How to Factory Reset a MacBook Air 2015

To factory reset a MacBook Air 2015, start in macOS Recovery, erase the internal startup disk with Disk Utility, and then reinstall macOS. The reset permanently removes personal files and accounts, so make a backup before erasing the MacBook Air.

What should you do before factory resetting a MacBook Air 2015?

Connect the MacBook Air to power and keep it connected throughout the reset. You also need a reliable internet connection because Recovery may need to download macOS.

• Back up documents, photos, and other files with Time Machine or copy them to external storage.
• Make sure you know the Apple ID password connected to the Mac.
• Sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My Mac if you can still access the desktop. In System Preferences, open Apple ID or iCloud, depending on the installed macOS version, and choose the sign-out option.
• Sign out of other Apple services that contain personal information.
• Disconnect external drives after completing the backup so that you do not erase one accidentally.

If you are passing on the MacBook Air, do not restore your backup or sign back into your Apple ID after reinstalling macOS. Leave the computer at the first setup screen for its next user.

How do you enter Recovery Mode on a 2015 MacBook Air?

macOS Recovery is a set of built-in tools for repairing a disk, resetting certain passwords, and reinstalling macOS. Shut down the MacBook Air before using one of these startup combinations.

1. Press the power button.
2. Immediately hold Command-R.
3. Release the keys when an Apple logo, spinning globe, or Recovery window appears.

Command-R normally starts the available built-in Recovery system and offers a suitable reinstall option. If local Recovery is missing or damaged, start Internet Recovery by turning on the Mac while holding Option-Command-R. This mode loads recovery tools over the internet and may offer the newest macOS version compatible with the 2015 MacBook Air.

Shift-Option-Command-R is another Internet Recovery combination. It may offer the macOS version originally supplied with the Mac, or the closest version still available. Internet Recovery requires Wi-Fi or another working network connection and can take longer to start.

How do you erase the disk and reinstall macOS on a MacBook Air 2015?

Erasing the startup disk deletes its files and cannot be undone without a backup. If Recovery asks for a user or Apple ID password, enter the requested credential before continuing.

1. From the macOS Utilities window, select Disk Utility and choose Continue.
2. In Disk Utility, select View, then Show All Devices if that option is available.
3. Find the internal storage device in the sidebar. Select the startup volume, usually named Macintosh HD. If a separate Macintosh HD - Data volume appears, select it and use Delete Volume or the available volume-group erase option before erasing Macintosh HD.
4. Select Erase. Keep Macintosh HD as the name.
5. Choose APFS when reinstalling a recent compatible macOS version. If Recovery is installing an older version and recommends Mac OS Extended (Journaled), use that format instead. Choose GUID Partition Map when a Scheme menu appears.
6. Confirm the erase and wait for it to finish. Do not erase a disk listed under External.
7. Quit Disk Utility to return to the macOS Utilities window.
8. Select Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts. Choose Macintosh HD as the destination.
9. Keep the Mac connected to power and the internet. It may restart several times.

What can you do if you forgot the MacBook Air password?

A Mac account password unlocks a local user account. An Apple ID password signs in to Apple services and may help reset a linked account password. A firmware password is a separate startup-security password that can block Recovery or other startup choices.

Before erasing the Mac, check whether Recovery offers a password-reset option. Start with Command-R, select the password assistance option if shown, and follow the prompts. Depending on the macOS version and account settings, you may be asked for an Apple ID, a recovery key, or another administrator account.

If no reset option appears, erasing and reinstalling macOS can remove the local account and its password, but it also removes the account's files. Erasing the disk does not recover data that was never backed up. It also does not remove an unknown firmware password.

How do you set up a MacBook Air 2015 after the reset?

After installation, Setup Assistant asks for the country or region, keyboard, network, account details, and privacy choices. Follow the screens until setup is complete.

• For your own Mac, sign in with your Apple ID when prompted or complete that step later.
• To restore personal files, choose the option to transfer information from a Time Machine backup, another Mac, or other available source.
• If the Mac is going to another person, stop when the welcome or country-selection screen appears. Shut it down without creating a new account.

What should you do when a MacBook Air 2015 reset fails?

• If Internet Recovery cannot connect, confirm the Wi-Fi password, move closer to the router, restart the router if possible, or try another trusted network. Networks that require a browser sign-in may not work in Recovery.
• If Disk Utility reports an erase or unmount error, restart into Recovery, choose Show All Devices, and run First Aid on the internal device and its volumes. Then try the erase again.
• If the internal disk does not appear, restart and check Disk Utility again. A disk that remains missing may indicate a storage or hardware problem.
• If installation appears stuck, keep the Mac connected to power and allow time for the download. If there is no progress for an extended period, restart Recovery and repeat the reinstall using a stable connection.
• If Command-R does not open Recovery, try Option-Command-R for Internet Recovery.

When should you contact Apple Support about a MacBook Air 2015 reset?

Contact Apple Support if an unknown firmware password blocks startup, the internal disk never appears, Disk Utility repeatedly fails, or the Mac cannot complete Recovery after network checks. You should also seek help before erasing if important files have no backup, because a factory reset cannot preserve them.

Open {site} and choose the support section for Mac. Use the official contact option shown there; do not rely on phone numbers or contact details posted by unrelated sites.