Reset Macbook without backup.

Question

Reset Macbook without backup.

Hi.

I have a Macbook Air (mid 2011) that I wanna factory reset before I sell it.

My question is can I factory reset it without making a backup because I don't want the buyer to have any possibility to install it with all my files?

thank you

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Nov 25, 2018 10:08 PM

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Answer 1

chuck_3rd

Community Specialist

Nov 27, 2018 11:35 AM in response to Community User

Hello eddiestockholm,

It looks like you're wanting to know if you can factory reset your MacBook Air without backing it up first. Backing up your Mac before selling it is simply so you can recover your data later, and it's completely your choice whether or not you actually back up. If you do choose to back up, the Apple-approved method is to back up your data to an external hard drive via Time Machine. Alternatively, you can also store your files in iCloud. No matter which option you chose, the person who purchases your Mac would have no access to that data as long as your MacBook Air computers hard drive has been erased.

Erasing your hard drive and reinstalling macOS, regardless of whether you back up first, would be the step you would take to remove all of your data on your Mac and set everything back to factory default. I recommend following each of the steps listed in the following support article, skipping the first one if you choose to:

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

Cheers!

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Answer 2

Nov 27, 2018 11:12 PM in response to chuck_3rd

Thank you!

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Reset Macbook without backup.

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