How to Factory Reset a MacBook Without Knowing the Password

Force your MacBook to reset using Disk Utility

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: August 7, 2025 Fact Checked

Did you receive a secondhand MacBook and want to erase everything? To reset a Mac without the password, you'll need to erase the disk using Recovery Mode. This wikiHow will show you how to factory reset a MacBook without the password.

Erasing a Mac Without a Password

If you don't have the password to a Mac, you can factory reset it by using Recovery Mode. Once in Recovery Mode, select the Disk Utility option. Select your boot disk, and then select Erase.^{[1]
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Research source} From there, you can choose to Reinstall macOS on the Utilities screen.

Steps

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1
Start your Mac in Recovery Mode. Keep in mind that factory resetting your Mac or Macbook will erase all contents.^{[2]
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- Apple Silicon: With the Mac turned off, press and hold the Power button until the startup screen appears. Click Options > Continue.
- Intel-based Mac: With the Mac turned off, press and hold Cmd + R, and then press the Power button. Release Cmd + R when you see the Apple logo.
You can find this on the macOS Utilities screen.

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Select your boot disk. This can be found in the left sidebar. In most cases, it will be called Macintosh HD.
- Make sure you select the main disk and not the folders underneath it.
This is in the top toolbar.^{[3]
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Enter a new name for the disk and select APFS as the new format.
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Click Erase. This process may take a few moments.
- Once you see the confirmation message, you can exit Disk Utility.^{[4]
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This is on the Utilities screen.
You'll be asked to select your disk before the installation begins.^{[5]
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Wait for the installation to complete. This may take some time. Keep your Mac plugged in, and don't close the lid or put it to sleep. The screen may turn on and off periodically.
- Once it's complete, you'll see the setup assistant. You can now set up the new Mac.