Does your MacBook seem a little long in the tooth? Is there an issue you can’t seem to solve no matter how you try? Or do you want to sell your MacBook without a trace of personal data on it? Here's our guide for how to reset a MacBook, or any Mac computer, which can solve any of those issues.
Below, we explain how to completely wipe your MacBook (or iMac) and reset it to a like-new state. The instructions below (with a few minor changes here or there) will work going all the way back to mac OS Before you do this, be sure to back up your data. If you’re selling your MacBook, also make sure to sign out of iMessage, iCloud and any other accounts before you reset.
To reset the SMC on a Mac notebook, first determine whether the battery is removable. Most older Mac notebooks have removable batteries. Mac notebooks that have nonremovable batteries include MacBook Pro (Early 2009 and later), all models of MacBook Air, MacBook (Late 2009), and MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015 and later). Turn on or restart your MacBook Pro. Hold down Command and R at the same time right after you restart your Mac. Keep holding down the keys until your Mac finishes loading and you see the macOS Utilities window. Click on Utilities in the Menu Bar on your MacBook Pro.
Here’s how to reset a MacBook (or any Mac computer):
1. Hold down the Command and R keys on the keyboard and turn on the Mac. Let go when the Apple logo pops up.
2. Select your language and continue.
3. Choose Disk Utility and click continue.
4. Choose your startup disk (named Macintosh HD by default) from the sidebar and click the Erase button.
5. Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the dropdown menu and click Erase. (If you want to encrypt your disc for extra security, choose the “Journaled, Encrypted” option. You’ll be prompted to create a password.)
6. Click Done and exit the window.
7. If you haven’t yet, connect to Wi-Fi in the top right-hand corner, just like you usually would on your Mac.
8. From the main menu, choose Reinstall macOS and click continue.
9. Press Continue. A pop-up will appear. Choose Continue there, too.
10. Read the software license agreement and click Agree.
11. Choose your boot disk and select “Install.”
12. Wait for the first step of the installation to occur. This is a good time to take a break.
13. The computer will restart and continue installing. Let your break continue. Get a sandwich (optional, but encouraged). The computer will restart.
Now you know how to reset a MacBook, or any Mac computer!
From here, if you’re looking to sell your computer, you’re all done. If you want to get back to the desktop, follow the prompts as if you were setting up your MacBook for the first time.
If your old Mac is still acting up and you've decided you want to upgrade, check out our roundup of the best Apple laptops available now. We're also tracking all of the MacBook Pro 2019 rumors, in case you're able to hold out for a new notebook.
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