Reset Mac Without Password [for macOS Ventura/Monterey]

Have you ever come across pesky computer viruses that require you to factory reset your Mac promptly to prevent further damage? Or perhaps you're planning to upgrade to the latest model and want to pass on your old Mac to your siblings, necessitating a fresh start?

If you discover that you've forgotten your login password and wish to perform a Mac factory reset without passwords, this page will guide you through the exact process. Before proceeding, it's advisable to back up your Mac or seek a tool to recover lost data beforehand. This method also applies to factory resetting a MacBook Air without a password.

How to Factory Reset Mac Without Password [2 Methods]

If you don't have a password, you won't be able to back up your Mac beforehand. If you encounter essential data loss after a factory reset, you'll need a professional data recovery tool – tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, which can help you easily retrieve lost or restore deleted files on Mac.

To factory reset your Mac without passwords, you need to first enter Recovery Mode and then use Disk Utility to Erase and Reinstall macOS.

Let's begin with a video tutorial to get a general understanding of how to operate it.

 

How to Enter Recovery Mode on a Mac

The procedures for entering Recovery Mode differ between Apple silicon Macs and Intel Macs. You can check your chip by identifying your Mac model and viewing its specifications on Apple's official website, or alternatively, you can simply search for it online.

• For Apple Silicon Mac Users: Make sure you're at the login window. Click "Shut Down" and hold the power button or Touch ID until you see the Recovery Mode.
• For Intel Mac Users: Ensure you're at the login window. Click "Shut Down" and press and hold both the Command and R keys to enter Recovery Mode.

Tip: If your Mac won't start up in Recovery Mode, verify the keyboard connection or create a bootable installer on your Mac.

Reset Mac Without Password [Using Disk Utility]

Upon accessing the Recovery Mode on your Mac without a password, you can utilize the Disk Utility feature to perform a factory reset on locked Macs.

Step 1. Click on the Disk Utility option.

Step 2. Next, select the disk named "Macintosh HD." This is the disk you use to start up your computer. If you've changed the disk name, locate the correct one and choose it.

Step 3. Click the Erase button.

Step 4. Wait for the process to finish, then exit the Disk Utility.

Reset Mac Without Password [Using Reinstall macOS]

Step 1. Select the Reinstall macOS option.

Step 2. Follow the detailed instructions, and select the hard drive on which you wish to re-install macOS.

Step 3. Wait until the process is complete, and then create a new account.

How to Reset Password and Perform a Factory Reset on a Mac

Suppose you're unable to boot into Recovery Mode or your Mac's Recovery Mode is not functioning correctly. In that case, you can opt to reset your Mac password first and erase all the contents.

How to Reset Password with Apple ID

You can reset your Mac password using your Apple ID, and we'll guide you through the process:

Step 1. Enter the random password three times.

Step 2. Tap the button to reset the password using your Apple ID.

Step 3. Enter the correct Apple ID and password.

Step 4. Reset the password and confirm it.

How to Perform a Factory Reset on an Unlocked Mac with macOS Ventura/Monterey

If you're using a Mac with macOS Ventura or Monterey, there's a straightforward method to perform a factory reset on your Mac. You can utilize the "Erase All Content and Settings" feature for this purpose. Please ensure that your macOS version is either Ventura or Monterey before proceeding with the tutorial.

Step 1. Click "System Preferences" from the Apple menu.

Step 2. Tap on the "Erase All Content and Settings" button.

Step 3. Enter the Mac administrator password and click "OK".

Step 4. The Mac will prompt you to back up all your data with Time Machine. If you've already made a backup, click "Continue".

Step 5. Select "Continue" and confirm your request.

Recover Lost Data After Mac Factory Reset [High Success Rate]

After performing a factory reset on your Mac with or without a password, you might discover that some critical files have been deleted. As mentioned earlier, you'll need a tool like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to retrieve these important files, and you can even recover emptied Trash on Mac.

• It can assist in recovering deleted pictures on Mac after a factory reset, as well as retrieving documents, music, videos, and more.
• This convenient tool also supports Mac USB recovery, enabling you to recover data from various devices like external hard drives, SD cards, MP3/4 players, cameras, etc.
• Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is also a Mac video repair utility. If your deleted videos or photos are damaged, this tool can help repair them.

We'll provide a comprehensive guide to walk you through the process of recovering lost data after a factory reset on your Mac in three simple steps:

Step 1. Search for missing files

Choose the disk location to search for missing files on macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, and the most recent Sonoma. 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. 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 Choose the file(s) you wish to recover and proceed with the recovery process.

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

FAQs: How to Factory Reset a Mac Without Password

In this section, you'll discover how to factory reset your Mac without a password by reviewing the following questions and answers.

Yes, it is possible to factory reset a Mac without the password, but it involves using recovery options or terminal commands. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. **Restart your Mac**: First, turn off your Mac and then restart it. 2. **Enter Recovery Mode**: Hold down the `Command` + `R` keys while the Mac is starting up until you see the Apple logo. This will boot your Mac into Recovery Mode. 3. **Disk Utility**: In the Recovery Mode, click on the Utilities menu at the top and select "Disk Utility." 4. **Select the Startup Disk**: In Disk Utility, on the left side, choose the main hard drive, usually named "Macintosh HD" (it might have a different name if you've customized it). 5. **Erase the Drive**: Click on the "Erase" tab, then give the disk a new name (optional), choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as the format, and click "Erase." This will erase all data on the drive, effectively resetting it. 6. **Quit Disk Utility**: Once the erasing process is complete, click "Done" and then close Disk Utility. 7. **Reinstall macOS**: Return to the main window in Recovery Mode and click on "Reinstall macOS" (or "Reinstall OS X" for older versions). Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the operating system. 8. **Setup Assistant**: After the installation is finished, your Mac will reboot and prompt you through the initial setup process. You won't need the previous password during this stage. Please note that this will completely erase your data, so make sure you don't have any important files you haven't backed up.

Yes, you can perform a factory reset on a Mac without the password by following these steps: 1. Restart your Mac. 2. As it starts up, press and hold the Command + R keys together until you see the Apple logo. This will boot your Mac into Recovery Mode. 3. Once in Recovery Mode, you'll see a menu bar at the top of the screen. From there, click on "Utilities" and then select "Disk Utility." 4. In Disk Utility, select your Mac's main drive, usually labeled as "Macintosh HD," from the list on the left side. 5. Click the "Erase" button (or "Format" in newer versions) and give your drive a new name if desired. Choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" or "APFS" as the format, depending on your macOS version. 6. Click "Erase" to continue. This will erase all data and reset the drive to its original state. 7. After the erasing process is complete, close Disk Utility and return to the main Recovery Mode window. 8. Instead of formatting, if you prefer to reinstall macOS, click on "Reinstall macOS" (or "Reinstall macOS Catalina/Big Sur/Monterey" depending on your macOS version). 9. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the latest version of macOS. This process will not require your previous login password. Once the installation is finished, your Mac will be reset to its factory settings, and you can set it up as a new device.

How can I perform a forced factory reset on my Mac?

You need to perform a forced factory reset on your Mac while in Recovery Mode.

For Apple Silicon Mac Users: 1. Make sure you're at the login window. Click "Shut Down" and hold the power button or Touch ID until you see the Recovery Mode. For Intel Mac Users: 1. Ensure you're at the login window. Click "Shut Down" and press and hold both the Command and R keys to enter Recovery Mode.

Then, you can select the Disk Utility or Reinstall macOS option and follow the prompts to factory reset your Mac.

How can I reset my Mac to its original factory settings without a password?

To factory reset your Mac without a password, you'll need to follow two or three steps.

Step 1: Entering Recovery Mode using either the power button or the Command + R keys.

Step 2: Use Disk Utility to erase all data on your startup disk.

Step 3: Utilize the "Reinstall macOS" option to reinstall macOS and reset your Mac.

How can I locate my password and perform a factory reset on my Mac?

You can retrieve your administrator password using your Apple ID. You'll need to enter three random passwords and follow a step-by-step process to reset it. Once that's done, you can access your Mac and perform a factory reset.

Step 1: Click "System Preferences" from the Apple menu.

Step 2: Click the "Erase All Content and Settings" button.

Step 3: Enter the Mac administrator password and click "OK".

Step 4: Your Mac will prompt you to back up all your data using Time Machine. If you've already made a backup, click "Continue."

Step 5: Select "Continue" and confirm your request.