I can give you a detailed answer on how to factory reset your iMac without logging in. Here’s what you can do:
1. Start by turning off your iMac completely.
2. Press the power button to turn it back on and immediately hold down the Command (⌘) and R keys simultaneously. Keep holding them until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
3. This will boot your iMac into Recovery Mode. You might be prompted to enter your Wi-Fi network details, so make sure you have that information handy.
4. Once in Recovery Mode, you’ll see a macOS Utilities window. Here, you have a couple of options to proceed.
Option 1: Disk Utility
– Choose “Disk Utility” and click Continue.
– In Disk Utility, select your Mac’s main hard drive (usually named “Macintosh HD” or something similar) from the sidebar.
– Click on the Erase tab and choose the desired format (usually Mac OS Extended (Journaled)).
– Give your hard drive a new name if you wish.
– Click Erase and confirm the action. This will erase all the data on your hard drive.
– Once the process is complete, close Disk Utility and go back to the macOS Utilities window.
Option 2: Reinstall macOS
– Choose “Reinstall macOS” and click Continue.
– Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS on your iMac.
– This process will download and install a fresh copy of macOS, effectively wiping out all the data on your iMac.
– Make sure you have a stable internet connection as the installer will download the necessary files.
– Once the reinstallation is complete, your iMac will restart with a clean installation of macOS.
Please note that these steps will erase all your personal data and settings, so it’s crucial to back up any important files before proceeding. If you have any external storage devices connected, make sure to disconnect them before starting the factory reset process.
I hope this detailed explanation helps you factory reset your iMac without logging in. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!