Update brand new Mac without setting it up?

[likegadgets]

I want to update a brand new M3MAX to latest Sonoma without setting it up. No user, iCloud, passwords, fingertip, etc.
Bought it for someone else, and want them to just transfer from their older Mac already running latest version. I know it can be done at the time, but want it ready. migration will take place in about 2 weeks. I already received the unit ahead of time and want to test the Mac and screen are fine I know I can set it up with a user, no passwords, update and the erase all settings, but I am wondering if there is a simpler way to just fire it up and update the OS, and leave it ready for new setup. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[bogdanw]

You can use the latest macOS IPSW restore file with Apple Configurator 2
https://mrmacintosh.com/apple-silicon-m1-full-macos-restore-ipsw-firmware-files-database/

 

[Bigwaff]

I know I can set it up with a user, no passwords, update and the erase all settings

It doesn’t get much simpler than “Erase All Contents & Settings”.

 

[likegadgets]

You can use the latest macOS IPSW restore file with Apple Configurator 2
https://mrmacintosh.com/apple-silicon-m1-full-macos-restore-ipsw-firmware-files-database/

Thanks, will explore this

 

[Mike Boreham]

It doesn’t get much simpler than “Erase All Contents & Settings”.

This is how to do it…much simpler than using AC2 And IPSW.

Start it up, and set up an account for yourself. Test it, update it. When satisfied, use Erase all Content and Settings to return it to out-of-the-box factory condition.

 

[likegadgets]

This is how to do it…much simpler than using AC2 And IPSW.

Start it up, and set up an account for yourself. Test it, update it. When satisfied, use Erase all Content and Settings to return it to out-of-the-box factory condition.

Thanks

 

[Ben J.]

This is how to do it…much simpler than using AC2 And IPSW.

Start it up, and set up an account for yourself. Test it, update it. When satisfied, use Erase all Content and Settings to return it to out-of-the-box factory condition.

I just did this with a M2 Mini that I was about to sell. I was a little confused when after the 'erase…' I got the screen to "Activate mac" with username and password. After looking around, I learned that you should do this activation, then, when you get the "Hello" screen, you just press and hold the power button to turn it off. The mac will be fresh and start with Hello and Setup Assistant when turned on.

 

[bogdanw]

Without talking about this particular situation, in general “Erase All Content and Settings” doesn’t make a Mac like new.

Other volumes/partitions that might exist are not removed. For Intel Macs there could be a Windows partition. On my MBA M1 I currently have two Linux OSs that would not be removed by “Erase All Content and Settings”. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/linux-running-natively-on-m1.2309344/post-32806876

More:

Update on this: doing a restore via another Mac using Apple Configurator is the equivalent to a factory install. Uses about 10gb less data than wiping the drive in recovery mode and reinstalling macOS directly on the device after.
Strange there is a variation between the two.

 

[designerdave72]

I’ve just updated my M1 Max to Sonoma and used the ‘Erase all content and settings’. I would normally boot and erase from a USB so I tried both and had the same results. The ball ache was manually migrating as opposed to using a TM back up but still feels like a refreshed Mac. It works. I’m not worrying. Until OS 15 of course!