How to Factory Reset Mac and Windows 10 Computers

Don’t know what is your Laptop password? Thinking! but you cannot recall the password. Then, check the article on how to Factory Reset Mac and Windows 10 computers.

Computers are generally reliable and important part of every business person, but sometimes things go wrong. When that your industrious computer develops a fault before you buy a new one try a thorough factory reset. This wipes the entire data or files on your computer and keeps it in a state of how it was when you first bought it.

Apart from your personal use, you can factory reset a computer to prepare it for a new owner to make sure no sensitive information falls into the wrong hands. Sometimes, a little itching on your computer might be solved by uninstalling a recent update. However, if you’re experiencing some kind of sluggishness on your system, backing up your files and resetting your PC to its factory settings might do the trick.

The factory reset process has been the same process for years on Macs with Intel processors. But a change to Apple Silicon chip has slightly altered the old method of factory resetting a Mac powered computer. However, the factory reset process on Windows 10 seems to be much easier.

On the next sub-heading is a guideline on how to erase a hard drive and reinstall the operating system on your Mac or Windows 10 Computers.

How to Factory Reset your Mac PC

Step by step I will guide you on how to factory reset Mac and Windows 10 computers. First of all, you will get tips on factory reset of Mac computer. So, pay attention, and let’s get started.

1. Enter Recovery Mode

The initial step before wiping your data and reinstalling the operating system is to enter the macOS recovery option. However, due to the recent release of new Mac versions, we now have two ways of doing this. You can either enter recovery mode through any of these methods depending on the chip inside your computer.

For Intel-Based Macs

If you’re using a Mac with an Intel processor, hold down the power button. Then choose the Restart option from the pop-up menu. Also, you can perform this action by opening the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the pane and select Restart. From here, hold down Command + R until the Apple logo surfaces. Thereafter, release the keys and allow your computer to automatically boot up and open into Recovery.

For Apple Silicon-Based Macs

Mac models using silicon needs to be turned off completely. Open the Apple menu and select Shut Down or hold down the power button and click Shut Down through the pop-up menu. Meanwhile, click and hold the power button to turn on the Mac and hold for some seconds until “Loading startup options” shows up. Click Options from the startup screen to enter the macOS recovery menu.

However, if there’s any case whereby your computer is frozen and the normal resetting option isn’t working, you can try the Control + Command + Eject shortcut.

2. Erase Your Data

Notwithstanding your recovery mode method, you need to select a user with administrator privileges and enter their login details before accessing the computer’s start-up options. Immediately you’re in macOS recovery, select Disk Utility to erase the computer hard drive.

In your Mac Disk Utility menu, select the Macintosh HD below the internal heading and click erase in the top toolbar. Thereafter, you’ll see a dialogue box requesting the drive name and format. Write the name as Macintosh HD and ensure the format is set to Mac OS Extended or APFS.

Therefore, select Erase Volume Group to erase the drive. Also, ensure that any other system drives are wiped out to completely format the computer and avoid any system errors during the reinstall process. Exit out of the Disk Utility page to refer back to the Recovery screen.

However, be aware that you can no longer recover any deleted data once this process is done. But if you’ll later need any item that’s on the hard drive. So, you can back them up through Time Machine or sync to iCloud.

3. Reinstall and Restore

Meanwhile, if you’re planning to sell the computer, you can save your strength and let the new owner install another macOS version. Contrary to that, if you’re keeping the computer, the next step is to reinstall macOS back into the system.

Before that, ensure your computer has at least 60% battery power or is connected to a charger and connect to the internet. Thereafter, select Reinstall macOS and follow the necessary instructions to download a new version of macOS.

If you backed up your files through Time Machine, you can restore those files through Migration Assistant as part of the reinstall process. Mac will require if you want to transfer file from Time Machine backup or through another Mac. Choose Time Machine and continue to restore your files.

However, if you don’t want to perform this action while cleaning your Mac. However, you can refer back to the Recovery screen and click the Restore From Time Machine Backup option. Thereafter, if you want to reinstall your saved files, select the appropriate backup option from the list to act.

How to Factory Reset Your Windows 10 PC

1. Recovery Settings

To open the Settings Window, click the Start menu and select the gear button in the lower-left corner. Also, you can select the Settings Window from the app list, under Settings, then Update & Security > Recovery, then choose to Get Started under Reset this PC.

2. Save or Remove Files

When it comes to these settings, you have two ways of doing this: you can either choose to keep the system files and delete downloaded apps or settings or you format everything and start afresh.

However, when you choose to Keep my files, your personal installed apps and files will be saved. B.ut apps and settings will return to how they were when you first bought the PC. Also, every pre-installed apps will be returned. However, you can choose to prevent this by going to the Additional Settings pane and uncheck Change settings.

Meanwhile, if you want to erase everything, but bear in mind Windows will completely delete all your apps and files, click Remove Everything. This is the quickest way to remove your files and it’s also the default option. However, if you wish to completely erase the system files. Then, go to Change Settings at the Additional Settings pane then check the data eraser option.

However, this option will take a longer time to complete but it’s the most secure option. Meanwhile, Microsoft advises completely wiping the drive if you wish to get the most out of your PC. But that means you can’t recover all your deleted files.

3. Reset your Computer

Once you’ve decided on which option to choose from, click Next and Windows will display what will be deleted from your PC before making the final decision. However, if you selected the Keep my files option, Windows will also bring out a list of what will be deleted with the reset process.

Finally, hit Reset to actually commit. After that, your PC will automatically reboot. When you finally return to Windows 10. You’ll discover that your PC has returned to how it was when you first opened it. Meanwhile, if you backed up your files through Recovery Drive or any online backup service. You can now go and restore them to the machine.

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Conclusion

If your Mac or Windows PC is running sluggishly, resetting it back to factory settings will be the best option for you rather than deleting a few files. Before that, ensure to back up your files so as to restore them back after the factory reset. Also, it’s highly recommended to factory reset your PC before selling it to prevent the new owner from gaining access to your sensitive information. We’ve outlined the basic steps on how to factory reset your Mac or Windows 10 computer. Meanwhile, follow up our page by hitting the subscribe button and be the first to get access.

If you have any questions on how to factory reset Mac and Windows 10 computers then ask me in the comment section