Reset to original purchase
I have a 2011 MacBook A1278. I don't have the user name or password. Is there a way to reset it to factory settings as if I was just purchasing it?
Earlier Mac models
Question marked as
As long as there is no firmware password lock, you can boot into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R to access the online macOS 10.13 High Sierra installer.
You will need to erase the whole physical drive as GUID partition and MacOS Extended (Journaled). However within Disk Utility you will need to click "View" and select "Show All Devices" before the physical drive appears on the left pane of Disk Utility. After erasing the physical drive, quit Disk Utility and select "Reinstall macOS" option. You will likely need to use Fix #3 in the following article:
Sometimes regardless of the startup keys used for Recovery Mode some Macs may only boot to the older online installer for the version of macOS which originally shipped with the computer from the factory. If this is the case, then you will instead need to partition & format the physical drive as noted in the following article (ignore the boot process & jump to the Disk Utility section):
https://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/formatting/Mac_Formatting_6-10.pdf
If Internet Recovery Mode does not work, then your only option would be to create a bootable macOS 10.11 or 10.13 USB installer using another compatible Mac.
- macOS 10.13 -- model Late-2009 to mid-2019
- macOS 10.11 -- model 2007 to 2015
If the laptop has a firmware password lock enabled, then there is nothing you can do unless you know that password or have acceptable proof of purchase to prove to Apple you are the legitimate owner (usually only the first owner can do this) so Apple can remove the firmware lock. If you Option Boot the laptop and encounter a padlock icon, then a firmware lock is enabled. See the following Apple article for details:
Set a firmware password on your Mac - Apple Support