How to Erase and Factory Reset MacBook without Password?
Overview: Worry about How to Factory Reset MacBook Pro without password. Don’t be upset we have got you covered on ways to erase your Mac.
With the beginning of smart security protocols and digital privacy, losing access to your MacBook Pro can sometimes be frustrating. Also, with the adoption of tighter password protocols and biometric authentication, users face difficulty coping with current trends. Therefore, when you are preparing for a fresh start on Mac, or troubleshooting issues – knowing how to factory reset MacBook Pro or Air without Apple ID or Admin password is essential. Moreover, this guide will delve into the depths of resetting your MacBook without any hassle.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
In some cases, you may encounter problems during the factory reset process. Here are a few common issues and troubleshooting tips:
Recovery Mode Not Showing Up: In case you cannot boot into Recovery Mode on your Mac, kindly confirm that you are pressing the right keys (Command + R for Intel Mac and simply the power button for Apple Silicon Macs). If doing the above still does not help, then you might need to carry out a macOS Internet Recovery instead.
macOS Reinstallation Fails: If the installation process fails, check for the internet connection or wait and do the whole procedure again. Also, check how much free space is available on your Mac and correct macOS version is being installed for your Mac model.
If not satisfied with the answer, check the link below:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250531077
Things to Do Before Reset Your Mac to Factory Settings without Password
Prior to performing the factory reset process on your Macbook Pro/ Air, ensure your system is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi, Ethernet Cable, or other means. Also, check the power supply is available to the Mac through the power adapter, so there will be no chance of a power cut or battery power running out during a factory reset. You will learn from backing up data, booting in Recovery Mode, and reinstalling macOS in the following methods.
1. Back up Your Mac Hard Drive
Factory reset Macbook without Apple/ Admin password tends to reset the Mac which can delete all the data stored on your devices. Thus, it is essential to have a backup of the data using Time Machine software (default tool for Apple Users) or you can use an external hard drive or USB.
2. Sign out of your iTunes account
In case your device has not been upgraded to Catalina, it is necessary to remove a computer from the iTunes app.
Launch iTunes. On the menu bar at the splayed-out part of your computer or on top of the iTunes window, click on Account and The Authorizations, or click on Deauthorize This Computer.
Then, your Apple ID and password are required, please enter them.
Following that, click on Deauthorize.
3. Sign out of iMessage (Messenger) on Mac
Go to your Mac’s dock and click on the Messages app or you can use the Spotlight feature to search for it.
Next, on the top-left portion of the screen you will find a menu bar, click on Messages.
Then, a list will appear, select Preferences from the list.
Now in the Preferences window, make a selection of iMessage.
Within the Apple ID section, you’ll be able to view the account that you logged in.
If you wish to log out of iMessage on your Mac, click Sign Out.
In most cases, a prompt will appear requesting your permission to log out. You may do so by clicking on the Sign Out button.
4. Sign out of iCloud
Click on the Apple logo and then select System Preferences; after this, click on Apple ID.
From the sidebar, choose iCloud and Disable Find My Mac.
Next, from the sidebar, select Overview and click on Sign Out.
In case you are using macOS Mojave or an earlier version, go to the Apple menu, choose System Preferences, select iCloud, and then click on Sign Out.
5. Delete Bluetooth Connections
On the top left, click on Apple Menu ().
Select System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (earlier versions like Big Sur, Mojave, etc.)
Click on System Settings and scroll down to select Bluetooth.
Locate Bluetooth under the corresponding grid in System Preferences.
The currently connected devices will be displayed in this section.
Locate the device you wish to remove, hold the pointer above the device, and click X or More Options (•••).
Click Remove and then confirm by clicking on Remove in the pop-up box.
6. Turn Off FileVault
It is advisable to disable FileVault before factory resetting your Apple computer. Turning off FileVault allows for the encryption keys to be removed which eases the entirety of the factory resetting process.
If FileVault is not disabled, it might slow down or hinder the reset progress. Because the data present will still be encrypted. Hence, by disabling it, the erase Mac process can be executed in a hassle-free way.
7. Disable Firmware Password
It is best practice to switch off the firmware password before resetting the Macbook to factory settings. This is because a factory reset will take you to macOS Recovery, where the firmware password may prevent you from accessing or proceeding.
Disabling it before the reset makes sure that the reset is successful without any trouble. After the reset procedure, you can re-enable it if needed for security purposes. However, If you don’t know the firmware password, the Mac system won’t be accessible, and you will need assistance from Apple Support to reset it.
For more details on Apple support, check the link here: https://support.apple.com/en-in/102633
How to Reset MacBook Pro to Factory Settings without Password via macOS Recovery Mode?
If you have mistakenly locked out your MacBook Air or Pro and want to reset it to factory settings, Recovery Mode is the go-to choice for you. Further, this recovery mode offers a multitude of features to repair or erase your Mac without any need for an Admin password. Moreover, this method can be fairly used in all Mac versions such as macOS Mojave (10.14), macOS Catalina (10.15), macOS Big Sur (11.x), macOS Monterey (12.x), and macOS Ventura (13.x). With this much info, let’s get into the details:
Make sure your Mac has been turned off.
Turn on your Mac.
Intel-Based Macs: Restart your Mac and as soon as you see or hear the startup window or sound respectively press Command + R on your keyboard to get into recovery mode.
For Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2 chips) Users: Switch off your Mac. Press and Hold Touch ID (Power Button) when you see the “Loading options” screen. After that, select Options and click on Continue.
Tip: If you have a firmware password, you will be required to enter it to continue. If you forgot the firmware password, you may have to contact Apple Support to get some assistance on its recovery.
Do not release them until the Apple logo or a globe turning in the air is visible.
It shall enter into the macOS Recovery mode by booting the Mac.
After that, in macOS Recovery mode, click on the Options and press the Continue button.
In the window of Disk Utility from the sidebar select the startup disk (generally called “Macintosh HD”).
At the upper side of the window locate and press the Erase button.
Choose the format: either APFS ( for the latest Mac with SSD, not HDD) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (for the outboard Mac with HDD) and click Erase to feel right in erasing the disk.
After that, click on Erase Mac and Restart.
Now that you have erased the disk you may safely close Disk Utility. A window will open showing internet recovery options for your Macbook.
Another step is to Reinstall macOS and press the Continue button.
Read all the steps and reinstall the macOS as directed. This will ensure that the last known macOS version which was on the Mac will be downloaded and installed.
How to Use Target Disk Mode for Accessing Files or Resetting Your Mac
Target Disk Mode enables you to connect your Mac (Machine 1) to another Mac (Machine 2). And on another Mac, it will be termed as an external hard drive. This method comes in handy if you are looking to transfer files or even reset your Mac when you are unable to access it directly.
Machine 1 (Your target Mac)
Machine 2 (The host Mac)
Requirements:
- A Thunderbolt or FireWire cable (Use anyone suitable to your Mac Model).
Steps to Use Target Disk Mode:
- Turn Off Your Mac
- Begin by shutting down your Mac (Machine 1)
- Connect Both Macs
- Use a Thunderbolt or FireWire cable to connect your Machine 1 to Machine 2.
- Enter Target Disk Mode on the Target Mac
- Turn on your target Mac.
- Immediately press and hold the T key on the target Mac’s keyboard.
- Keep holding until you see a Thunderbolt or FireWire icon on the target Mac’s screen. This indicates it’s in Target Disk Mode.
- Access the Target Mac’s Drive on the Host Mac
- On machine 2, the target Mac’s drive should appear as an external drive on the desktop or in Finder.
- You can now open it to access files or perform tasks like copying data, transferring files, or preparing it for a reset.
- Transfer Files or Erase the Drive (Optional)
- Copy any important files you need to the Machine 2.
- Open Disk Utility on the host Mac, select the target Mac’s drive and click Erase to wipe all data.
- Exit Target Disk Mode
- Once done, eject the target Mac’s drive from the Machine 2.
- Then, press the power button on the Machine 1 to shut it down.
- Disconnect and Restart
- Disconnect the Thunderbolt or FireWire cable.
- Restart the Machine 1. To reinstall macOS, check out the above process.
How to Factory Reset Macbook Pro without Password – in Single User Mode
Single User Mode is usually a text-based terminal troubleshooting mode on Mac old versions like macOS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, macOS X 10.5 Leopard, macOS X 10.4 Tiger, macOS X 10.3 Panther, and earlier. You can use this method to completely erase your Macbook machine when you don’t have an admin password or Apple ID. Here, are the steps on how to factory reset MacBook Air without password or Apple ID:
Switch off the Mac computer.
Press the power key first, after which immediately, press and hold the Command and S key together.
Wait for the running texts to stop spanning.
Enter the following command and press Enter to mount the hard disk.
mount -uw /
Delete the t file with the Apple setupdone file.
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
Turn your Mac off – shut it down.
shutdown /h now
Factory Reset Modes Comparison – A Clear-Cut Visual
Find out in which mode, Admin Password is required and where Firmware Password is needed. Through the following table, you will get to know about different modes and their respective access potentials.
| Mode | Admin Password Needed? | Firmware Password Needed? |
Access Capabilities
|
| Single User Mode | No (but limited without SIP disabled) | Yes (required to access the mode if set) |
Limited root access; a command-line interface for repairs and system checks.
|
| Target Disk Mode | No | Yes (required to access the mode if set) |
Access target Mac as an external drive on another Mac without user account login.
|
| Recovery Mode | Yes (for some functions, especially on recent macOS) | Yes (required to access the mode if set) |
Access tools for reinstalling macOS, Disk Utility, restore options, and limited Terminal access.
|
| Internet Recovery Mode | No (only needed for some drive access functions) | Yes (required to access the mode if set) |
Reinstall macOS over the internet; useful for erasing the Mac when local Recovery is unavailable.
|
| Safe Mode | Yes | Yes (if set, required to access the mode) |
Limited startup for troubleshooting with restricted software loading.
|
How to Erase and Factory Reset MacBook Pro/ Air? Absolute Deletion
Whether the purpose is to sell, donate, or start fresh, erasing your Macbook is crucial. While doing so, a normal erase (like a Factory Reset) using manual methods isn’t enough to ensure complete data removal. This is where SysTools Data Eraser Software on Mac comes into the picture. It ensures that every bit of data in your Mac is completely erased and leaves no scope for data recovery.
Features of Using this Automated Tool:
- This eliminates any data remaining or spillage of classified information.
- Conform to over 20 international regulations including HIPAA compliance, CCPA, ISO/IEC 27001, among others.
- Purge data from various storage media like Hard disc drives, Solid state drives, etc.
- Create data destruction reports once the audit trail is complete.
Final Outcome
So, in this article, we have discussed how to factory reset MacBook Pro & Air without password using the top methods. However, before doing so, it’s essential to back up your data, sign out of various accounts, and disable security features like FileVault and firmware passwords. Now, it is your choice to pick the right method to access your locked Mac. Besides this, you have the password and want to fresh start – Then, you can refer to the above-discussed tool to completely wipe your Macbook before selling.