Do I lose my factory display calibration if I erase my Mac?

[mikethebigo]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, would just like some reassurance about this.

If I delete all user data on the Mac and wipe it to factory settings (using Erase All Content and Settings), does the factory display calibration get lost as well?

I've read in some places that display calibration is baked into the monitor hardware and will be maintained across system resets, but I didn't find any up to date information about this.

Thanks!

 

[Eric_WVGG]

Yes, factory calibration would be all that’s left. Custom display calibration would be lost.

 

[mikethebigo]

Yes, factory calibration would be all that’s left. Custom display calibration would be lost.

And is that because factory calibration is inside the panel's hardware, so it can never be lost?

 

[Eric_WVGG]

No, it's because screen calibration — like basically everything else — is stored in the software. Likely, your calibration is stored in `~/Library/Colorsync/Profiles`, and that's what would get wiped in the factory reset.

I could be mistaken, but as far as I know of, the only user setting that could get stored in your firmware (hardware) would be a firmware level password for encrypting a disc, which is an extreme edge case (nearly all Mac users who care about encryption use it from FileVault, which is higher-level encryption). https://support.apple.com/en-us/102384

 

[mikethebigo]

No, it's because screen calibration — like basically everything else — is stored in the software. Likely, your calibration is stored in `~/Library/Colorsync/Profiles`, and that's what would get wiped in the factory reset.

I could be mistaken, but as far as I know of, the only user setting that could get stored in your firmware (hardware) would be a firmware level password for encrypting a disc, which is an extreme edge case (nearly all Mac users who care about encryption use it from FileVault, which is higher-level encryption). https://support.apple.com/en-us/102384

Right but that's what I mean - I understand that all user settings and custom calibrations would be lost, but what I'm trying to confirm is if the out of the box factory calibration would remain.

What I've read is that that default calibration is loaded into the display firmware during assembly, and that the computer pulls that calibration from the display when you set it up. So theoretically it could never be lost by wiping the user data of the system. But again all of that is from old information I found online, have no idea if it still works that way.

 

[Mr.Fox]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, would just like some reassurance about this.

If I delete all user data on the Mac and wipe it to factory settings (using Erase All Content and Settings), does the factory display calibration get lost as well?

I've read in some places that display calibration is baked into the monitor hardware and will be maintained across system resets, but I didn't find any up to date information about this.

Thanks!

Yes, the factory calibration of the monitor will be erased and lost.

 

[Mr.Fox]

Yes, factory calibration would be all that’s left. Custom display calibration would be lost.

Don't mislead people. It's not an external monitor

 

[Mr.Fox]

Right but that's what I mean - I understand that all user settings and custom calibrations would be lost, but what I'm trying to confirm is if the out of the box factory calibration would remain.

What I've read is that that default calibration is loaded into the display firmware during assembly, and that the computer pulls that calibration from the display when you set it up. So theoretically it could never be lost by wiping the user data of the system. But again all of that is from old information I found online, have no idea if it still works that way.

The information is valid for some external monitors, but not for laptop displays.

 

[BigBlur]

Yes, the factory calibration of the monitor will be erased and lost.

Do you have a source? If that's the case, why aren't people complaining that their MBP's display looks bad after they erase all content and settings? At least I've never heard of anyone complain about this.

I've always thought the display panels were factory calibrated before they're even put in the MBPs, meaning it's baked into the display panel's memory.

 

[Mr.Fox]

Do you have a source? If that's the case, why aren't people complaining that their MBP's display looks bad after they erase all content and settings? At least I've never heard of anyone complain about this.

I've always thought the display panels were factory calibrated before they're even put in the MBPs, meaning it's baked into the display panel's memory.

Relying on my years of experience in calibrating all monitors. I am a professional photographer. I cooperate with well-known printing houses, magazines, television. I understand color as well as monitors. Look for information on google, why the LUT falls off when reinstalling. It's a whole article.
You have a wrong opinion about calibration. Monitors are calibrated after complete assembly and software installation. And their display quality is not accurate, that 500 buck mac book is poorly calibrated, that expensive 6000 dollar apple pro display xdr monitor is poorly calibrated.
Most people don't know about factory calibration at all. They're fine with it. Moreover, they never look into these settings. Take a look at the forum. People ask “help me choose 16gb memory or 8gb memory”. What factory settings are we talking about?

 

[Flynnsworth]

Right but that's what I mean - I understand that all user settings and custom calibrations would be lost, but what I'm trying to confirm is if the out of the box factory calibration would remain.

What display are you referring to specifically as there seems to be some confusion in the thread.

 

[mikethebigo]

MacBook Pro 14" (M4 Pro) internal display.

I've done a fair amount of Googling and can't find everything I read. But I do remember reading an Apple Community post where they were basically saying they accidentally messed up their factory .icc profile, and the solution was to delete the file and reboot the computer, and it would again pull the factory calibration from the display on the next boot.

As a poster said above, it would be shocking to me if these displays were not calibrated in their hardware prior to full machine assembly? Otherwise it would never be possible to restore a Mac to its "out of box" settings.

 

[MallardDuck]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, would just like some reassurance about this.

If I delete all user data on the Mac and wipe it to factory settings (using Erase All Content and Settings), does the factory display calibration get lost as well?

I've read in some places that display calibration is baked into the monitor hardware and will be maintained across system resets, but I didn't find any up to date information about this.

Thanks!

Displays aren't actually custom calibrated. There's a standard profile that Apple uses (it's baked into the OS). If you want display-specific/environment-specific calibration, you'll need to do that yourself.

 

[mikethebigo]

Displays aren't actually custom calibrated. There's a standard profile that Apple uses (it's baked into the OS). If you want display-specific/environment-specific calibration, you'll need to do that yourself.

Are you sure? Here’s a quote from a guide from Apple:

“Every MacBook Pro, Studio Display, and Pro Display XDR undergoes a state-of-the-art factory display calibration process on the assembly line to ensure the accuracy of the P3 wide color panel and LEDs.”

Measure the calibration of your MacBook Pro with Liquid Retina XDR display, Apple Studio Display, or Apple Pro Display XDR - Apple Support

Learn how to measure the calibration of your display. Depending on the needs of your workflow, you can also fine-tune the calibration or perform in-field recalibration on your display.

support.apple.com

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Can you call Apple and ask them?

 

[bizzaregood]

I have erased 100s of macbook airs and macbook pros. You are fine.
Whatever calibration Apple has done is not going to be impacted by the OS/Data.

 

[Flynnsworth]

MacBook Pro 14" (M4 Pro) internal display.

It is my understanding that the factory display calibration remains the same on a MacBook after you Erase Content & Settings

 

[LogicalApex]

Yes, the factory calibration of the monitor will be erased and lost.

Wait, what!?

You're saying that resetting a MacBook would lose the display settings from the factory?

How would Apple be applying a settings file to each MacBook in the factory? I thought they'd apply a standard image.

Regardless of how they do it... that would be concerning...

 

[nathansz]

Wait, what!?

You're saying that resetting a MacBook would lose the display settings from the factory?

How would Apple be applying a settings file to each MacBook in the factory? I thought they'd apply a standard image.

Regardless of how they do it... that would be concerning...

I seriously doubt they do this

pretty simple argument to resolve

we just need to take a look at the icc from two identical MacBook monitors and see if they are identical or not

 

[nathansz]

Yes, the factory calibration of the monitor will be erased and lost.

does every MacBook actually have a unique icc? or is there just a default for each model?

 

[nathansz]

What I've read is that that default calibration is loaded into the display firmware during assembly, and that the computer pulls that calibration from the display when you set it up.

where did you read this?

 

[iStorm]

I have erased my MBP several times, including doing an IPSW restore via Apple Configurator, which essentially nukes everything. When I go into Apple Pro Display Calibrator, it says I'm using the original factory calibration.



If what @Mr.Fox says is true - that the factory calibration is lost after an erase - then why would this still say "Original factory calibration" instead of something like "None"?

Also, FWIW, there's a guide on how to reset to factory calibration. It doesn't mention anything about it only being applicable as long as you haven't erased your Mac (if we're going by the claim that the factory calibration is lost after an erase).

Customize the calibration using the Pro Display Calibrator

On your Mac, choose one of the options in the Pro Display Calibrator to recalibrate supported displays.

support.apple.com

 

[indy913]

Display panels can be adjusted in hardware before assembly, or they can be adjusted in software if you have an OS that offers colourmanagement. A more accurate hardware calibration will cost more effort, and as such will be more expensive. Accuracy levels of most hardware vendors are quite low. Some not even close to the levels of what is considered as mandatory for colour-critical work. This is why there is a market for colour calibration.

Apple's accuracy levels are high, better than some vendors and more than adequate for most consumers. If it isn't, you can calibrate your display with one of the many solutions available. The profiles option that some Macs support make changing between auto brightness and true-tone easier than ever.

To answer the original question - whatever hardware calibration is present in your screen will NOT be wiped out of you reinstall your OS or reset your Mac. The suggestion that Apple would slip a custom file into every device's OS before it leaves the factory and then not offering any way to recover that file is simply ludicrous.

 

[f54da]

On macbook - Just go to colorsync profile and see the ICC profile for inbuilt monitor. It has an mmod tag which embeds the serial number. I don't have another mac to compare values against, but the ICC profile is dynamically generated based on the embedded hardware info.

 

[benroberts3]

The calibration data is likely embedded in the firmware itself and cannot be altered by the end user.

When an item is factory reset, it returns to the state it was in when you first unboxed and turned on the device. This process does not change the internal firmware, which is directly linked to the hardware, including the screen calibration. This aspect is not software-based; any claims suggesting otherwise are incorrect.