Whether you are looking to sell your MacBook Air and want to wipe its data for your security or want to start over with a fresh installation of macOS, follow this tutorial to clear all the data off your computer. Show You have options to reset your MacBook to factory default settings, which removes all your personal data, or erase the computer drive completely without setting it up with an operating system at all, which is rarely the better choice. Information in this tutorial applies to macOS Big Sur (11.0) and later. Older versions of the operating system follow similar steps. This process erases all the data on your computer, including files, photos, videos, and programs. Follow the backup procedure below to make a copy of your data before continuing. Backing Up Your MacBook AirBefore you begin wiping your MacBook Air, back up any data on the machine so that you have a duplicate. Any data remaining on the laptop when you wipe the computer is permanently lost. Follow these steps to back up your MacBook to an external storage device using Time Machine, which is installed on your Mac:
Within a few minutes, the backup process begins. Your first backup may take a few hours or more depending on how much data is on your machine. Check back in the Time Machine preference pane to confirm when Time Machine has finished its first backup. It will note when its latest backup completed. For more information, check out our detailed tutorial on using Time Machine. Sign Out of iCloud on Your MacBookBefore you wipe your MacBook Air, it is a good idea to sign out of iCloud and services such as Find My Mac. If you don't sign out of said features, future users may be prompted for your login information. Follows these steps to easily log out of iCloud on your device:
Wiping Your MacBook Air and Reinstalling macOSIf you are simply cleaning out your machine to start from scratch or are selling or gifting the unit to another individual, erase it and reinstall macOS, so that the computer is usable. If done successfully, the Mac's software appears as it did when you first unboxed the unit. The following steps will completely erase your MacBook's internal storage device; all data and information will be lost.
Wiping Your MacBook Air Without Reinstalling macOSOnce you have confirmed that your data is backed up to an external storage device, you can begin erasing your MacBook Air's internal storage of all information. Follow these instructions to begin the process if you want to erase the machine and not reinstall macOS: The following steps will completely erase your MacBook's internal storage device; all data and information will be lost.
Additional macOS Install OptionsBy default, pressing Command+R when booting your Mac leads you to install the latest version of macOS that has been installed on your machine. How do I wipe my MacBook air before selling it?From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings. Click General in the sidebar. Click Transfer or Reset on the right. Click Erase All Content and Settings.
How do I completely clean my MacBook air?Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces. Don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
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