If you are planning to sell your Mac, it’s important to take a few steps to ensure that your personal information is protected and the new owner has a clean and functional device. Here are some things to do before you sell your Mac:
- Back up your data Before you sell your Mac, make sure to back up all your important data to an external hard drive or cloud storage service. You can use Apple’s built-in Time Machine feature or a third-party backup tool to create a complete backup of your system. This ensures that you have a copy of all your important files and settings in case you need them later.
- Sign out of iCloud and other accounts If you have an iCloud account set up on your Mac, make sure to sign out before selling it. Go to the Apple menu and select System Preferences > iCloud, and then click the Sign Out button. You should also sign out of other accounts, such as iTunes and the Mac App Store.
- Deauthorize iTunes If you have purchased music, movies, or other media from iTunes on your Mac, make sure to deauthorize it before selling it. Open iTunes, go to the Account menu, and select Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. This will ensure that the new owner can use their own iTunes account on the Mac.
- Erase your hard drive To ensure that your personal information is completely removed from your Mac, you should erase the hard drive before selling it. You can do this by going to the Apple menu and selecting Restart, and then holding down the Command + R keys while the Mac is starting up. This will boot the Mac into Recovery Mode, where you can use the Disk Utility tool to erase the hard drive.
- Reinstall macOS After erasing the hard drive, you should reinstall macOS to ensure that the new owner has a clean and functional device. You can do this by going to the Apple menu and selecting Restart, and then holding down the Command + R keys while the Mac is starting up. This will boot the Mac into Recovery Mode, where you can use the macOS Utilities to reinstall the operating system.
- Clean your Mac Finally, you should clean your Mac before selling it. Use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe down the exterior and remove any dust or debris. You can also use a cleaning solution specifically designed for electronics to clean the keyboard and screen.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your personal information is protected and the new owner has a clean and functional device.