9 Steps to Take Before Selling or Giving Away Your Mac

Before selling your Mac or handing it over to a family member or friend, you may be surprised to know that just logging out of your Apple ID or clicking ‘erase’ may not be sufficient! Read on to discover the 9 (or if you’re lucky, just 2!) steps you should take.

1. If your Mac still has an AppleCare plan in place, you’ll need to cancel or transfer the coverage:
   
   - To cancel: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202704
   
   - To transfer: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202712
   
   
2. If your Mac is a newer model (with Apple silicon or an M2 chip), and you’re using macOS Monterey or later, you are in luck! All you have left to do is use ‘Erase All Content and Settings’, and you’re done:
   
   - Erase All Content and Settings: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT212749
   
   For all other Macs / macOS, you’ll need to continue to step 3.
   
   
3. Whether you are getting a new Mac or not, you’ll want to back up or transfer your files and data, either to your new Mac or to an external storage device or iCloud.
   
   - Backing up to an external storage device or iCloud: https://support.apple.com/mac-backup
   
   - Transferring to your new Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204350
   
   NOTE: if you are getting a new Mac because you had an undiagnosed issue with the old Mac, simply transferring all of your data to the new Mac may not be the best solution, as you could potentially also transfer the problems from the old Mac to the new one! Contact us for further information in this instance.
   
   
4. If you are using macOS Catalina or later, you do NOT need to perform this step. If using macOS Mojave or earlier, perform the following:
   
   - Open iTunes
   
   - From the menu bar, click on ‘Account > Authorisations > Deauthorise This Computer’
   
   - Enter your Apple ID and password and then click ‘Deauthorise’.
   
   
5. Next, you’ll need to sign out of iCloud.
   
   - In macOS Ventura or later: click ‘Apple Menu > System Settings’, then click your name (Apple ID) in the sidebar. On the right, scroll down and click ‘Sign Out’.
   
   - In older versions of macOS (Monterey or earlier): click ‘Apple Menu > System Preferences’, then click ‘iCloud’ and then ‘Sign Out’.
   
   When asked whether you would like to keep a copy of your iCloud data on this Mac, you can keep a copy, as you will be erasing your Mac later on in step 8. Your iCloud data will remain in iCloud and on any other devices that you have signed in to your iCloud account.
   
   
6. You’ll also want to sign out of iMessage:
   
   - In the Messages app, from the menu bar click on ‘Messages > Settings’ (or ‘Preferences’), then click on ‘iMessage’ and ‘Sign Out’.
   
   
7. If you have been using any Bluetooth devices with your Mac (such as a wireless keyboard or mouse) that you want to use with your new Mac, and the old Mac will still be within Bluetooth range (e.g. it’s being given to another family member), you should unpair these devices from the old Mac, otherwise you may have difficulty pairing them with your new machine.
   
   To do this, click ‘Apple Menu > System Settings’ (or ‘Preferences’), then click ‘Bluetooth’. Select the device you want to unpair and then click the ‘Disconnect’ or ‘X’ button next to the device’s name.
   
   NOTE: If you are disconnecting a keyboard or mouse from a Mac that doesn’t have an inbuilt keyboard or trackpad, you will need to use a plug-in USB keyboard and mouse to do so!
   
   
8. Now we finally get to the erase and reinstall part!
   
   - To erase your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208496
   
   - To reinstall macOS: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204904
   
   After erasing and reinstalling, the Mac will restart to a setup assistant. Press ‘Command’ + ‘Q’ to shut down.
   
   
9. And finally! Resetting the NVRAM clears user settings from memory and restores certain security features that may have been altered. To do this, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold these 4 keys together: ‘Option’, ‘Command’, ‘P’ and ‘R’ – hold for about 20 seconds and then release.
   
   Your Mac will then start up to the setup assistant again. If you don’t wish to continue setting up the computer for a new owner, press ‘Command’ + ‘Q’ again to shut down.

Congratulations! You have now completed the steps necessary to leave your old Mac in an ‘out-of-the-box’ state, ready for its new owner.

However, if this all sounds a bit too complicated, or you’d just prefer that someone else does it for you, please contact us at Blue Apple Systems and we will be happy to help.