Many new features have been discovered in macOS Monterey this week, following the upcoming Mac operating system’s unveiling on Monday. One of these features includes a faster and more convenient method of erasing a Mac before selling or donating it.
MacRumors reports that macOS Monterey offers an iOS-like “Erase All Content and Settings” option that allows users to erase all user data and user-installed apps from a Mac without needing to reinstall the macOS operating system. This makes it much easier to reset a Mac to its original factory settings.
Earlier versions of macOS required users to format the startup disk and reinstall macOS, so this new feature makes it easier to start fresh with a Mac, or to delete personal data before gifting or selling the Mac to another party.
From the macOS Monterey features page on Apple’s website:
Erase all contents and settings
System Preferences now offers an option to erase all user data and user-installed apps from the system, while maintaining the operating system currently installed. Because storage is always encrypted on Mac systems with Apple silicon or the T2 chip, the system is instantly and securely “erased” by destroying the encryption keys.
macOS Monterey beta users can open the System Preferences app, click on System Preferences in the menu bar at the top of the screen, and then click “Erase All Content and Settings” in the drop-down menu. the user is required to provide an administrator password to proceed with restoring the Mac to factory settings.
macOS Monterey is currently available in beta form to developers. A public beta is expected in July.