A MacBook holds years of files, passwords and accounts. Before you sell it, a little preparation keeps all of that with you and makes sure the Mac can be sold. The steps are the same whether you bring it to Apple World or mail it to us.
1. Back up your files
Use Time Machine with an external drive, or copy what you need to iCloud Drive or another drive. Check that your photos, documents and anything stored only on this Mac are in the backup before you go on.
2. Sign out of iMessage and FaceTime
Open Messages, then Settings, then iMessage, and sign out. Do the same in FaceTime. This stops your messages and calls from arriving on a Mac that is no longer yours.
3. Sign out of your Apple Account and turn off Find My
This is the step that matters most. While Find My is on, Activation Lock keeps the Mac tied to your Apple Account, and a locked Mac cannot be sold. Open System Settings, click your name, then Sign Out, and enter your password when asked.
4. Unpair your Bluetooth devices
If you will keep your keyboard, mouse or trackpad, unpair them in System Settings under Bluetooth, so they do not keep connecting to this Mac.
5. Erase your Mac
On recent Macs, open System Settings, then General, then Transfer or Reset, and choose Erase All Content and Settings. It signs you out, removes your data and settings and returns the Mac to its factory state. On older Macs, erase the drive from Disk Utility in macOS Recovery and reinstall macOS.
6. Describe its condition as it is
When you send us its details, tell us the model, its storage and memory, and anything that does not work, such as keys, ports, the battery or the screen, and add a few photos. If our inspection finds a difference, we send you a revised offer with the reason, and you decide whether to accept it.
Your checklist
- Files backed up
- Signed out of iMessage and FaceTime
- Signed out of your Apple Account, Find My off
- Bluetooth devices unpaired
- Erased: all content and settings
- Condition described, with photos
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