Any model of Apple computer is a great investment. The point is not only that the cars are reliable and convenient, but also that even 2-3 years after purchase they do not lose their attractiveness and can be sold at a profit. And since the Mac is a personal machine, it needs to be cleared of data.
Creating an OS X Backup
You will always need it. This will save you from frantically trying to remember “Did I forget to copy something very important?” It is best to use the built-in Time Mashine utility, which will back up the system in one of three places: external hard drive, Time Capsule or OS X Server on your network, or an external drive connected to an AirPort Extreme base station.
iTunes
Considering that Apple is relying on the cloud, your login to iTunes gives you the opportunity to listen to music and download applications. To prevent the new buyer from gaining access to the data, log out. To do this:
1. Open iTunes
2. Open the “Store” tab in the top menu
This will limit access to your content that was purchased from Apple and will not delete any data.
iCloud
Be sure to unlink your device from iCloud, and even more so, turn off Find My Mac. Do you need it to monitor someone else's (already) computer?
Disable iCloud like this:
1. Go to Settings
3. Then uncheck Find My Mac and exit
Be sure to back up your iCloud data before logging out because logging out will delete it from your computer. But if they are synchronized, they will remain in the cloud.
iMessage
Reinstall OS X
Now the final milestone. You left everywhere and backed up important data. It's time to format your hard drive so that no one can get anything out of it (not even you). To do this, restart your Mac and press Command+R to launch the recovery program. There, use disk utility to format the hard drive, and then reinstall OS X.
Apple products practically do not lose their value even after several years of using the devices. Therefore, it is quite common among users to sell an old device in order to cover part of the costs of purchasing a new one. The same goes for Macbooks; Apple computers have always been and will always be expensive. But before selling the device, you must follow a certain algorithm in order to properly prepare the computer for transfer to the new owner.
TimeMachine Backup
First, you need to back up your data on your computer so that you can later restore the necessary information on a new device. The most convenient way is to use TimeMachine and save the entire system partition. For this procedure, you will need a removable hard drive, where the system will send all backups.
iTunes
The next step is to unlink your computer from iTunes. Do not forget that the program only supports five user accounts, so it is very important to deauthorize old computer before passing it into the hands of another person.
iCloud Unlinking
What is iCloud? This is an online storage that contains almost all the personal information of users. Therefore, before selling, you need to log out of your account on this service, and also disable the Find My Mac function.
Sign out of iMessage
The last stage separating the user from the coveted sale of his device will be the iMessage service. If you want to maintain privacy and not show your correspondence to other users, then do not forget to log out of iMessage.
After all the necessary information has been saved and the accounts have been unlinked, the user needs to reinstall the operating system and deliver the device to the buyer in its original form.
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We received the following question:
Hello.
The other day I was thinking about changing my Macbook Pro 2011 on Macbook Air 13.
In principle, I like everything, but that’s the question.
How to prepare a laptop for sale, in particular, the question is this.
After all, MAC OS is installed on my APPLE ID, but I will not sell with my ID.
So what happens, how to prepare the system? delete it?
Thanks in advance
Hello!
Of course, the MacBook needs to be sold cleared of all information with a newly installed system; this is in the interests of both the seller and the buyer. But reinstalling the system for many Mac users looks like some kind of super-complicated operation, although in fact everything is very simple. There are many incorrect rumors around the system of automatic system recovery via the Internet that appeared several years ago. For some reason, it is generally accepted that the system is tied to the Apple ID, and it will no longer be possible to download it from another account. This is completely false.
The free copy of Mac OS X available to any Mac owner is tied to a hardware hardware identifier, which, of course, does not change from one owner to another. Therefore, both you and the future buyer will always have the opportunity to restore the system via the Internet, regardless of Apple ID.
Preparing your MacBook for sale comes down to several steps:
- First of all, make sure that there is no valuable information left on the Mac, otherwise it will not be possible to save it (only through Time Machine)
- restart your computer. As soon as the screen goes dark, press and hold Cmd+R on your keyboard until you see the apple logo with a spinning daisy at the bottom.
- Instead of regular Mac OS X, the recovery partition shell will load:
- launch Disk Utility from the menu that appears
- on the left, select the partition with OS X (usually called Macintosh HD), on the right, go to the “Erase” tab and click the button of the same name on it
- At the end of the process, your Mac will be almost completely clean. “Almost” - because the recovery partition from which you booted will remain untouched
- close Disk Utility. You will be taken back to the menu for selecting recovery utilities
- select "Reinstall OS X"
- The Mac will prompt you to connect to the Internet (if it can't do it itself) and check the hardware ID against a database on Apple servers
- then the downloading, unpacking and installation of the system will begin
At the end of the process, your Mac will look exactly the same as it did when you first turned it on after purchasing it in the store. There will be no traces of your Apple ID left on it.
But there are two more important things:
- Each Mac also comes with a free copy of the iLife package (iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand). Unlike the system itself, these applications are tied to the Apple ID of the computer with which you first logged into the Mac App Store. You won’t be able to transfer them to another account later, so the next buyer won’t get them
- Do not repeat the most popular mistake when reinstalling the system. Many people forget to deauthorize their computer from the iTunes Store. You can download content from the iTunes Store and App Store to a maximum of five computers linked to one iTunes Store account. If you sell a Mac that is not disconnected from your account, you will lose one of the five slots. Of course, you can reset all occupied slots once, but you can do this once a year (). To deauthorize your computer, launch iTunes, select “Store-Deauthorize this computer” in the top menu and enter your username and password for your iTunes Store and App Store account.
As you can see, preparing a MacBook for sale is a task that requires minimal intervention on your part.
If you're looking to buy a new Mac, you might want to sell your old one to help cover some of the costs. Proper preparation A MacBook or iMac will help you get the maximum profit from your sale and keep your personal data safe.
Before you give your Mac to someone else, there are certain steps you should take. First of all, you need to back up your data, disable some services, and also delete content from hard drive. This article lists the steps you need to follow.
Step 1: Make sure you have a backup of your important files. The easiest way is to use OS X's built-in backup feature. It works with one of your storage solutions: an external hard drive, a Time Capsule or OS X Server on your network, or an external drive connected to an AirPort Extreme base station.
Step 2: To prevent the new owner of the Mac from accessing your content, deauthorize the computer. To do this, open iTunes and from the menu bar located at the top of your computer screen, select Store > Deauthorize This PC. When prompted, enter your Apple ID and password. Then select Deauthorize.
This will restrict access to content purchased from the iTunes Store, iBooks Store, App Store, or Mac App Store, such as music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books. You won't lose any content and nothing will be deleted from your computer.
Step 3: Be sure to sign out of iCloud. If you use Find My Mac or other iCloud features, you should first archive or back up your iCloud data. Then choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click iCloud, and then uncheck Find My Mac.
Next, in the “System Preferences” window, select iCloud, and then click the “Sign Out” button. You will be prompted to delete data from your computer. Content will continue to be stored on all other devices using the same Apple ID.
Step 4: Check if your computer is registered with Apple Support. To do this, open the website supportprofile.apple.com Using your Apple ID, find the Mac you want to sell in the list and click the “Remove Product” button.
Step 5: Sign out of iMessage. To do this, in the Messages app, select Settings > Accounts. Choose yours account iMessage, and then click the Sign Out button.
Step 6: Erase your data and reinstall OS X. After reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling OS X, your computer will restart and display a welcome screen asking you to select your country or region. To keep your Mac at factory settings, don't continue with system setup. Instead, press Command-Q to shut down your Mac.
When the new owner turns on their Mac, Setup Assistant walks them through the setup process.
The MacBook laptop is an excellent device that demonstrates good performance even after many years operation. Attractive appearance and regular operating system updates enable laptop computers from Apple to long time remain in price. If necessary, a branded device can be easily exchanged for a new one. The main thing is to give the old laptop a well-groomed appearance, remove personal data and interest buyers. How to prepare a MacBook for sale? This will be discussed in our short publication.
Why prepare your MacBook for sale?
The laptop that for a long time was in operation, contains a lot of data that can be classified as confidential. Transferring the device to a stranger without prior preparation may result in unpleasant consequences for the former owner of the system. Your MacBook should be cleaned before selling for the following reasons:
- Potential buyer I'd be more interested in a Mac that has a clean "memory" like one from the store.
- By avoiding preparing a laptop for sale, the owner risks handing over important personal data to a stranger.
- By reinstalling the operating system, removing programs and “garbage” accumulated on physical drives, the device will work much faster.
- Disconnecting from Apple virtual services guarantees protection from intruders.
We give the laptop a presentation
When you start preparing your MacBook for sale, take care of the proper appearance devices. Cleaning the case of a laptop computer will allow you to count on an increase in the ransom price. Use a brush that has stiff bristles. Use a tool to remove dust from the laptop body. Remove debris, pet hair, and crumbs stuck in the keyboard. Vacuum the surfaces carefully, being careful not to damage the cabinet.
Wipe your MacBook with a slightly damp sponge. Remove streaks, dirt and grease from your display using a special microfiber cloth. Additionally, remove dust from the cooling system. Blow the fan and radiator thoroughly.
Get silicone oil. Wipe previously cleaned surfaces with the substance. The solution will allow you to mask various types of defects in the form of small chips and scratches. After these steps, the MacBook case will look updated and shiny. Perform any manipulations after first turning off the power to the device.
Back up your data
How to prepare a MacBook for sale? Back up your valuable information. Transfer all files from your hard drive to a large flash drive or DVDs. If possible, copy the data to an external, removable hard drive. If you wish, you can move the information to a well-protected cloud service.
Perform formatting
If you don't know how to prepare your MacBook Pro for sale, then use the following advice. Erase all data from your hard drive. The best option- convert the system to factory settings. Turn on the laptop while simultaneously holding down the Command + R key combination. The utilities window will open on the screen. Select Disk Utility here and then click Continue. Next, click on the Erase function. After completing the operation, click Quit Disk Utility in the menu.
Upon completion, the device will reboot and display the interface updated to factory settings. The laptop will prompt you to create a new user by selecting your country and region of residence. You should not enter any data here. Simply press Command + Q and the system will turn off. After turning on the laptop, the new owner of the Mac will ask you to step-by-step setup devices.
Log out of your personal accounts
How else can you prepare your MacBook for sale? Leave the following virtual services:
- iCloud - go to System Preferences options. Select iCloud here. Uncheck the Find My Mac feature. Then permanently leave your cloud storage account.
- iTunes - open the service. Next, follow this scheme: select the Account function in the menu, go to the Authorizations form and click Deauthorize this Computer. After completing these steps, the system will prompt you for your Apple ID. Entering your personal ID will allow you to log out of your service account.
- iMessage - you need to leave your account if your laptop runs OS X or higher new version operating system. Sign in to the app to send messages. Open Preferences options. Select your personal account and then leave your account.
Reinstall the operating system
How to prepare a MacBook Air for sale? The next step is installing a new operating system. While remaining in the Disk Utility window, select the Reinstall MacOS or OS X function. This action will remove the previous OS and install a similar, but now “clean” version. However, it is not necessary to resort to such actions if the laptop buyer expresses a desire to independently decide on a suitable operating system and perform the installation yourself.
In conclusion
So we figured out how to prepare a MacBook for sale. Having completed the above tasks, it is advisable to pack the laptop computer in its original packaging. The buyer will probably pay a more impressive amount for the device if the product is delivered in the manufacturer’s original box. Pre-pack the kit with original accessories, such as a mouse, an aluminum stand, a case, adapters, wires, and adapters. In this case, the offer will look much more solid in the eyes of interested buyers.
