Please help - How do I factory reset my Mac Mini

[dUnKle]

Please, help needed
Trying to factory reset my Mac mini (currently on Big Sur 11.6) and have it updated to latest OS and be a full fresh clean install

I have followed no end of guides about holding down key combinations and my Mac continue to just boot as normal each time

Its a 2018 Mac mini with Magic Keyboard, Mouse and Trackpad

Please, if someone can give me a proper idiot guide

Thanks

 

[MBAir2010]

resetting a mac is all about the hard drive,
in your case you need to make a bootable Monterey usb drive.
apple.com and osx daily.com have guides on their web site.

words of advice is to back up your files with Time machine before this procedure.
other here love carbon copy cloner.

in a couple of minutes someone here will give you a full guide on how to restore and fresh install.
(which are 2 different things)

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Please, help needed
Trying to factory reset my Mac mini (currently on Big Sur 11.6) and have it updated to latest OS and be a full fresh clean install

I have followed no end of guides about holding down key combinations and my Mac continue to just boot as normal each time

Its a 2018 Mac mini with Magic Keyboard, Mouse and Trackpad

Please, if someone can give me a proper idiot guide

Thanks

This is the new way to factory reset a Mac if you are on Big Sur. It's a nice feature added to MacOS 12.

macOS Monterey Allows You to Erase a Mac Without Needing to Reinstall the Operating System

It's been a few days since Apple announced macOS Monterey, and we continue to dig through new features that weren't mentioned during the WWDC...

www.macrumors.com

 

[dUnKle]

Cheers guys
Appreciated
Just also seen that need a wired keyboard to get the startup commands to work

 

[MacCheetah3]

Cheers guys
Appreciated
Just also seen that need a wired keyboard to get the startup commands to work

You shouldn’t. I’ve used my current Magic Trackpad 2 with a 2012 Mac mini and the M1. I used the older aluminum Bluetooth Apple keyboard with the 2012 mini and a Magic Keyboard 2 with number pad on the M1. On both Macs, I’ve been able to reach Recovery Mode. Although, it wouldn’t hurt if you used the Lightning to USB cable to make the Magic Keyboard wired temporarily.

If you haven’t yet, the best behavior for boot key(s) execution is not to hold them for a long time rather press and hold for ~1 second, release momentarily, press and hold for ~1 second again, repeat. You can even begin the process before pressing the power button. Sometimes, strictly holding keys down will be determined as an input error (i.e., damaged or faulty keyboard) by the computer.

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Reset your Mac to factory settings to prepare it for a new owner.

support.apple.com

You can skip steps 6 and 7 as it doesn’t seem as if you’re selling your Mac, just doing a fresh install for troubleshooting, cleanup, etc.

 

[MBAir2010]

Cheers guys
Appreciated
Just also seen that need a wired keyboard to get the startup commands to work

i was going to ask want is wrong or what do you want to achieve,
but did not want to insult your macmimi knowhow.

i miss my 2012 one
but
really don't need that in 2021

 

[dUnKle]

thanks guys.
Managed to get it sorted but did involve getting hold of a usb keyboard

 

[Boyd01]

I believe the Magic Keyboard *is* a USB keyboard when it is turned on and connected to the Mac with the lightning cable. Did that not work for you? There has been some confusion on this before however. All I know is, on my 2018 Mini, I can turn off bluetooth and connect the Magic Keyboard with the cable and it works fine.

 

[dUnKle]

I believe the Magic Keyboard *is* a USB keyboard when it is turned on and connected to the Mac with the lightning cable. Did that not work for you? There has been some confusion on this before however. All I know is, on my 2018 Mini, I can turn off bluetooth and connect the Magic Keyboard with the cable and it works fine.

Oh good god
I feel such a knob
I never actually considered trying that

Ffs

Cheers