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Remove wireless info from Mac OS recovery mode utilities page

Have a 2011 MacBook Pro I’m preparing to sell. I’ve done all the usual things, signed out of everything, I’ve booted into the Mac recovery mode and deleted my hard drive, and reinstalled the OS with High Sierra. My plan is to just leave it at the factory default screen for the next user to set up, add a Mac account etc..


However, I noticed that if I boot back into the Mac recovery mode and the Mac OS utilities page, it still auto-connects to my home wireless network. Where is it saving this info? When I click the wireless icon in the top right, there’s no way that I can see from this page to “forget” my network, and now the security freak in me thinks that somehow a user could be able to get into the recovery mode keychain to see my wifi network password. Is there something I can do from the terminal to delete it from recovery mode?

Mac Pro

Posted on Mar 4, 2020 5:05 PM

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Posted on Mar 4, 2020 5:32 PM

Found the answer! You have to reset the PRAM/NVRAM to remove that info if you have previously logged into a wifi network in recovery mode.


How to reset PRAM/NVRAM


  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Press the power button.
  3. Immediately press the Command+Option+P+R keys.
  4. Hold the keys until your Mac restarts and you hear the startup sound.
  5. Release the keys.


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 4, 2020 5:32 PM in response to nigelkay

Found the answer! You have to reset the PRAM/NVRAM to remove that info if you have previously logged into a wifi network in recovery mode.


How to reset PRAM/NVRAM


  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Press the power button.
  3. Immediately press the Command+Option+P+R keys.
  4. Hold the keys until your Mac restarts and you hear the startup sound.
  5. Release the keys.


Mar 4, 2020 5:57 PM in response to nigelkay

Great detective work!


This article is what Apple suggests you do:


What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support


They do not mention resetting the PRAM/NVRAM, but on the other hand, it means someone has to find you, then sneak back into the bushes near your house with that same computer, and they can ... log on.

Mar 5, 2020 8:09 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

It’s more about knowing that password is saved somewhere and could be accessed. (Even in Recovery mode, I had no idea it stored wifi passwords.)


For example, in regular operating mode, Wifi passwords are saved in the keychain. Any future admin user can access the keychain and see the wifi password if you haven’t wiped it out. If you reuse your passwords elsewhere it’s a security risk.


I know the chances are very slim but a targeted hacker could do some some damage besides accessing your home wifi. It’s just due diligence as I’m very security conscious. Not quite tin-foil hat but very close :)

Remove wireless info from Mac OS recovery mode utilities page

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