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September 21, 2023

How to Factory Reset Macbook Air 2020: A Brief Tutorial

Have you ever wondered how to breathe new life into your MacBook Air when performance issues plague it? Well, the answer might just be a factory reset. Resetting your MacBook Air to its factory settings works wonders in resolving a range of problems and restoring your laptop to its original, snappy state.

But how exactly do you go about performing this rejuvenating process? This comprehensive guide will delve into the step-by-step instructions for factory resetting your MacBook Air 2020 version.

So, let’s explore how to factory reset MacBook Air to give it a fresh start and bring back its former glory.

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  • Factory resetting a MacBook Air can resolve performance issues, prepare it for sale or simply free up space in Mac.
  • Always back up your data using tools like Time Machine before starting a factory reset.
  • Factory resetting involves erasing the hard drive and reinstalling macOS.
  • After erasing the drive, you must reinstall macOS to restore the system.
  • Make sure to follow the on-screen instructions during macOS reinstallation.
  • After completing the reset, set up a new user account and system settings.
  • Factory resetting ensures your data is securely erased before selling your MacBook Air.

After completing a factory reset, consider defragmenting your hard drive if you want to optimize your MacBook Air’s performance further by doing disk defrag.

Why Do I Need to Factory Reset My Mac?

Your multimedia devices should frequently undergo a factory reset as a recommended fix for many potential problems – the same goes for a MacBook; you need to reset Macbook to factory settings. This action is an efficient solution for your beloved MacBook Air, bringing back its previous radiance and enhancing performance.

Carrying out a factory reset has two benefits when selling your MacBook Air. It first acts as a digital sanitation procedure, removing any traces of your sensitive information from the device’s memory banks. Second, it prepares the ground for a smooth transfer of ownership, which releases you from the duty of erasing data after the sale and improves your seller ratings.

This article will simplify the complicated process of how to reset MacBook Air factory settings with accuracy and clarity.

Do I Need to Back Up My Macbook Air?

Preparing everything before you start the reset procedure for your MacBook is essential. This calls for two crucial actions: data backup and identification of the MacBook type and your current macOS version.

When you perform a factory reset, your MacBook’s hard drive is completely erased. You must make a backup to ensure you don’t lose any crucial files or data. Imagine doing this as creating a clone of your hard disk so you can still access all the files you require.

Your files and programs may be manually backed up by transferring them to an external disk or utilizing iCloud. However, using Mac’s built-in Time Machine program is faster and safer.

If something goes badly while figuring out how to factory reset MacBook Air, it makes the backup process more straightforward. It enables you to recover specific data or even your entire hard drive.

How to Factory Reset Your Macbook Air 2020?

2018 the MacBook Air accounted for 8% of Apple’s total revenue. And, it might be the time to switch your old laptop with a new one. To back up your Macbook, you’ve 2 options. iCloud and Time Machine. Here’s a step-by-step guide to backing up your Macbook with Time Machine:

  • Go to the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences” or “System Settings,” then click on “General.”
  • Next, choose “Time Machine.”
  • You’ll see an option to “Select Disk.” Click on it. If it’s your first time setting up Time Machine, click “Add Backup Disk” and follow the on-screen instructions to configure the disk.
  • Pick the disk you want for your Time Machine backup, and click “Use Disk.”

Your MacBook’s data is now securely backed up with Time Machine installed, making the factory reset procedure much less complicated.

How to Factory Reset Macbook Air?

Here’s where you’ll learn the process of how to reset MacBook Air factory settings, but only proceed after your user data has been securely stored. This procedure can resolve several problems, including slowdowns and stopped apps, and return your MacBook to its pre-issued speed and performance, making it a key step in learning how to speed up a MacBook. Additionally, you must wipe all your data and perform a complete reset Macbook to factory settings to sell your MacBook Air.

A built-in recovery tool in macOS allows you to uninstall and reinstall the operating system. It is reachable via the Mac’s boot display. You can also build a bootable USB drive and download macOS Mojave from the Mac App Store.

However, we’ll focus on the quicker technique to reset Macbook to factory settings from the boot screen, necessitating an active internet connection.

  • Click on the Apple icon at the top-left corner of your MacBook’s screen.
  • Select “Restart” from the dropdown menu.
  • When you spot the Apple logo reappearing on your MacBook Air’s screen, press and hold Command + R on your keyboard. Keep holding these keys until the macOS Utilities window appears.
  • If you aim to reinstall macOS on top of your current file system, click “Reinstall macOS.” However, choose “Disk Utility” at the bottom of the list for a factory reset.
  • After opening Disk Utility, find and select your MacBook Air’s Startup Disk on the left-hand side. Typically, this will be the primary and sole disk listed.
  • Click the “Erase” button within Disk Utility.
  • In the Format dropdown menu, select “Mac OS Extended.”
  • Assign a name to your reformatted disk and confirm the erasure by clicking “Erase.”
  • You’ll witness a process beginning to erase your MacBook Air’s drive and data. However, once this is done, your disk is wiped clean.

Note: It’s crucial to remember that your machine won’t have an operating system loaded at this time. You’ll need to reinstall your operating system, whether selling your laptop or merely formatting the drive to improve speed and efficiency.

How to Install MacOS on Macbook Air?

Here’s how to install MacOS on Macbook Air when planning to reset Macbook to factory settings:

  • Disk Utility may be closed by choosing “Disk Utility” and “Quit.”
  • To start reinstalling the most recent macOS version, choose “Reinstall macOS” from the list of macOS Utilities and then follow the on-screen directions.
  • Select the default drive, usually the only one present unless you’ve explicitly installed another when asked to select the installation disk.
  • When you click “Install,” you might be prompted to give the required permissions. Your MacBook will then begin downloading macOS.This download may take longer or shorter than expected, especially on weaker internet connections. Several hours may pass throughout this procedure.
  • You should manually begin the installation of macOS by accepting it on your machine when the download is complete.
  • After installation, your MacBook Air should restart and direct you to the macOS Welcome screen. Create a new user account and modify your system settings here.
  • You may now securely turn off your laptop if you want to sell it. The factory reset of your MacBook Air ensures that none of your sensitive information is still available to the next owner.

FAQs - How to Factory Reset Macbook Air

Can you hard factory reset a MacBook Air?

  • Open the Apple menu.
  • Choose "System Settings."
  • In the sidebar, click on "General."
  • On the right-hand side, select "Transfer or Reset."
  • Click on "Erase All Contents and Settings."

How to reset MacBook Air to factory settings without disc?

Here’s how to reset MacBook Air factory settings without disc:

  • Restart your Mac.
  • Go to menu by clicking on the Apple icon on top right and select "System Settings."
  • In the sidebar, click on "General."
  • On the right-hand side, choose "Transfer or Reset."
  • Click on "Erase All Contents and Settings."
  • You'll be prompted to enter your administrator information in the Erase Assistant and click "Unlock."
  • Review all that you're deleting, along with your content and settings.

How do I factory reset my MacBook Air 2015?

Here’s a brief set of steps for “how to reset MacBook Air factory settings”:

  • Navigate Menu and select "System Settings."
  • In the sidebar, click on "General."
  • On the right-hand side, choose "Transfer or Reset."
  • Click "Erase all content and settings."

Final Note

Now that you’ve learned how to reset MacBook Air factory settings, you can reset your MacBook Air 2020 in no time. Speaking of Macs, MacBook Air sales reached 3 million units in the second quarter of 2020, contributing to a total of 5.1 million Macs shipped. That’s a surprising demand, right?

While looking forward to switching your MacBook Air ensure backing up the data before factory resetting. Moreover, to enhance your device performance, never install malware or viruses. Use a trusted VPN, like iProVPN, and elevate your online experience.


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