How to Wipe All Content and Settings on Mac [macOS Ventura/Monterey]

This sentence remains the same in American English, as it is already standard American English: "What does erasing all content and settings do?"

Erase All Content and Settings on Mac is a robust feature, often referred to as the Erase Assistant. This convenient option facilitates Mac users in wiping their Mac devices and restoring them to their original factory settings. The Erase Assistant steers you through securely and efficiently erasing all settings, data, and applications when you intend to erase and reinstall your Mac. It's important to note that the Erase All Content and Settings feature is only available on macOS versions newer than macOS Ventura and Monterey.

If you plan to perform a factory reset on macOS Ventura or Monterey, opting for the Erase Assistant is a sensible choice. We'll guide you through erasing data on your Mac using the Erase Assistant with both a written tutorial and a video guide. Let's begin with this four-minute video, and you can preview the key points below:

• 00:00 Introducing Erase Assistant for Mac
• 02:05 How to Use Erase Assistant on Mac
• 03:28 Final Thoughts on Erasing All Content and Settings on Mac

How to Erase All Content and Settings on macOS If you need to reset your Mac to its original state, erasing all content and settings can be a quick and efficient way to do so. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to perform this task: 1. **Backup Your Data**: Before proceeding, it's crucial to backup any important files and data using Time Machine or another reliable backup method. 2. **Restart Your Mac**: Press the Power button to turn off your Mac, then press and hold the Command + R keys while turning it back on. This will initiate the macOS Recovery Mode. 3. **Enter macOS Recovery**: You'll see a Utilities menu at the top of the screen once the Apple logo appears. Click on "Disk Utility." 4. **Select Your Startup Disk**: In Disk Utility, you'll see a list of disks on the left side. Choose the disk named "Macintosh HD" (or a different name if you've customized it). 5. **Click "Erase"**: In the toolbar at the top, click on "Erase." A new window will appear. 6. **Format the Drive**: In the "Format" dropdown menu, select "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" for older Macs or "APFS" for newer models. Enter a new name for the drive (optional) and confirm by clicking "Erase." 7. **Wait for the Process to Finish**: The erasing process may take some time depending on the size of your hard drive. Do not turn off your Mac during this process. 8. **Exit Disk Utility**: Once the erasing is complete, click on the Disk Utility menu and choose "Quit Disk Utility." 9. **Reinstall macOS**: Go back to the Utilities menu and select "Reinstall macOS" (or "Reinstall macOS Big Sur" or the version currently installed). Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the operating system. 10. **Restore from Backup (optional)**: After the installation is finished, you can choose to restore your files and settings from the backup you made earlier, if desired. Remember that erasing all content and settings will remove all applications, user accounts, and personal data. Make sure you have a backup before proceeding, and only use this method when necessary.

In this section, you'll learn the complete process of erasing all content and settings on your Mac using the Erase Assistant. The location of this option differs slightly in macOS Ventura and Monterey, and we'll guide you through it with a step-by-step tutorial on how to erase all content and settings on your Mac.

How to Locate the "Erase All Content and Settings" Option in macOS Ventura

Can't locate the "Erase All Content and Settings" on your Mac? No worries! This is a step-by-step guide with images that will help you understand and easily find the target button.

Step 1. Open the Apple menu and select "System Preferences".

Step 2. Next, click on "General".

Step 3. Click "Transfer or Reset".

Step 4. In this window, you'll see two options, and you need to select "Erase All Content and Settings".

How to Find "Erase All Content and Settings" on macOS Monterey

It's simpler to locate Erase Assistant on macOS Monterey compared to macOS Ventura. With just a few clicks, this button will appear.

Step 1. Click on the Apple menu and select "System Preferences".

Step 2. You will now see the Erase Assistant; click on "Erase All Content and Settings".

Erase All Content and Settings on Mac [macOS Ventura/Monterey] To erase all content and settings on your Mac running macOS Ventura or Monterey, follow these steps: 1. **Backup Your Data**: Before proceeding, it's crucial to backup any important files and data using Time Machine or another reliable backup method. 2. **Shut Down Your Mac**: Turn off your Mac by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and selecting "Shut Down." 3. **Boot into Recovery Mode**: Press and hold the power button until you see the startup options screen. Release the button when the Apple logo appears. Select your language, then click "Continue." Next, click on the "Utilities" menu at the top and choose "Terminal." 4. **Run the Erase Command**: In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter: ``` diskutil eraseMacintoshHD ``` Note: If your Mac has a different internal disk name, replace "MacintoshHD" with the appropriate name. 5. **Confirm Erase**: Terminal will prompt you to confirm the erasure. Type "yes" (without quotes) and press Enter. 6. **Wait for the Process to Finish**: The erasing process may take some time, depending on the size of your data. Do not interrupt the process or turn off your Mac. 7. **Reinstall macOS**: Once the erasing is complete, return to the Utilities menu and select "Reinstall macOS." Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the operating system. 8. **Set Up Your Mac**: After the installation finishes, your Mac will prompt you to set it up as a new device. Go through the setup process, choosing your preferences and creating a new user account. Remember that erasing all content and settings will permanently remove all data, so ensure you have a backup before proceeding.

Upon knowing how to locate the Erase Assistant, it's now time to explore how to format your MacBook Pro or Mac using this feature.

Step 1. Locate the "Erase All Content and Settings" button and tap on it.

Step 2. You'll need to enter the admin password to confirm your action.

Step 3. Backup your Mac with Time Machine. This step is optional; you can click "Continue" to skip it.

Step 4. All settings, media, and data will be erased. Click "Continue" to confirm.

Step 5. Log out of your Apple ID by entering your password.

Step 6. Click the button with the red text, and your Mac will begin the reset process.

Confirm to Erase

Step 7. Wait for the progress bar to finish. Click "Restart," and you can then adjust settings and use your Mac as usual.

Factory Reset when Erase All Content and Settings Fails

Occasionally, you might encounter issues where "Erase All Content and Settings" doesn't function on your Mac, or your Mac doesn't support this feature. Alternatively, you could have forgotten your Mac password and cannot utilize the Erase Assistant. Performing a factory reset on your Mac isn't solely dependent on using "Erase All Content and Settings." You can factory reset your Mac without a password by accessing the Recovery Mode and using Disk Utility, along with reinstalling macOS.

Step 1. Enter Recovery Mode on your Mac. (Press and hold the power button on Apple Silicon Macs, and hold both the Command and R keys on Intel Macs.)

Note: Click the link to resolve issues with Mac not starting up in Recovery Mode.

Step 2. Once in Recovery Mode, select "Disk Utility".

Click on Disk Utility.

Step 3. Erase the startup disk, and make sure the disk name is Macintosh HD.

Step 4. Erase the startup disk by selecting "Erase."

Step 5. Once done, you can exit the Disk Utility.

Step 6. Click "Reinstall macOS" and proceed with the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS.

Recover Lost Data After Erasing All Content and Settings

Preventing data loss while wiping all content and settings on a Mac can be quite tricky. If you accidentally lose some crucial files, don't panic. You can effortlessly recover lost data on your Mac with a professional tool called tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. Just hit a button, and it seamlessly brings back your missing files.

Tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can assist you with Mac data recovery in various aspects:

• It can assist you in recovering deleted files on Mac. Mac users can also restore deleted pictures on Mac, lost videos, audio, music, documents, and more.
• It is powerful enough to help you recover USB drives on Mac, MacBook/iMac, cameras, camcorders, SD cards, or MP3/4 devices safely and efficiently.
• It supports various file systems, including APFS, HFS+, HFS X, exFAT, NTFS, FAT (FAT16, FAT32), and so on.

After the introduction, you should have a general understanding of the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. In case you're unsure how to recover lost files, we provide a detailed guide below:

Step 1. Select the drive to be scanned Translation: Step 1. Choose the drive to scan

In the main Data Recovery Wizard window, you'll see a list of drives connected to your Mac. Choose the drive from which you need to recover lost or deleted files, and click the "Search for lost files" button.

Note: Before data recovery, it's recommended to click "Disk Backup" from the left panel to create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. Once backed up, the software can retrieve data from the Mac backup, and your computer can then write new data again.

Step 2. Select the lost data/files

Tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will instantly scan the selected disk volume and display the scan results in the left pane. If you're searching for specific files, you can sort the results to locate them more easily.

Step 3. Recover Lost/Deleted Data

Once you've located the desired files, preview them and then click "Recover" to commence the restoration of your deleted/lost Mac files.

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When you're ready to trade in your Mac or replace it with a new one, you can use Erase Assistant to remove all content and settings from your Mac. If Erase All Content and Settings isn't working properly on your Mac, you should try resetting it to factory settings in Recovery Mode.

Please feel free to download and install the tool Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, as you will need it to recover deleted data after erasing all content and settings on your Mac.

"Erase All Content and Settings" FAQs

We hope you can learn more about Erase All Content and Settings in this section.

How to Resolve "Erase All Content and Settings" Grayed Out on iPhone 14/iPad Pro?

The "Erase All Content and Settings" button being grayed out is a frequent issue encountered on iPhones and iPads. There are four methods to resolve this problem:

1. Force restart your iPhone/iPad
2. Reset all settings
3. Sign out of iCloud
4. Update iOS

What steps can I take if the 'Erase All Content and Settings' feature is not functioning on my MacBook Air?

It's not the only method to erase data on your Mac; you can also enter Recovery Mode and perform a factory reset on your Mac.

1. Enter Recovery Mode on your Mac. (For Apple Silicon Macs, hold the power button; for Intel Macs, press the Command and R keys.) 2. Once in Recovery Mode, select "Disk Utility." 3. Erase the startup disk, ensuring its name is "Macintosh HD." 4. Proceed with erasing the startup disk by selecting "Erase." 5. Afterward, exit Disk Utility. 6. Click "Reinstall macOS" and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS.

"Reset" versus "Erase All Content and Settings." Which one is less complicated?

Erasing all content and settings on a Mac is a simpler process. You just need to utilize the Erase Assistant and follow the on-screen instructions.

1. Locate the "Erase All Content and Settings" button and click on it. 2. Enter the admin password to authenticate the action. 3. Backup your Mac using Time Machine (optional). If you choose to skip this, click "Continue". 4. Acknowledge that all settings, media, and data will be erased, then click "Continue" to proceed with the erasure. 5. Sign out of your Apple ID by providing your password. 6. Click the button with the red text to initiate the reset process. 7. Wait for the progress bar to reach the end, then click "Restart". You can now customize your settings and begin using your Mac.

What steps should I take if I'm unable to locate the "Erase All Content and Settings" option on my MacBook Pro?

The Erase Assistant is located differently in macOS Ventura and Monterey.

For macOS Ventura:

1. Open the Apple menu and select "System Settings". 2. Next, click on "General". 3. Click on "Transfer or Reset".

For macOS Monterey:

1. Click on the Apple menu and select "System Preferences". 2. Next, you'll see the Erase Assistant; click on "Erase All Content and Settings".