If you want to sell or give away your MacBook Pro, resetting it to factory settings is a crucial step to protect your privacy and prevent the new owner from accessing your personal data. However, if you forgot your password, you might think that resetting your MacBook Pro is impossible. Fortunately, there are a few ways to reset your MacBook Pro to factory settings without a password.
Method 1: Use Recovery Mode
The first method to reset your MacBook Pro to factory settings without a password is to use the built-in Recovery Mode. To do this, follow these steps:
- Shut down your MacBook Pro.
- Press and hold the Command + R keys on your keyboard and turn on your MacBook Pro.
- Keep holding the keys until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
- Release the keys when you see the macOS Utilities window.
- Select “Disk Utility” and click “Continue.”
- Choose your startup disk and click “Erase.”
- Select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” as the format and click “Erase.”
- Quit Disk Utility and select “Reinstall macOS” from the macOS Utilities window.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS and set up your MacBook Pro as new.
Method 2: Use Internet Recovery
If you cannot access Recovery Mode, another way to reset your MacBook Pro to factory settings without a password is to use Internet Recovery. Here’s how to do it:
- Connect your MacBook Pro to a Wi-Fi network or Ethernet.
- Turn on your MacBook Pro and hold down the Command + Option + R keys on your keyboard.
- Release the keys when you see the spinning globe.
- Wait for your MacBook Pro to download the recovery files from the internet.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to erase your startup disk and reinstall macOS.
Method 3: Use a Bootable Installer
The third method to reset your MacBook Pro to factory settings without a password is to create a bootable installer on a USB drive or an external hard drive. Here’s how to do it:
- Download the macOS installer from the App Store.
- Connect a USB drive or an external hard drive to your MacBook Pro.
- Open “Terminal” from the Utilities folder or Launchpad.
- Type “sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume” (replace “MyVolume” with the name of your USB drive or external hard drive).
- Press “Enter” and type your administrator password (you won’t see the password as you type).
- Wait for the process to finish and eject the USB drive or external hard drive.
- Restart your MacBook Pro and hold down the Option key on your keyboard.
- Select the USB drive or external hard drive as the startup disk.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to erase your startup disk and reinstall macOS.
Conclusion
Resetting your MacBook Pro to factory settings without a password may seem like a daunting task, but with the right methods, it can be done easily. Whether you use Recovery Mode, Internet Recovery, or a bootable installer, make sure to back up your data before erasing your startup disk. With a fresh installation of macOS, your MacBook Pro will be as good as new, ready for its next owner or for a fresh start.