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 has received an "Erase All Content and Settings" option under macOS Monterey. The option allows all user data and user-installed apps to be deleted from the Mac without having to reinstall the macOS operating system. This integration makes resetting a Mac much easier. On Apple's website, in the macOS Monterey section, it says:
Erase All Content and Settings: System Preferences now provides an option to erase all user data and user-installed apps from the system while preserving the currently installed operating system. Since storage is always encrypted on Mac systems with Apple silicon or the T2 chip, the system is immediately and securely "wiped" 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 reset the Mac to factory settings. Erasing a Mac running an earlier version of macOS requires formatting the startup disk and reinstalling macOS. So this new option makes it much more convenient to reset the Mac to factory settings. After erasing a Mac, it displays the Setup Assistant and is ready to be set up again. (Image: Apple)
