If you’re going to sell, give away, or just clean up your MacBook Pro, the best way to make sure all of your personal data is gone is to do a factory reset. But what if you can’t remember your admin password? The good news is that you can still reset your MacBook Pro even if you can’t log in. We’ll show you how to factory reset a MacBook Pro without a password in this guide, step by step, while keeping your data safe
By the end of this article, you’ll know a number of ways to reset your MacBook Pro, no matter what version of macOS it is running, whether it’s Monterey, Ventura, or an older version.
Why would you want to factory reset a MacBook Pro?
When you do a factory reset, it wipes all of your files, apps, and settings, returning your MacBook Pro to how it was when you first got it. People often reset their MacBooks for these reasons:
Selling or giving away: To make sure no personal information is left behind.
Fixing problems: Get rid of malware, fix problems that keep happening, or speed up your computer.
Starting over: To get rid of clutter in the system.
Security: Deletes private files before giving them away or recycling them.
Before You Reset, Please Read This
If you reset your MacBook Pro, all of its data will be lost. If you can still get to your files, use Time Machine, iCloud, or an external drive to back them up.
You might need the original owner’s Apple ID to fully activate the system again if Find My Mac is turned on. This is a security feature called Activation Lock that Apple has.
Method 1: Use macOS Recovery to reset your MacBook Pro to factory settings (no password needed)
You can erase the disc and reinstall macOS without needing your password if you use the built-in recovery mode in macOS.
How to do it:
- Turn off the MacBook Pro
- Press and hold the power button until your Mac turns off.
- Start up in Recovery Mode
For Intel Macs: Turn it back on and hold down Command (⌘) + R right away until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
For Macs with Apple Silicon (M1/M2): Press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” shows up. Then, choose Options > Continue.
Open the Disc Utility
- Delete the hard drive
- PChoose Disc Utility and click Continue once you’re in Recovery.
- ick Macintosh HD (or your main disc).
- Click “Erase,” choose “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” or “APFS,” and then click “OK.”
- Install macOS again
- Close Disc Utility after you erase.
- Choose Reinstall macOS and follow the instructions.
Your MacBook Pro will download and install a new version of macOS, which will erase all of the data that is already on it.
Method 2: Using Internet Recovery Mode
You can use Internet Recovery Mode if your MacBook’s built-in recovery isn’t working.
Steps:
- Turn your MacBook Pro back on.
- When you start up, hold down Option + Command + R or Shift + Option + Command + R.
- Wait for the globe to start spinning.
- Select Disc Utility, erase the disc, and then download macOS again from Apple.
- This will work even if your recovery partition is broken or missing.
Method 3: Use Apple Configurator to reset your MacBook Pro (for Apple Silicon Macs)
You can reset newer MacBook Pro models with M1 or M2 chips using another Mac and Apple Configurator 2.
How to do it:
Put Apple Configurator 2 on a different Mac.
- Use a USB-C cable to connect the two Macs.
- To get your MacBook Pro into DFU mode, hold down Power, Right Shift, Left Option, and Left Control.
- On the other Mac, open Configurator and choose your device.
- If you choose Restore, it will delete macOS and install it again.
Method 4: Using Recovery Assistant to wipe a MacBook Pro
Sometimes, if you are logged out and FileVault is on, you can use the Recovery Assistant to get around the login screen.
Restart your Mac.
Hold down Command + R until recovery starts.
If asked, choose Erase Mac from the menu of the recovery assistant.
How to Make Sure Your Reset Goes Smoothly
Stable Wi-Fi: To reinstall macOS, you need to download a few gigabytes.
Plug it in to power: This will keep the reset from being interrupted.
You may need your Apple ID to set up the MacBook after a reset if Activation Lock is on.
Problems that happen a lot and how to fix them
Even after a reset, Mac still asks for an Apple ID → You need the original Apple ID to get past this Activation Lock.
Disc Utility doesn’t show Macintosh HD → Click on “View > Show All Devices.”
Internet Recovery is stuck → Try a different key combination after restarting.
In conclusion
You can reset a MacBook Pro without a password using macOS Recovery, Internet Recovery, or Apple Configurator. These methods safely restore your MacBook to its factory settings, whether you’re getting it ready to sell, fixing problems, or starting over.
You can factory reset your MacBook Pro with confidence by following the steps above. You won’t need the old password, so the new start will go smoothly.
