How To Erase and Reset Your Mac

[@plk5089]

It’s great that you are going to the technical stuff for Mac users please continue if possible. Thanks

[@carolinebarlow4795]

Thanks very much, Gary, for this informative video! The current erasure technique is certainly more straightforward.

[@loisskiathitis8926]

A very useful and informative video tutorial today! Thank you, Gary! 👏❤️

[@markproulx1472]

Holy mackerel! I needed this video like today!

[@markproulx1472]

I finally got around to decommissioning my old desktop Mac. I followed the instructions provided by Apple until I reached the point where I was in the Disk Utility and looking for the volume titled "Macintosh HD." No volume by that name exists. I see a root volume (.\) but am unsure if that's the one I want to erase. This is very frustrating.

[@BigSaaSsolutions]

Thank you for sharing this video. Now it's much easier to erase. I tried the older version way and it didn't quite work, so I stopped. Keep up doing great videos. I appreciate it.

[@desertpatient]

Thanks bunches

[@rapaent]

As always, Thank You for another awesome tutorial! I have a MacBook Pro M1 Max (2021) I'm about to turn it in for Apple Care service. I did a full backup with Time Machine. I have a couple questions if you don't mind; Do you recommend erasing it for service? Also, do you have a video for restoring it back once I recieve it back from service? Thanks again, appreciate it. 👍

[@macmost]

Don't erase it. You shouldn't need to do anything unless they instruct you to. Otherwise, they can't get into your account since they don't have your password.

[@rapaent]

@@macmost Thank you Gary, I won't erase it. I'll make sure that Guest User is turned ON. I'll also make sure that my login password is needed in order to log in. Thanks again, I sincerely appreciate it. 👍

[@macmost]

@@rapaent Guest User is not a thing anymore (Unless you have File Vault turned off. But you should definitely have File Vault turned ON.) You can create a second account as a "standard" account and give them access to that. But unless they have asked you to do that, there's no need.

[@rapaent]

@@macmost Thank You Gary.... I'll make sure that FireVault is turned on. Thanks again, appreciate all your help!! 👍

[@carpenterhillstudios8327]

This has been horrorfying ti ne nevery time I've traded in my Mac. The last time , it was critical to have all the data so I went to the Apple Store to have them do it. The floor person asserted that we could do this. I had a backup at home but it was not current. I told him. No problem he said. And, rather than use the techs in back, he went to work and erased all my data. I phoned the store after i got home and they said, come in first thing tomorrow- don't do anything. When I got there three geniuses were waiting for me. Some time later, I got some of the information from Time Machine. Months later I'm still finding things missing that I have to rebuild. Thank you, Gary. This will never happen to me again.

[@fe7768]

Hi Gary, can you make a video on the best way to transfer your data to a new iPhone from an older iPhone?

[@macmost]

When you get a new iPhone it walks you through it.

[@glpdrum]

I have a mid 2012 pro that is backed up with an external HD. The only way it will boot is with the external connected, When you get to the (any) section with a lock-(admin and password) it does not accept my info. Do not remember setting this up but have read the PW is the same you use to unlock the mac. When booting without the external connected using any of the command R combinations etc. i get a grey screen with a lock and a text box with an arrow pointing right. What is it wanting me to type in that box? Regards and thanks for the videos.

[@macmost]

I would expect the computer password, like you said. But it is possible to encrypt a drive and give it another password. Maybe that is what you did. Impossible to say.

[@ernielansford8710]

Your audio is pristine. What processing app are you using?

[@macmost]

Thanks! I start with a good mic (Rode VideoPro+) as close to my mouth as I can get while still off camera, and relatively quiet room (some panels on the walls and ceiling). Then I process it using Adobe Podcast Enhance.

[@ernielansford8710]

@@macmost thank you. I thought you were using a processor like Adobe. I am familiar with the Rode products. Excellent quality. Rode recently acquired my former employer, Mackie Designs. I pivoted out to repurpose in 2016 but remain connected with the team there. I’ve enjoyed your KZbin channel for years. I just joined your Pateron group.

[@macmost]

@@ernielansford8710 Thanks for your support!

[@bevintx5440]

Thanks! I do have one question. I read that Apple Support webpage. While it says data will be erased, it doesn’t give any details about how it is done. Do you happen to know anymore than what Apple said about this?

[@macmost]

The file structure of the drive is removed. The files then don't exist anymore. Any "bits" on the drive are just garbage since the data was encrypted and now the encryption key is gone.

[@13caban]

I would like to understand how to save and restore all my mail from my mac before erasing it, I ihave about 10 years of mail and I want to retain them after reseting the computer. Maybe this is an ideia for another video.... Thank you for your very informatvie videos!

[@macmost]

You would only have all of that mail on your Mac if you are still using old-fashioned POP email. Are you? Otherwise if you are using iCloud, Gmail, IMAP or anything like that then your email is on the server. You wouldn't need to do anything except sign into your account again to see all of your emails. Also, why are you "resetting" your computer unless you are getting rid of it?

[@taufikahmad7322]

If I erase all of my content and settings, will it go back to the first OS or the last one?

[@macmost]

It stays with the current one. You are erasing "content and settings" not the operating system. In modern macOS, the operating system is on a read-only partition and verified. So no need to erase that.

[@Wm.Havens]

Gary, I have always understood that deleted files are recoverable. Does resetting do something other than deleting?

[@macmost]

On a Mac the content of the drive is encrypted. Once it is erased any leftover data there becomes garbage without the encryption key.

[@craigdavis4494]

Thank you Gary. However, I was under the impression that flash drives can not in actuality, be completely 'erased.' Instead, the data just becomes harder to abstract. Am I mistaken?

[@macmost]

On a Mac the content of the drive is encrypted. Once it is erased any leftover data there becomes garbage without the encryption key.

[@axelBr1]

Good question. In the old days with a hard disk (on a Windows PC) I used a hard disk wiper. The advice I got from the internet for flash drives was to encrypt the drive. Presumably this is what Apple are doing.

[@macmost]

@@axelBr1 Yes. With the T2 security chip on older Macs, and the Secure Enclave on the M-series chips on newer Macs, the while internal drive is encrypted and when you erase the key is gone.

[@danielgartin-oh9ik]

Or if you have a problem with your Mac, mine was already erased when I got it, it was running Monterey already, I’m running Ventura on it now

[@macmost]

If you buy a used Mac then it is always a good idea to wipe it yourself as you can't be sure what the previous owner did.

[@danielgartin-oh9ik]

@@macmost it’s been working well so far,my first Mac ever

[@botabob]

It seems like you are always covering topics that are just in time. Is there ever a time when doing a factory reset to say clean up the hdd? Enjoy The Journey - Cheers

[@macmost]

Unless you are having major problems and have tried many other things, a factory reset is not necessary.

[@rwbishop]

When dumping an old Mac, I merely remove & destroy it's hard drive; thus removing all worries of someone later finding an easy way to do data recovery/s. Makes me sleep better.

[@macmost]

But Macs no longer come with "hard drives"...