iMac is usually reliable. But as with any computer, every so often matters go wrong. Before you spend massively on a new iMac, though, attempt a manufacturing unit reset, which wipes your computer and reinstalls an easy model of macOS. A manufacturing unit reset is additionally the fine way to put together your historical PC for a new proprietor to make positive no leftover statistics fall into the incorrect hands.
The manner has been equal for years on Macs with Intel processors, however, the go-to Apple silicon has barely altered the approach for wiping and reinstalling the OS. And with the bounce to macOS Monterey, positive computer systems attain a new alternative to erase all content material and settings. Here's how to erase your challenging force and reinstall the working device on your iMac, whether or not it has Apple's M1 chip or elements Intel components.
Be conscious that as soon as your iMac has been reset, you will no longer be in a position to get better any deleted information that was once left on the drive. If you assume you may additionally still want what is on your difficult drive, we recommend you to first again it up thru Time Machine or with the aid of syncing essential archives to iCloud. You also can back up iMac data to an external disk with disk cloning software.
Remove All Data with Erase Assistant Tool
Certain Macs have a new choice for erasing data, if you are walking mac OS Monterey on an Apple silicon-based Mac or an Intel-based Mac with the Apple T2 chip, you now have the Erase Assistant tool. Now open System Preferences > Erase All Content and Settings in the menu bar. It can help you quickly wipe iMac data.
Enter your admin password in Erase Assistant, then evaluate the gadgets that will be removed. Along with erasing all settings, media, apps, and records for all debts and volumes on the drive, the device will additionally signal you out of iCloud, delete Touch ID fingerprints, disable region services, unpair Bluetooth devices, and get rid of Apple Wallet items.
At this time, you have one last danger to create a Time Machine backup earlier than continuing. Click Open Time Machine to create it, if you have not already performed so.
Enter your password to signal out of your Apple ID, then let the erase system finish. Once complete, your Mac will be lower back to manufacturing facility settings. If you do not format on retaining this computer, you are done. Otherwise, you can go thru the setup assistant as if you are putting up your Mac for the first time.
Erase Data and Reinstall macOS using Disk Utility
The different alternative for resetting your iMac is Disk Utility, which is on hand to all users. In order to get entry to the selections for wiping your facts and reinstalling the running system, you want to enter macOS Recovery. How you do this relies upon the chip interior of your computer.
If you have an M1 iMac or Intel-based iMac with the T2 chip, shut down your iMac totally and preserve the Power button till Loading startup preferences show up on the screen. Select Options to enter the healing screen.
If your iMac has an Intel processor and does not have the T2 chip, restart your computer. From here, maintain down Command + R till the Apple brand appears. Release the keys and enable the iMac to boot up it will go into Recovery.
If your iMac is frozen and the everyday ability of resetting doesn't seem to be working, attempt the Control + Command + Eject (or Power button) shortcut.
No, remember how you get here, you have to then select a user with administrator privileges and enter their account credentials earlier than gaining get right of entry to the computer's startup options. Once wholly in macOS Recovery, choose Disk Utility and pick the extent you prefer to erase.
Did you until now create any extra volumes on your difficult drive? If so, do away with them first. Choose the partition and choose the minus (-) button to put off the volume. You can then pass it on to your primary drive. Select Macintosh HD and click on Erase in the top toolbar.
A dialog box will pop up asking for the drive name and format, you must keep the name as Macintosh HD and make certain the layout is set to APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Click Erase Volume Group (or Erase if that button is not shown) to wipe the drive.
You must additionally make certain any different inside drives are additionally erased in order to definitely wipe the iMac and keep away from any errors throughout the reinstall process. Go to Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility to exit the Disk Utility window and go lower back to the Recovery screen.
With your iMac now in Recovery Mode, click on Utilities in the menu bar using Terminal. Now enter a command, Type “reset password” as one word, besides the quotes, and press Return. Close the Terminal window, the place you will then find the Reset Password tool.
If you lose important data after resetting iMac, you can try iMac data recovery software - Do Your Data Recovery for Mac to get the lost data back.
If you are going to sell or donate your iMac, you can use data erasure software - DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac to securely and permanently wipe sensitive data to prevent potential data recovery.
Written & Updated by Shirly Chen
Shirly Chen has been writing data recovery, data erasure articles for DoYourData over 4 years. She has been working as a professional website content writer & editor for quite a long time. She also writes articles about disk clone, Mac optimization, disk backup, etc.