and open the Time machine application (accessible through Launchpad and system preferences) on your MacBook.
- Now click on “Select disk backup”.
- Choose on your external disk.
- Now select “use disk”. This will save your hard drive as a Time machine backup drive.
- Now choose a backup from the time machine menu.
- Now hit the Options button in System Preferences of the Time Machine menu to control what is and is not backed up (it may take a while if this is your first Time Machine backup).
Now make sure to eject your drive safely before unplugging your MacBook.
NOTE: To eject your external hard drive correctly: Open Finder and tap the device’s name. Select the Eject icon (an arrow with a line below) by clicking on it. If your MacBook won’t let you do this, the backup may not be finished or another program is still using your external hard drive.
Backup with iCloud
Using iCloud, you can sync your Mac apps wirelessly from any Apple device. To ensure a complete, safe, and secure backup, be sure to follow the steps exactly.
- In the Apple menu bar go up to the upper left corner of your screen and click on “App store” and then on “updates”. This step is essential to make sure MacBook is up-to-date.
- Now go back to the Apple menu and select “system preferences” then click on “iCloud”.
- You will have to use your Apple ID to log in.
- Now select the option “Use iCloud for your documents and data”.
The specified information will now be automatically updated as records change and develop. Plus, you can get your put-away information from some other gadget.
2. Sign Out Of Everything:
This is a small but important step to take before giving out your MacBook. You should always sign out of every application before handing your laptop to someone or resetting it to avoid any data breach. This includes signing out of Apple services like iTunes, iCloud, and iMessage. You can scroll down to find out the steps you need to follow to sign out of these services.
Sign out of iTunes
- Click on apple music from your MacBook or iTunes for earlier versions of macOS.
- Click on account from the menu bar at the top of your screen.
- Click on authorizations from the dropdown menu.
- Now click on “deauthorize your computer”
- You will have to enter your Apple ID and password to continue.
- Now click on “Deauthorize”.
Sign out of iMessage
- Open the messages application from your MacBook.
- Click on “messages” from the menu bar.
- Now select “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
- Now click on the iMessage tab
- Now click on “sign out” located on the right side from your Apple ID.
Sign out of iCloud
- Click on the apple icon from the left corner of your screen.
- Click on system preferences from the dropdown menu.
- Now click on “Apple ID” or click on “iCloud” if you have earlier versions of MacBook air.
- Click on “overview” and then “sign out” or just click on “sign out” for earlier versions of macOS.
You are now signed out of iCloud from your MacBook.
3. Un-Pair Bluetooth Devices:
To remove a Bluetooth device from your MacBook you will have to click “Remove” after going to System Preferences > Bluetooth, hovering over the device you want to unpair, and clicking the X button to the right of its name.
4. Reset NVRAM:
Your Mac stores the necessary settings in NVRAM before loading MacOS: things like the selection of the startup disk, the volume level, and the time zone of the screen. Resetting the NVRAM will give the next owner of your Mac a fresh start because these files can sometimes become corrupt. To accomplish this, shut down your Mac, then turn it on and press and hold four keys simultaneously: After about 20 seconds, you can release Option, Command, P, and R. And that is all! The NVRAM on your Mac has been reset.
Factory Resetting Your MacBook:
It is time to perform a factory reset on your MacBook Air after you have backed up your user data to either Time Machine or the backup application of your choice. This procedure can assist you in resolving the majority of MacBook bugs and issues, including application freezes and slowdowns.
Most of the time, a reset will bring your computer’s speed back to the level it was when you first got it. A plant reset’s likewise a fundamental cycle in the event that you’re hoping to sell your MacBook Air to eliminate all client information left on the PC.
To assist you in erasing and reinstalling the operating system, macOS includes a recovery disk utility that you can redownload from the boot display on your Mac.
How to factory reset MacBook Air or MacBook Pro (macOS Ventura):
Trail the following steps precisely to restore the factory setting on your MacBook with macOS Ventura:
- Click on the “Apple icon” and then select “System settings”
- From the sidebar select “general”
- Now click on “transfer or reset” from the menu on your right
- Now click on “erase all content and settings”.
- An assistant will now appear on your screen where you will have the option to create a backup on the Time machine.
- If you have already created a backup you can step the above step by just clicking on “Continue”
- You will have to enter your Apple ID information.
- Another dialogue box will now appear on your screen to confirm this operation.
- To continue the process click on “erase all content and settings”.
- Leave your laptop for a good 10 minutes to complete the operation.
Now your MacBook is reset. You restart the device to complete the whole operation.
How To Reset MacBook Air or MacBook Pro With Earlier Versions of macOS:
If you have a MacBook with an older version of macOS, the steps to restore factory settings for it will be different from the ones with the latest versions of macOS. Don’t worry we’ve got your back!
Follow the listed steps to reset your MacBook with older versions of macOS:
- Press and hold the command and R keys and turn on your mac. Let go of the keys when the Apple logo pops up on your screen.
- Select your preferred language and then click on “Continue”
- Now choose “disk utility” and then click on “Continue”.
- Choose your start-up disk. Macintosh HD is usually selected by default.
- Now click on the “erase” button.
- Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the dropdown menu and then click Erase after choosing a name for the deleted disk.
- Select “Journaled, Encrypted” if you want to encrypt your disc for extra safety. You will be asked to come up with a password.
- Now choose the GUID partition map.
- Click on “Erase” and then “Done”
- Now exit the window.
- Make sure your device is connected to an internet source.
- Click on Reinstall macOS from the main menu and then click on Continue.
- A new window will pop up on your screen. Click on continue from there as well.
- Make sure to read the license agreement and click on agree.
- Choose your Boot disk and then install.
- Wait for the installation to complete then restart your laptop.
Restoring your laptop is a crucial step while giving away your device. Your personal information can be misused and lost when you forget to reset your device which can cause a huge mess for you!
Therefore, it is important for you to restore your device to its initial settings. However, MacBook does not offer a straightforward option to restore factory settings. Don’t worry as we have got your back! Scroll above to find the procedure you need to trail to restore the factory settings of your MacBook.