MacBook Pro Cannot Be Reset – How to Fix It

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If your MacBook Pro is not resetting, it could be due to software restrictions, disk errors, or system protection settings. This guide provides step-by-step solutions to help you reset your Mac and restore it to factory settings.

Check If You Are Using the Correct Reset Method

Reset via macOS Settings (macOS Ventura or Later)
  1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings.
  2. Go to General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to erase your Mac.

Reset via macOS Recovery (Older Versions)
  1. Shut down your MacBook Pro.
  2. Turn it on while holding Command + R until the Apple logo appears.
  3. Select Disk Utility > Macintosh HD > Erase.
  4. Exit Disk Utility and choose Reinstall macOS.

Check for Activation Lock

If Erase All Content and Settings is unavailable, Find My Mac may be enabled.

Disable Find My Mac
  1. Open System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.
  2. Toggle off Find My Mac.
  3. Sign out of iCloud and try resetting again.

Check Startup Security Settings

If the reset is blocked, Startup Security Utility may need adjustments.

Modify Startup Security (For Intel Macs)
  1. Boot into macOS Recovery (Command + R on startup).
  2. Click Utilities > Startup Security Utility.
  3. Select No Security under Secure Boot.
  4. Restart and try resetting again.

Repair Disk Errors Before Resetting

If your MacBook Pro cannot reset due to disk issues, repairing the disk may help.

Run First Aid in Disk Utility
  1. Boot into macOS Recovery (Command + R on startup).
  2. Select Disk Utility > Macintosh HD.
  3. Click First Aid and Run to repair disk errors.
  4. Restart and try resetting again.

Reset NVRAM and SMC

If the Mac is stuck during reset, resetting NVRAM and SMC may help.

Reset NVRAM (Intel Macs Only)
  1. Shut down the MacBook.
  2. Press and hold Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds.
  3. Release the keys and restart.

Reset SMC (Intel Macs Only)
  1. Shut down the MacBook.
  2. Press and hold Shift + Control + Option + Power button for 10 seconds.
  3. Release the keys and turn the Mac on.

Use Terminal to Reset macOS

If other methods fail, resetting via Terminal may work.

Erase macOS via Terminal
  1. Boot into macOS Recovery (Command + R on startup).
  2. Click Utilities > Terminal.
  3. Type the following command and press Enter: 
    diskutil eraseDisk APFS MacintoshHD /dev/disk0
  4. Exit Terminal and reinstall macOS.

If your MacBook Pro still cannot be reset, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for further assistance.