Before selling or giving away your Mac, you may want to factory reset it. This ensures that the future owner doesn't have access to your personal data and settings. So, by factory resetting your Mac, you're deleting all of the content and settings stored locally on its drive. This handy feature first launched on M-powered Macs with macOS Monterey, and it's still available on the latest macOS Sonoma. To factory reset your compatible Mac, follow the steps in this guide.

How to factory reset a Mac to erase all of its content and settings

To factory reset your Mac and delete the data stored on it, follow these steps:

  1. Launch the System Preferences/Settings app, then:
    • If you're on macOS Monterey, click on System Preferences in the menu bar, then select Erase All Content and Settings.​​​​​​
      Erase All Content and Settings button in the System Preferences menu bar on macOS Monterey
    • If you're on macOS Ventura or later, Go to System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset, then select Erase All Content and Settings.​​​​​​
      transfer or reset section in macOS general settings
      Erase All Content and Settings button in transfer and reset settings on macOS

  2. Erase Assistant will prompt you to input your Mac's Password. Do so, then click Unlock.
    entering your password and clicking the unlock button to access Erase Assistant on macOS
  3. It will then inform you that all data will be deleted and that you'll be signed out from Apple services. Hit Continue.
    continue button on erase all content and settings prompt
  4. You will be asked to enter your Apple ID password.
  5. After doing so, a final alert will warn you that you're about to completely erase your Mac and that this action can't be undone. Confirm that you want to do so by hitting Erase All Content & Settings.
    Erase All Content & Settings button in prompt on macOS
    Source: Apple
  6. Your Mac will restart a few times. Leave it plugged into a power source during the process and don't click any buttons.
  7. Once it's done, you'll be welcomed by the Setup Assistant. If you plan on reselling or giving your Mac away, hold on the Power button until your Mac turns off. If you want to reuse the Mac, then go ahead and set it up like any other new Mac.

The bottom line: Factory resetting your Mac is no longer a complex process

This option to erase the data on your Mac doesn't require you to reinstall the operating system when it's done. It only erases user data and retains macOS in the process. Prior to Monterey, users had to reinstall the OS every time they erase their content and settings. Additionally, the process was significantly longer and more complicated. Reselling your Mac no longer requires advanced technical skills or a lot of time. It's now similar to the process on iOS and iPadOS.