
MAC FORCE QUIT SYSTEM PREFERENCES UPGRADE
If your Mac is a 2018 model or later but is still running macOS Big Sur or earlier, you can simply upgrade to Monterey and use the instructions above, or proceed with your current OS and the instructions below. Factory resetting these machines will take you into slightly techier territory, but it's still simple if you know what you're doing. These Macs simply lack the hardware required to make the Erase Assistant work.

If you have a Mac that's from 2017 or earlier, you're not going to have as streamlined of a factory resetting process - even if your current Mac is running macOS Monterey.
MAC FORCE QUIT SYSTEM PREFERENCES HOW TO
How to Factory Reset a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro (with an Intel chip or macOS Big Sur and older) Once you've followed the steps, your Mac will reboot and return to factory settings, with the exception that it will still run the most current macOS instead of the version it originally came out of the box with. Pinpoint the app and then click Force Quit to shut down the Mac app. In the top left corner, click System Preferences and then select Force Quit in the list. Select the frozen application from the dialogue box and select Force Quit. It will immediately bring up a Force Quit Application window. On your keyboard, press and hold Command + Option + Esc. Open System PreferencesĮrase Assistant will walk you through the factory resetting process, which will require you to log out of iCloud before it completes. You can shut down an app that does not respond when you try the normal way to click the close icon on the right corner in the force-shut setting in Mac system preferences. To do the same thing but faster, use Mac shortcut keys to close frozen applications. If you have a new Mac running macOS Monterey, then returning it to its factory settings is actually very easy thanks to its support for the Erase Assistant feature. I let it go for a few minutes and then tired to quit system preferences with no. How to Factory Reset a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro (macOS Monterey) 1 I have been having problems with some BT settings and was messing with them, when I got the swirly icon. If you have a Mac with Apple silicon, that same item will be labeled "Chip," followed by the name of the chip. If you have a Mac with an Intel processor, About This Mac shows an item labeled "Processor," followed by the name of an Intel processor.

Select the Apple logo (located top-left corner of the Menu bar).To find out what year your Mac is a nd what operating system it is running:

If you're not running Monterey, or your Mac is from 2017 or earlier, you'll have to use different, more complicated instructions. You can find it in System Preferences and selecting Time Machine.Ĭheck your Mac's age and OS: If you have a Mac that's from 2018 or newer (all M1 and M2 Macs fit this bill), it will have Apple's T2 security chip and can take advantage of the new Erase Assistant feature, which makes the factory resetting process way easier, so long as you're running macOS Monterey.

Apple's Time Machine that makes backing up your Mac very easy. And there are more steps.īackup your Mac: Before factory resetting, you should log out of your accounts (such as iCloud and iMessage) and backup your Mac. If they're not responsive, back up your data from the app and try uninstalling it and re-installing.But factory resetting a Mac isn't quite as straightforward as factory resetting Apple's other devices, like an Apple Watch, HomePod, or AirTag. This glitch may be a wide-spread bug solved by the developer already, and not something limited to just your interactions.įailing that, look up the application online and find a way to contact its developer. Here is how to do it: Swipe up with three or four fingers to access Mission Control. If the Finder force quit keyboard shortcut doesnt work, and your whole desktop is frozen, try to force quit Finder on a different desktop. Then, check for updates (for the app first, and for macOS second). Solution 1: Use Force Quit on another desktop. If your application fails to function properly after force quitting and re-opening, I recommend you restart your computer (which works shockingly often) before taking any other steps.
