How to reset any mac app to its default settings

How to erase a Mac and restore it to factory settings, such as when you are preparing to sell it, give it away, or trade it in.

macOS Monterey includes Erase All Content and Settings, a way to quickly and securely erase all of your settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed. If your Mac includes this feature when using macOS Monterey, use it instead of other utilities to erase your Mac.

Use Erase All Content and Settings in System Preferences

1. If you used Boot Camp to install Microsoft Windows, use Boot Camp to remove Windows and its partition before continuing. Otherwise, you’ll see a message explaining that other volumes need to be erased before you can erase all content and settings on this Mac.
2. From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Preferences.
3. From the System Preferences menu in the menu bar, choose Erase All Content and Settings. Don’t see this option?
   
4. Erase Assistant opens and asks you to sign in with your administrator credentials. Enter the password you use to log in to your Mac, then click OK.
5. If you’re asked to back up your Mac before resetting it, you can open Time Machine and back up to an external storage device. Or click Continue to proceed without making a new backup.
   
6. Click Continue to allow your settings, media, data, and the other listed items to be removed.
   
7. If you’re asked to sign out of Apple ID, enter your Apple ID password and click Continue.
8. Click Erase All Content & Settings to confirm that you want to proceed.
   
9. Your Mac restarts and shows a black screen or progress bar. If it needs to reconnect to a Bluetooth accessory such as a keyboard or mouse, you might be asked to turn on the accessory. If the accessory doesn’t connect within 30 seconds, turn the accessory off and back on. When reconnecting to a Bluetooth keyboard, you’re asked to choose a language.
10. You might be asked to select a Wi-Fi network or attach a network cable. To select a Wi-Fi network, use the Wi-Fi menu in the upper-right corner of the screen.
11. After joining a network, your Mac activates. Click Restart.
    
12. After restart, a setup assistant guides you through the setup process, as if you’re setting up your Mac for the first time.

If you’re selling, giving away, or trading-in your Mac and want to leave it in an out-of-box state, don’t use the setup assistant or your previously connected Bluetooth devices, if any. Just press and hold the power button on your Mac until it turns off.

If you can’t use Erase All Content and Settings

System Preferences includes Erase All Content and Settings only when using macOS Monterey on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip. If this feature isn’t available or doesn’t work on your Mac, follow these steps instead:

• To restore factory settings, learn what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac.
• To erase, follow the steps to erase a Mac with Apple silicon or the steps to erase an Intel-based Mac using Disk Utility.

No matter the model or condition, we can turn your device into something good for you and good for the planet: Learn how to trade in or recycle your Mac with Apple Trade In .

If you are going to sell your Mac, or for some reason, you want to reinstall a clean version of the macOS, you can reset your Mac. In this article, we’ll share the guidelines on how to reset Mac to factory settings.

Does resetting Mac delete everything?

When you reset a Mac to factory settings, it returns the system to the factory default state. This means that all your data will be deleted, including your documents, files, user settings, passwords and so on. Users need to reset Mac when they are going to sell or give the computer away to another person so as to prevent accessing the old user data.

How to factory reset a Mac

If you need to hard reset your Mac, follow the steps below to do it correctly and safely:

1. Make a backup

If you need the data on your Mac, make a backup with Time Machine.

1. Connect your external hard drive to your Mac.
2. Go to System Preferences → select Time Machine.

The next step is reinstalling the system. Click Reinstall macOS.

If you are preparing to sell your Mac – just hold down the power to turn off the computer. Then the new user will be able to start his experience from scratch, just like a new Mac.

How to reset a Mac without losing everything

If you are not going to sell your Mac computer, but you have some issues with your system, you may need to reset your Mac without losing your data. In this case, you need to perform the steps we provided above but skip the step of erasing your data.

Here is a short step by step guide to reset Mac without losing your data.

1. Make a backup with Time Machine.
2. Restart your Mac in recovery mode. For this, press the power button and the Command+R shortcut. Restart your Mac in recovery mode. For this, press the power button and the Command+R shortcut.
3. In the pop-up window select Reinstall macOS.
4. Click Continue and follow the steps provided to install the latest version of macOS.

Conclusion

Now you know how to reset a Mac computer to factory settings. Follow our guide to doing it safely. And also keep in mind that, if you want to reset your computer just to fix a few issues, first try MacCleaner Pro. It will help you to clean up your Mac from junk files, recover disk space and fix a slow Mac.

FAQ about resetting on Mac

To restart your Mac in recovery mode, press Command+R shortcut while pressing the power button.

To quickly reset Safari on Mac, use a special free tool App Cleaner & Uninstaller:

1. Run the Uninstaller.
2. Go to Preferences and enable “Display system applications” in the General Tab.
3. Select Safari from the list of apps in the uninstaller’s window. Check whether all its support files are selected except the executable file.
4. Click the Remove button and confirm the removal of Safari service files. It will remove all cache, cookies, extensions and other support files.

To reset your Mac login password, follow these steps:

1. Go to System Preferences → Users & Groups.
2. Select the Admin User.
3. Click Reset Password.
4. Enter a new password and click Change Password.

Are you twisting your brain trying to figure out how to reset Safari to default settings on Mac and iPhone? Are you stumped as to where to proceed? Don’t stress, we’ve got you covered!

There’s no denying that Safari is a fantastic browser. With some of its anti-tracking rules, Apple is heading the battle over ad trackers on the web. Safari has always been a refuge for people who wish to keep their personal information private.

When exploring the web on a Mac, Safari makes you comfortable. Safari’s most recent versions are always better. However, no browser is ideal. Safari has a tendency to slow or stop, becoming slower, and seem unresponsive with time.

Safari, on the other hand, may win the competition when it comes to securing its audiences. However, it is frequently unable to compete in the game of extendable functionalities with its rivals.

Many here, on the other hand, use safari on a regular basis. Some people prefer to keep their online privacy as private as possible. Others, on the other hand, do not want to use a third-party browser on their Macs or iPhones.

Whatever your reason for utilizing Safari may be. One thing is certain: after years of use, Safari has amassed a massive amount of website data. This may cause your browser or, in the worst-case scenario, your gadgets to slow down. Safari lacks a reset button, which is included in Chrome and Firefox.

The Process to Reset Safari to Default Settings on Mac

To everyone’s surprise, none of the iphone models include a ‘Reset Safari’ option. As a result, we’ll have to go through a series of processes that not every person is familiar with. In any case, restarting Safari entails resetting the following components:

1. History of the Safari browser
2. Website data of the Safari browser
3. The Cache of the Safari browser
4. Extensions of the Safari browser
5. Plugins of Safari browser

We will reset all of the components one by one, lets get started now:

The Process to Reset History of Safari Browser

• To begin, open Safari from your Mac’s Dashboard or menu.
• Then, from the toolbar, you have to select the History button. The next step is to select the Clear History option from the drop-down menu.
• Then, from the drop-down menu, click full history.
• Finally, you need to hit on the Clear History box.

The Process to Reset Website Data of Safari Browser

• To begin, open Safari from your Mac’s Launcher or dock.
• After that, go to the navigation bar and select the ‘Safari’ option. Then you have to select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
• Then, under the Privacy window, select the Manage Website Data option.
• Now, in the lower-left right corner of the screen, hit the Remove All box.
• To verify, press the Remove Now tab.

The Process to Reset Cache of Safari Browser

• To begin, you have to launch Safari from your Mac’s Dashboard or menu.
• Then, from the toolbar, select the Safari tab. Afterward, from the drop-down menu, select Preferences
• Navigate to the Advanced window after that. There you will find the Show Develop menu in the menu bar box, just tick it.
• As a consequence, the ‘Develop’ button in the navigation bar will now be displayed. Select ‘Empty Caches’ from the drop-down menu after clicking on it.

The Process to Uninstall or Disbale Safari Extensions

Safari extensions are essentially mini-applications that enhance the browser’s capabilities. You’ll need to deactivate or delete any addons if you’re attempting to reset Safari.

• Choose Safari from the toolbar, then you need to select Preferences from the drop-down list.
• Selecting the Extensions box is your next step.
• After that, you should choose an extension and deselect the checkbox next to it to stop it.
• You can remove an extension after it has been deactivated. Uninstall is the option to choose.
• A notice will appear stating that the extension is part of an application and that you must uninstall the application. Then you are required to pick Show in Finder from the menu bar.
• The program will launch Finder with the app chosen. Push the program to the bin by right-clicking it and selecting Move to Trash.
• Hit OK after entering your password. You’ve removed the add-on.

The Process to Remove all cookies from your Browser

• When you surf the web, Safari, like some other browsers, saves website cookies. These cookies store information about your activities with the web, like login and form input, the information of your shopping cart, and so on. When restarting over, it’s a smart option to delete their cookies.
• To remove all cookies from Safari, follow these steps:
• Open Safari and select Safari >Preferences from the toolbar at the top of the window.
• Navigate to the Privacy option in the pop-up box and hit the Manage Website Data option. In Safari, this will open a new window with a collection of cookies.
• Press and hold Cmd to choose specific cookies to remove, or select Remove All to erase the whole list.

The Process to Disable or Remove Safari Plugins

Although Apple designed Safari to be fast, some third-party plugins and website access regulations can reduce the speed. It’s ideal if such plugins prompt you before they execute in Safari. You may also check whether websites have permission to use your Mac’s webcam, mic, and other features.

You need to navigate to Safari > Preferences in the toolbar at the top of the screen when Safari is active. Review each object in the column for website access under the Websites section. Auto-Play, Webcam, Audio, Gps, and Pop-Ups should all be disabled.

If you have an earlier version of Browser, you won’t be able to use these features. Then go to Safari > Settings and select Security > Plug-In Options from the drop-down menu. Then, before Safari executes any plugins, switch all to Ask first, and deactivate the plugins you will never need.

The Process to Reset Safari to Default Settings on iPhone

• On the iPhone, resetting Safari is a simple process that takes only a few steps.
• From your device’s main screen, open the ‘Settings’ application.
• After that, slide down and touch on ‘Safari’ from the menu.
• Then, after you’ve found it, scroll down until you see the ‘Clear History and Website Data’ button on the display and touch it.
• To confirm, select ‘Clear History and Data’ from the pop-up notification option.

Conclusion

By using the above-mentioned ways, you can reset your Safari browser to its default settings. After that, it should feel a lot faster and works better.

By Andrew E. Freedman published 8 April 22

Here’s how to reset your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro and restore macOS to its original state

Does your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro 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 on how to reset a MacBook How to Reset a MacBook or Any Mac Computer — or any Mac computer — to solve any of those issues.

Below, we explain how to completely factory reset your MacBook (or iMac) to a like-new state. The instructions below (with a few minor tweaks here or there, depending on your exact machine) will work for macOS Catalina and most older versions of the operating system.

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. Worried about losing your data? Scroll to the bottom of this article for steps you should take before factory resetting your MacBook.

How to reset a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

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. After you’ve chosen a name for the disk once it’s erased, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the dropdown menu and then 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.) Choose GUID Partition Map.

6. Click Erase then Done and exit the window.

7. If you haven’t done this already, 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 then click Continue.

9. Press Continue. A pop-up window will appear; choose Continue there, too.

10. Read the software license agreement and click Agree.

11. Choose your boot disk and click Install.

12. Wait for the first step of the installation to occur. (This is a good time to take a break and stretch your legs. Getting a sandwich is encouraged, but optional.)

13. The computer will restart and continue installing.

What to do before you reset your MacBook

The guide above is focused on resetting your MacBook, but there are recommended actions to take before factory resetting your MacBook that you should be aware of. These pointers will ensure that you don’t lose any personal files, photos or apps when you move from one MacBook to another.

Here are some things to consider doing before you reset your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.

• Back up your MacBook. We can’t overstate the importance of this step. Creating a backup will protect your most valuable files. If you don’t back up your data, it will disappear into the ether when you perform a factory reset.
• Sign out of iTunes. Choose Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. If you’re running the latest macOS, you can skip this step.
• Sign out of iCloud. Hit the Apple menu, go to System Preferences then click the Apple ID. Choose iCloud from the side panel and Turn off Find my Mac. Then click Overview and Sign out.
• Sign out of iMessage. Open the Messages app, choose Messages then Preferences. Click iMessage and Sign Out.
• Unpair Bluetooth devices. Go to the Apple menu > System Preferences and choose Bluetooth. Here, you can unpair keyboards, headphones or other Bluetooth-enabled peripherals.

Now you know how to factory reset a MacBook or any Mac computer!

From here, if you’re looking to sell your computer, you’re all done — no need to worry about the new owner getting into your files or apps. 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 MacBooks available now.

If you plan to give away, sell, or trade in your Mac, the first thing you should do is erase the data on it and perform a factory reset. This article shows you how. If you’ve upgraded to macOS Monterey on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, follow the steps to erase all content and settings instead of following the steps in this article.

First, Back Up Your Data

Before you do anything, you should back up the files on your Mac. You could do this manually by copying across files onto an external drive. If you use iCloud, your photos, mail, contacts, documents, and so on should be automatically backed up in cloud storage.

However, we highly recommend that you take the time to perform a Time Machine backup of your system using an external drive. That way, the same backup volume can be used by Apple’s Migration Assistant during a macOS installation to quickly transfer your applications, files and settings from the old Mac to a new one.

Unlink your Apps

There are certain apps that will need to be manually unlinked from your Mac before you say goodbye to it. Some third-party apps require licenses that only work on a limited number of computers, so think about any licenses you may have purchased.

Similarly, you should de-authorize your iTunes account on the Mac, as this removes its access to content that you bought from the iTunes Store, iBooks Store, or App Store, including things like music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books.

To learn how to de-authorize your iTunes account, check out our dedicated guide.

Sign Out of iCloud

It’s also important to disable Find My Mac and sign out of ‌iCloud‌ in macOS. That way you’ll know for sure there isn’t anything lingering on your Mac that links your Apple ID to this machine. The following steps show you how.

Click the Apple () symbol in the top left corner of your Mac’s screen and select System Preferences. .

Click iCloud in the preference pane.

Uncheck all the boxes in the list to remove copies of the related data on this Mac.

How to Erase and Reset Your Mac

Now that you’ve taken the above precautionary steps and unlinked your purchases and accounts, it’s time to erase your Mac’s drive and reset the system to its factory defaults.

1. Click the Apple () symbol in the top left corner of your Mac’s screen and select Restart. .
2. Click Restart.
3. Hold down the Command and R keys as soon as you hear the Mac tone indicating a reboot.
4. Wait for the macOS Utilities screen to appear, then click Disk Utility.

And that’s it. You’re now ready to sell your Mac, pass it on, set it up as new, or restore a backup.