You have options to reset your MacBook to factory default settings, which removes all your personal data, or erase the computer drive completely without setting it up with an operating system at all, which is rarely the better choice.
Backing Up Your MacBook Air
Before you begin wiping your MacBook Air, back up any data on the machine so that you have a duplicate. Any data remaining on the laptop when you wipe the computer is permanently lost. Follow these steps to back up your MacBook to an external storage device using Time Machine, which is installed on your Mac: Within a few minutes, the backup process begins. Your first backup may take a few hours or more depending on how much data is on your machine. Check back in the Time Machine preference pane to confirm when Time Machine has finished its first backup. It will note when its latest backup completed. For more information, check out our detailed tutorial on using Time Machine.
Sign Out of iCloud on Your MacBook
Before you wipe your MacBook Air, it is a good idea to sign out of iCloud and services such as Find My Mac. If you don’t sign out of said features, future users may be prompted for your login information. Follows these steps to easily log out of iCloud on your device:
Wiping Your MacBook Air and Reinstalling macOS
If you are simply cleaning out your machine to start from scratch or are selling or gifting the unit to another individual, erase it and reinstall macOS, so that the computer is usable. If done successfully, the Mac’s software appears as it did when you first unboxed the unit.
Wiping Your MacBook Air Without Reinstalling macOS
Once you have confirmed that your data is backed up to an external storage device, you can begin erasing your MacBook Air’s internal storage of all information. Follow these instructions to begin the process if you want to erase the machine and not reinstall macOS:
Additional macOS Install Options
By default, pressing Command+R when booting your Mac leads you to install the latest version of macOS that has been installed on your machine. However, two additional options are available when booting, and they are as follows:
Press Option+Command+R to install the latest version of macOS that is compatible with your MacBook Air.Press Shift+Option+Command+R to install the version of macOS that came with the Mac. If your MacBook Air is older, it will install the closest version that’s available.
How to Wipe a MacBook Air Running macOS Monterey (12.0) or Later
If your MacBook is running macOS Monterey (12.0) or newer, you have an easier option to clear your device without uninstalling the operating system. The Erase All Content and Settings process in System Preferences works like the same-named feature on the iPhone. When you run it, your Mac will clear your data along with all of the apps you’ve installed, but it will be faster than most other resets because it doesn’t touch the OS.
