You may want to reset MacBook Air factory settings for different reasons. You plan to clear all the earlier data to start using it from scratch, pass it down to your siblings, replace or sell it, etc. Or, more serious issues can compel you to reset it immediately. Think of ransomware or virus attacks. Even a slow-running device can be a pain and demand a fix. Regardless of why you factory reset your MacBook, knowing that this process will remove all the existing files, leading to data loss, is essential. This risk can be minimized or averted by resetting the password of your device or Apple ID that you may have forgotten. However, you can skip this step and still initiate a factory reset in various ways.
Various suggestions may appear for how to factory reset MacBook Air. Go to macOS recovery mode for a Macbook that doesn’t use any FileVault or firmware password. Select Disk Utility and Continue on the macOS Utilities window. When clicked, you will get a 'View’ option, which will take you to ‘Show All Devices.' Choose the physical disk and erase options. The drive can be named Macintosh HD. If the operating system is in High Sierra or another advanced version, the APFS format can be selected. If not, the extended (journaled) option can be chosen. The scheme should be GUID Partition Map before you click on 'Erase.' The process can take a little time, so wait before closing Disk Utility. After this, you can opt for "Reinstall macOS" and read all the instructions for OS installation.
Mac users can navigate this path to directly access the OS through a text-based terminal. One can do a factory reset without an Apple ID or admin password. It requires switching off your device. When you push the power button, press Command + S immediately. It will pause the running texts. Type mount -uw / in the text field and press 'Enter.' It will mount the hard drive. The next steps include removing the setupdone file and shutting down the Mac. You will start your device again and work on the settings with the help of the setup assistant.
Various options are available to reset factory settings on MacBook Air without a password. However, it's a daunting process and needs a thorough understanding of the system and its nuances. So, study the resources that will help you solve your concern. You must know what you expect from this endeavor to keep track of your progress. Suppose you explore different methods, but none of them fixes your issue. In that case, you can visit logmeonce.com for help. Password management tools can make your job easy. However, only a reliable source must be considered for safety and security.
Additional tip: With the snipping tool on Mac, it becomes much easier for everyone to take screenshots and record screens on your Mac.
Remembering passwords has become difficult today because of their intricacy and multitude. But it should not become your Achilles heel and hamper your work. Whether you want to do a factory reset or something else but have forgotten the password, don't worry. Some platforms or tools provide excellent solutions for different needs.
