Apple introduced its new generation of software at WWDC 2021, including macOS Monterey. The new Mac operating system offers several new features, and deleting or resetting Mac devices will now be easier.
Following in the footsteps of the iPhone and iPad, the Mac now has an "Erase All Content and Settings" option under macOS Monterey. This option allows you to delete all user data and user-installed apps from your Mac without having to reinstall the macOS operating system. This integration makes resetting a Mac significantly easier. On Apple's website, in the macOS Monterey section, it says:
Erase All Content and Settings: System Preferences now offers an option to erase all user data and user-installed apps from the system while preserving the currently installed operating system. Because storage on Mac systems with Apple silicon or the T2 chip is always encrypted, this immediately and securely "wipes" the system by destroying the encryption keys.
macOS Monterey: “Erase all content and settings”
In the first macOS Monterey beta, the new option can already be found by opening the System Preferences app, clicking System Preferences in the menu bar at the top of the screen, and navigating to "Erase All Content and Settings" in the drop-down menu. An administrator password is required to restore the Mac to factory settings. Erasing a Mac running an earlier version of macOS requires formatting the startup disk and reinstalling macOS. This new option makes it much more convenient to restore the Mac to factory settings. After erasing a Mac, it displays the Setup Assistant and is ready to be set up again. (Image: Apple)
