Without a backup, you will not be able to get those files back. How to Factory Reset M1 Mac to Wipe & Reinstall macOSīefore you go ahead with the steps mentioned below, make sure you back up the Mac and all the important files and data you want to keep as they will be permanently erased during the factory restoration.

It doesn’t really matter whether you own the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, or Mac Mini, as the resetting to factory settings procedure remains identical on all M1 Macs.

This is essentially reformatting the Mac and then reinstalling MacOS, a process which is often necessary for users transferring ownership of a Mac, sending the computer in for repair, or for troubleshooting purposes. Likewise, in this case, we’re basically just wiping the Mac and reinstalling macOS from scratch. If you’re switching from Windows, it’s similar to how you would perform a clean installation of Windows on a computer.

First, a quick summary for the unfamiliar A factory reset or a reset to factory settings involves erasing all the contents stored on your Mac – all files, data, and the OS itself – and restoring it to factory settings.

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