How to Perform a Factory Reset on Mac Mini M1 [with Video Tutorial]

The Mac mini with the M1 chip is a potent device that enables users to undertake impressive productivity tasks seamlessly. It boasts impressive hardware, featuring an 8-core CPU-driven compact system with ample SSD storage and substantial memory. This makes it a widely adopted tool in numerous work environments. However, it can encounter issues when storage becomes full, and at times, it may face problems related to configuration or storage constraints.

Therefore, many individuals opt for a factory reset Mac Mini M1 to free up space, ensure proper functionality, or in response to a virus attack or ransomware threat. However, knowing how to perform a factory reset on a Mac Mini involves attending to several key steps. This article will guide you through the necessary prerequisites.

Backing up your Mac is crucial to prevent data loss. You can utilize data recovery software to back up your Mac.

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Next, it will guide you through a few methods to perform a factory reset on your Mac mini M1 without any data loss. So, let's delve into it.

< a id="Before_Factory_Reset_Macmini" name="Before_Factory_Reset_Macmini">Preparations to Make Before Factory Resetting a Mac Mini M1

In this section, we will discuss the preparatory steps to take before performing a factory reset on your Mac Mini M1 to prevent loss of important data and ensure that you backup essential files. Here are some crucial steps to follow before resetting your Mac Mini to its factory settings.

1. Recover Lost Data from Mac Mini M1 Using Recovery Software

When you plan to perform a factory reset on macOS, you might encounter various issues and have already lost some valuable files. The top priority would be to recover any lost data from your Mac Mini M1 before or after the factory reset. To make sure you retrieve all accessible data, you need a professional recovery tool like tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

This exceptional tool equips you with everything necessary for a comprehensive data recovery on your Mac Mini M. It supports Mac audio recovery, photo recovery, video recovery, and more. Hence, there are several key reasons why you would need this tool, such as:

• Capable of recovering lost partitions on Mac, along with the lost data.
• Can recover formatted drives on Mac as well as from USB flash drives, SD cards, etc.
• Ability to recover deleted files on Mac due to hard drive damage, virus attacks, or user errors.

Thus, these factors make it not only a feasible choice but possibly one of the most preferred options. This is why you need this tool to assist you in retrieving your lost files after performing a factory reset on your Mac Mini. Adhere to the steps below, and you can recover lost data from your Mac mini M1.

Step 1. Search for Lost Files

Select the disk location to search for lost files (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device) on macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, and the latest version, Sonoma. Click the "Search for lost files" button.

Tip: Before data recovery, it's recommended to click "Disk Backup" from the left pane 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 write new data again.

Step 2. Review the scanning results

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results.

Step 3. Select the file(s) and recover Select the desired file(s) you wish to recover from the list of scanned files, and then initiate the recovery process.

In the scan results, select the file(s) you wish to preview and click the "Recover" button to retrieve them.

2. Signing Out of iCloud on Mac Mini M1

The next step is to sign out of your iCloud on the Mac mini M1. You want to avoid encountering any Apple ID issues after performing a factory reset on your Mac device. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to System Preferences.

Step 2. Locate and click on Apple ID.

Click on "Apple ID".

Step 3. Navigate to the Overview page.

Step 4. Click on Sign Out.

Step 5. Confirm when prompted.

And this will assist you in logging out of the Apple ID from your Mac Mini. This way, you can proceed smoothly after completing this step.

3. Sign Out of iMessage on Mac Mini M1

Another step you should take before proceeding is to sign out of iMessage on your Mac mini M1. This ensures that you won't lose any messages when you sign back into your account later. To sign out of iMessage, follow these steps:

Step 1. Launch the Messages app on your Mac device.

Step 2. Click on "Messages" in the top-left corner, and then click "Preferences."

Step 3. Choose iMessage.

Step 4. Locate and click on "Sign out" to log out.

This will log you out of your messages and ensure that it doesn't cause any problems when you sign back in after resetting.

4. Deauthorize and unlink the Account on Mac Mini M1 To deauthorize and unlink your account on a Mac Mini with an M1 chip, follow these steps: 1. Open the "iTunes" app (or "Music" app if you're using macOS Catalina or later). 2. Click on your Apple ID at the top right corner of the iTunes/Music window. 3. From the dropdown menu, select "Account Info." 4. You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID password. Enter it and click "View Info." 5. In the Account Info page, scroll down to the "Devices" section. 6. Find the "Mac Mini M1" in the list of authorized devices and click the "Deauthorize" button next to it. If you have reached the maximum number of authorized devices (5), you'll need to deauthorize one or more before proceeding. 7. Confirm the deauthorization when prompted. 8. Now, to unlink the account from the Mac Mini M1, go to System Preferences. 9. Click on "Apple ID" and then choose "Accounts" or "Login Items" depending on the macOS version. 10. In the "Apps & Websites Using Apple ID" section (or "Services" in older versions), find the entry for iTunes or Music and click the "-" button to remove it. 11. A confirmation prompt will appear; click "Remove" to confirm. After completing these steps, your account will be deauthorized and unlinked from the Mac Mini M1.

The next step involves removing and unlinking your account from the Mac Mini. Here's how to proceed: 1. First, log into your iTunes account. 2. After logging in, follow these steps to deauthorize your account on the Mac Mini: - Go to the Apple menu and select "System Preferences." - Click on "Accounts" or "iTunes" (depending on your macOS version). - Choose your Apple ID from the list and enter your password if prompted. - Click on "View Info" or "Manage" (again, depending on your macOS version). - In the Account Information window, scroll down to find the "Deauthorize This Computer" option. - Click on "Deauthorize" and confirm your choice in the prompt. By completing these steps, your account will be successfully removed and unlinked from the Mac Mini.

Step 1. Go to account options from the top bar.

Step 2. Locate and expand the Authorization sub-menu.

Step 3. Find and click Deauthorize this computer.

By doing this, you will unlink and revoke the authorization of your account from your Mac Mini or any other Mac device.

5. Reset NVRAM on Mac Mini with M1 chip

For the next step, you will need to reset the NVRAM on your Mac mini. Here's how to reset NVRAM on a Mac device:

Step 1. Turn off your Mac mini.

Step 2. Press the power button on your Mac.

Step 3. Immediately press Command + Option + P + R on your keyboard.

Step 4. Keep holding the keys until your Mac mini restarts again.

This will clear any NVRAM cache and reset it without any hassle.

6. Unpair Bluetooth Devices on Mac Mini M1 To unpair Bluetooth devices from your Mac Mini with an M1 chip, follow these steps: 1. Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of the screen and select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu. 2. In the System Preferences window, click on the "Bluetooth" icon, which resembles a Bluetooth signal. 3. If Bluetooth is turned off, click "Turn Bluetooth On" to enable it. 4. Once Bluetooth is on, you'll see a list of paired devices under the "Devices" section. 5. Find the device you want to unpair from the list and click on its name to select it. 6. Click the "Disconnect" button next to the device's name. This will temporarily disconnect the device. 7. To completely unpair the device, click on the "Remove" or "Forget This Device" button that appears after disconnecting. A confirmation prompt may appear; click "Remove" or "Confirm" to proceed. 8. The device should now be removed from the list, and it will no longer be paired with your Mac Mini M1. If you want to pair the device again in the future, simply turn on Bluetooth on both devices and follow the pairing process.

The final prerequisite is to remove or unpair any Bluetooth or wireless devices connected to your Mac Mini. These devices might interfere with the factory reset process. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Go to the Apple Menu.

Step 2. Then go into System Settings.

Step 3. Locate and click Bluetooth in the sidebar.

Step 4. Hold the pointer over the devices.

Step 5. Click on each device to disconnect it.

This will remove any devices from your list and ensure that you don't encounter issues related to these devices when resetting your Mac.

How to Perform a Factory Reset on Mac Mini M1 via Two Methods

With the prerequisites out of the way, let's discuss how to perform a factory reset on your Mac Mini M1. In this section, you'll find both a video guide and a written tutorial, ensuring an easy-to-follow process with clear instructions.

In this video, you will discover crucial information at various points, such as:

• 01:05 Pressing and holding to initiate the settings splash screen
• 01:55 Exploring the limited restore/reset options in the menu
• 02:50 Choosing the right options when completely erasing your Mac

Solution 1: Perform a Factory Reset on Mac Mini M1 Using the "Erase All Content and Settings" Option

The first solution is to perform a complete reset of your Mac mini, erasing all content and settings. This option will remove everything from your Mac device, including all settings and any other data stored on your Mac.

Therefore, make sure you follow the steps outlined previously to safeguard your data and information. Once that's done, here's what you should do next:

Step 1. Click on "System Preferences" on the Mac mini.

Step 2. Click Erase All Content and Settings.

Step 5. Follow the instructions to factory reset your M1 Mac.

Step 6. Wait for your Mac Mini to finish resetting.

This will erase and reset all your data on the Mac Mini. So, please double-check that you have taken all the necessary precautions before proceeding with this action.

Fix 2: Perform a Factory Reset on Mac Mini M1 in Recovery Mode

With this method, you'll be restoring or resetting your Mac mini M1 using Recovery Mode. To proceed, follow these steps:

Step 1. Turn off your Mac Mini M1.

Step 2. Press and hold the power button, and simultaneously press and hold Command + R on your keyboard.

Step 3. Wait for options to appear.

Step 4. Locate and click on Disk Utility, then wait for it to load.

Step 5. Erase the disk named Macintosh HD.

Step 6. Return to the recovery options.

Step 7. Click on "Reinstall macOS."

Step 8. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 9. Wait for it to finish.

This will reinstall macOS while restoring your Mac Mini to its factory settings. Ensure you follow these steps to factory reset your Mac Mini:

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Here are some of the most feasible methods to reset your Mac Mini M1. It's crucial to follow all the mentioned steps to prevent any mishaps with your data or other information. Hence, utilize tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to minimize unintended data loss.

Frequently Asked Questions about Factory Resetting a Mac Mini

If you have any further questions, please refer to our FAQ section for assistance in addressing those inquiries.

How do I erase my Mac Mini and reinstall the operating system?

Using the methods outlined in this article, you can erase your Mac mini and reinstall macOS simultaneously. Therefore, ensure you follow the steps outlined in the "reset through recovery" section.

How can I perform a factory reset on my Mac and erase all data?

In this article, we've examined two options: using Erase Assistant on Mac or performing a factory reset on Mac in Recovery Mode. The first method is more straightforward.

1. Open the System Preferences menu. 2. Click "Erase All Content and Settings" on your Mac mini. 3. Follow the prompts to factory reset your Mac mini.

How do I reset my Mac Mini M1 to its original factory settings?

This article delved into the process of restarting your Mac mini M1 into Recovery Mode. While in this mode, you have the option to reinstall the operating system on your Mac mini M1 or utilize Disk Utility to erase all its contents. Both methods enable you to reset your Mac mini M1 to its original factory settings.

How can I perform a factory reset on my Mac mini without a password?

If you forget your password, you can perform a factory reset on the Mac Mini M1 using Recovery Mode.

1. At the Mac login screen, shut down the Mac. 2. Press the power button and hold down Command + R on your keyboard. 3. Wait for the options menu to appear. 4. Locate and click on Disk Utility, then wait for it to load. 5. Erase the disk named Macintosh HD. 6. Return to the recovery options. 7. Click on Reinstall macOS. 8. Follow the on-screen instructions. 9. Wait for the installation to complete.