How to Factory Reset an Apple Computer

To factory reset an Apple computer when you are locked out, start the Mac in macOS Recovery, erase its startup disk, and reinstall macOS. The reset permanently removes accounts, passwords, files, and settings, but it does not remove an Activation Lock without the linked Apple Account credentials.

The steps below explain how to factory reset an Apple computer safely. People may also search for “how to factory reset a apple computer,” but Apple calls these computers Macs.

When should you factory reset an Apple computer?

A factory reset makes sense when you cannot recover a forgotten Mac login password and no files need to be saved. It is also appropriate when preparing a Mac for a new owner or when a persistent login loop prevents every user account from reaching the desktop.

Do not erase the Mac simply because one password attempt failed. First check that Caps Lock is off, confirm the keyboard language shown on the login screen, and use any password-reset choices that appear. Reinstalling macOS without erasing the disk may repair the operating system, but it will not create a known login password or prepare the Mac for another user.

How do you back up a locked Mac before a factory reset?

Erasing the startup disk permanently deletes user accounts, documents, photos, downloads, settings, and other locally stored information. A backup must come first because erased files cannot be recovered from the newly installed system.

• If another administrator account still works, sign in there and copy the needed files to external storage.
• If Time Machine was already configured, confirm that the backup disk contains a recent backup before erasing anything.
• Check from another trusted device whether important files finished syncing to iCloud or another service previously configured on the Mac.
• If no account opens and the only copy of important data is on the Mac, stop before erasing it and contact Apple Support to discuss available options.

A factory reset is not a backup method. If the files cannot be accessed or confirmed elsewhere, assume the reset will destroy the only copy.

Is the Mac login password different from the Apple ID password?

A local login password unlocks a user account on that specific Mac. An Apple ID password, now called an Apple Account password, signs in to Apple services and may also be required for password recovery or Activation Lock.

• If the Mac rejects a password beside a user name or profile picture, it is usually asking for the local login password.
• If the screen shows an email address, mentions an Apple Account, or appears during activation, it may be asking for the Apple Account password.
• If a password-reset option appears after failed login attempts, follow it before erasing the Mac. It may allow recovery with the Apple Account or a recovery key.

Resetting the Apple Account password does not automatically change every local Mac login password. Likewise, erasing the disk does not guarantee that Activation Lock will disappear.

How do you reset a locked Mac from recovery mode?

macOS Recovery is the Mac’s built-in environment for erasing storage and reinstalling macOS. Connect the Mac to power and make sure a reliable internet connection is available for activation and installation.

1. Shut down the Mac completely.
2. On a Mac with Apple silicon, press and hold the power button until startup options appear. Select Options, then Continue.
3. On an Intel-based Mac, turn it on and immediately hold Command-R until the startup screen appears.
4. If Recovery asks for a known administrator, select one and try its password. If no password is available, look for an erase option or return to the Recovery utilities window.
5. Open Disk Utility. Select the internal startup volume, normally named Macintosh HD, and choose Erase. Use APFS when Disk Utility asks for a format, and choose Erase Volume Group when that choice appears.
6. When erasing finishes, quit Disk Utility to return to the utilities window.
7. Select Reinstall macOS, choose the newly erased startup disk, and follow the onscreen instructions. Keep the Mac connected to power and the internet until installation finishes.

Disk names and prompts can vary by Mac model and macOS version. Do not erase external backup drives or disk images shown in the sidebar.

What should you do if the reset asks for an Apple ID or shows Activation Lock?

Activation Lock is an anti-theft feature that can prevent a Mac from being erased or reactivated without the Apple Account previously linked through Find My. A successful disk erase does not prove that the lock has been removed.

Enter the Apple Account information previously used with that Mac, or use the account-recovery choices shown on the screen. If the Mac belonged to someone else, that person must remove it from their account. For a computer owned by an employer or school, contact the organization’s administrator.

If the account cannot be recovered, Apple may require proof-of-purchase documentation before considering an Activation Lock support request. A receipt or ownership claim does not guarantee removal, and repeatedly erasing the disk will not bypass the lock.

How do you set up a Mac after the factory reset?

After macOS installation, the Mac starts with Setup Assistant. Choose the language, region, network, accessibility preferences, and intended account options shown on the screen.

1. If keeping the Mac, sign in with the correct Apple Account and create a new local login password that you can store securely.
2. Restore from a Time Machine backup when Setup Assistant offers the transfer option, or transfer selected files later.
3. Confirm that documents and photos are present before disconnecting or changing any backup.
4. If transferring the Mac to another person, stop at the initial setup screen and let the new user complete setup with their own information.

When should you contact Apple Support instead of resetting the Mac?

Contact support when the internal disk does not appear in Disk Utility, erasing repeatedly fails, the Mac shuts down during Recovery, or the keyboard and display do not work well enough to complete the steps. Those symptoms may indicate a hardware or firmware problem that another reset cannot correct.

Support is also appropriate when account recovery cannot verify the owner, an unresolved Activation Lock remains, or important files exist without a confirmed backup. Open {site} and look for Mac support or Activation Lock help. Have the Mac’s serial number, the Apple Account details you recognize, and any proof-of-purchase documentation available.