How to Reset Your Mac Without Losing Data [With Step-by-Step Guide]

Has your Mac, especially your MacBook Pro, ever frozen or behaved abnormally? Do you want to know how to reset your Mac without losing data? You're definitely not the only one dealing with this issue!

The good news is that you can reset your Mac without losing data! This guide will walk you through the process to make sure your data is safe and sound.

Will a Reset Erase Data from a Mac?

Yes, you could lose data every time you put your Mac to sleep, especially if you haven't backed up your files. A reset will return it to its factory settings, erasing everything, including the operating system, apps, and your personal information.

Thus, it's highly recommended to backup your data before using the built-in backup feature of macOS – Time Machine or an all-around data backup and recovery tool – Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

Solution 1: Back up your data before resetting your Mac using software Before employing any software to reset your Mac, it's crucial to back up important data first. This will safeguard your files, photos, videos, and other personal information from accidental loss. You can use one of the following methods to backup your data: 1. **Time Machine**: Apple's Time Machine is an integrated backup solution that regularly backs up your entire Mac. Simply connect an external hard drive and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the backup. 2. **Migration Assistant**: If you plan to buy a new Mac and want to transfer all your data, Migration Assistant can help you easily move from your old Mac to the new one. 3. **Manual Backup**: If you prefer not to use automated tools, you can manually copy your files to an external hard drive, USB drive, or cloud storage service like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Make sure your backup is up to date and verify it before resetting your Mac to prevent the loss of vital information.

Professional Mac data recovery software provides a user-friendly interface that lets you back up your data with just a few simple steps. It offers an option to clone your storage device (like a hard drive, USB drive, or memory card) to back up your data.

This copy contains your device's file system, partitions, and data, which you can use to restore if files get lost or corrupted. In case you forget to back up important data before resetting your Mac, this powerful software can also help you recover lost data during the reset process or update your macOS without losing data.

Before you reset your Mac using utility software, back up your data as follows:

Click “Disk Backup” > “Create Backup” > “Next.” This will create an image of your drive, which will protect your data in case it gets overwritten.

Step 2. Select the internal drive you want to back up, then click "Backup Now." If you want to create a backup or restore data from an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or SD card, connect the storage device to your Mac beforehand.

Select a disk to back up

Step 3: Choose a location to save the backup file, give it a name, and click Save. It's not wise to save the backup on the same storage device from which you will be recovering data.

After backing up your data, you can reinstall macOS without losing data! If you found this article helpful, please share it on social media to let others know how to reset their Mac without losing data.

Solution 2: Reset Mac with Time Machine Backup Losslessly

Here's how to reset your Mac without losing data by first backing up with Time Machine:

Step 1. Connect an external storage device, since performing a factory reset will erase your drive.

Step 2: To open Time Machine, click on the Apple icon and choose “System Preferences.”

Step 3: In System Preferences, choose Time Machine.

Step 4: Click on "Select backup disk..."

Step 5: Select your external storage device from the popup and click on “Use Disk.”

Step 6: Next, quit all applications. Eject the external drive in preparation for the next step.

After resetting the Mac, you can quickly and safely restore your Mac from a Time Machine backup.

How to Reset Mac Without Losing Data? [Step-by-Step Guide]

Reset your Mac without losing data by following these two steps:

• Reset Your Mac

With your data backed up, you can proceed with the reset. Here's how:

Step 1: Click the Apple menu and choose “System Preferences.”

Step 2: Choose Erase All Content and Settings.

Step 3: If prompted, enter your passcode. Review what will be erased when you select “Erase All Content and Settings,” then tap “Continue” in the corner.

Step 4: After you click Continue, all open apps will close automatically. Before you proceed, sign out of your iCloud account.

• Restore data from a backup

When it's done, you'll go through the same setup process that you did when you first set up your Mac.

Step 1: Connect the external storage device that contains your files.

Step 2: Open Finder by clicking its icon in the Dock.

Step 3: Go to Applications > Utilities > Migration Assistant, and then close all applications. In the Migration Assistant window, click Continue.

Step 4: Select your Time Machine backup. Click “Continue.”

Step 5: Choose the data you want to transfer, such as user accounts, apps, folders, system settings, and so on. Then tap "Continue."

Please wait for the process to complete. Depending on the amount of data being transferred, this could take anywhere from one minute to several hours.

Additional Tip: Recover Lost Data After Resetting Mac

If you reset your Mac without a backup or if your backup is damaged or inaccessible (for example, it might take hours to find a Time Machine backup), you might feel like your data is gone forever. That's not always the case. The tool Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can help you recover data after resetting your Mac.

Please refer to the following steps:

Note: You can create a backup by first clicking on "Disk Backup" on the left. You can then restore data from the backup image in case of disk failure or accidental deletion or loss of data from the disk.

Step 1: Choose a location

Select the disk from which you lost data after upgrading to macOS Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur. Then, click “Search Lost Files.”

Step 2: Look for the Lost Data after Scanning

"Data Recovery Wizard" for Mac immediately scans the disk volume you select and displays the scan results in the left pane. You can search for the required data on your Mac by file type and file path.

Step 3. Recover Data After macOS Update

Select the target files that were accidentally lost during or after the update, and click the "Recover" button to get them all back.

Conclusions

The article enlightened us on how to reset a Mac without losing any data by creating backups beforehand. For backup and data recovery needs, we recommend using EasеUS Data Rеcovеry Wizard for Mac. It not only facilitates data backup but also aids in retrieving lost data after resetting your Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions on Resetting a Mac Without Losing Data

Here are some common questions and answers about resetting a Mac without losing data.

1. How can I recover my Mac without losing data?

You can use Time Machine to back up your data and restore it easily:

Step 1: Connect your device or disk image to your Mac. Make sure it's recognized properly.

Step 2: Restart your Mac while holding down the "Command" and "R" keys until you see the Apple logo.

Step 3: In the macOS Utilities window, choose either “Restore From Time Machine Backup” or “Disk Utility.”

Step 4: Simply select your source and target as instructed on-screen, and confirm the recovery process.

2. Does Resetting a Mac Delete Everything?

Yes, when you reset your Mac, it returns to its original state, deleting everything in the process. This can be very helpful when troubleshooting any issues. Just remember that if you haven't backed up beforehand, you could lose your data.

How do I perform a soft reset on a Mac?

A soft reset allows you to restart your Mac without losing any data or settings. This can help resolve issues like problematic apps, slow performance, or networking problems. To reset your Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1. Save and close all files and applications.

Step 2: Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen, then choose “Restart.”

Step 3: Wait for your Mac to restart, and then log back in to your account.