What to Do Before You Sell, Give Away, Or Trade in Your Mac

If you’re considering moving to a new Mac and aren’t sure where to begin, then you’ve come to the right place!

Create a game plan

When it comes time to sell, give away, or trade in your Mac, it’s best to have a game plan. That way, you can ensure a smooth transition for migrating to your new computer. It’s also important to know how to transfer your data and what your plan is for your old Mac.

The most important step is to back up your data, so you can transfer it to your new MacBook. There are a few ways in which you can do this and we’ll go into further detail in the next section of the blog.

• Once you get your new Mac, you’ll first need to go through the macOS setup process. If you plan to use Migration Assistant to transfer your data, you can transfer it directly from your Mac or an external drive.
• Another transfer method to consider for backing up your data is Time Machine, which is a built-in backup feature of your Mac.
• You’ll also need to erase your old Mac. One way to do this is by using Erase Assistant to erase your data.

Great news! If you sell your device to SellYourMac, we will erase it for you—just be sure to backup!

Getting your new Mac set up will require some planning and patience, but it will definitely be worth it once you are up and running.

In the next section, we’ll provide a what-to-do list for selling your Mac, to ensure that your device is ready for a new owner.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on pexels

So, you’re ready to sell your old Mac. Here’s our complete list of steps that you should take in advance to ensure a seamless transaction:

1. Cancel or transfer AppleCare coverage.

If your Mac is covered under an AppleCare plan, you can either cancel the plan or transfer the plan to a new owner. Note: If you paid in full for your AppleCare plan, be sure to have the agreement number available when contacting Apple (sign in to mySupport to locate the number), along with the serial number of your device, and your original sales receipt. If you pay monthly for your AppleCare plan, you can simply change your Apple ID payment method.

2. Create a backup.

Backing up your data and all files is crucial—to avoid the risk of losing them while resetting your device. This will also allow you to restore all of your data easily once you have your new device. In the previous section we mentioned Migration Assistant and Time Machine, but you can also do the following:

• Store files in iCloud: You can use iCloud and iCloud Drive to store and sync your photos, files, music, contacts, and more across all of your Apple devices.
• External storage: You can also save your files to another cloud-based storage device outside of iCloud.

3. Sign out of iTunes (on macOS Mojave or earlier).

• Open the iTunes menu and choose Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
• Enter your Apple ID and password and click Deauthorize.

4. Sign out of iCloud.

The way in which you sign out of iCloud will depend on which macOS you are using. Refer to the instructions here for macOS Ventura or later, macOS Monterey, macOS Big Sur, or macOS Catalina, and for earlier versions of macOS.

5. Sign out of iMessage.

• Open the Messages app.
• From the menu bar choose Messages > tap Settings (or Preferences).
• Click iMessage.
• Click Sign Out.

6. Unpair your Bluetooth devices (optional).

This is an optional step, but if your desktop Mac is paired with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, or other device like an Apple Watch (that you plan on keeping), it’s not a bad idea to unpair it. If your Mac does not have a built-in keyboard or trackpad, you’ll need to plug in a USB keyboard and mouse and follow these steps:

• Choose Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences).
• Click Bluetooth.
• Move your mouse pointer over the device you want to unpair, click the Disconnect button or remove (x) next to the device name.

7. Erase your hard drive and reinstall macOS.

To erase your Mac’s hard drive follow these steps:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Restart your device from macOS Recovery, and use Disk Utility to erase your Mac.
3. Quit Disk Utility (don’t restart your Mac.)

To reinstall macOS you’ll want to do the following:

1. While still in macOS Recovery, choose Reinstall macOS, then follow the onscreen instructions. Click here to learn more.
2. After reinstalling macOS, your Mac will restart to a setup assistant. Press Command-Q to shut down (don’t continue the setup.)

8. Reset the NVRAM on Intel Macs.

If you’re using an Intel-based Mac, follow the steps to reset NVRAM. This will clear the user settings from memory and restore any altered security features. After resetting NVRAM, your Mac will start up to the setup assistant again.

Once you’ve completed the steps above, you should be ready to sell your Mac. Check out even more information on the process of preparing your macbook before you sell it.

In the final section, we’ll share how you can send your Mac to its new owner with SellYourMac.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on pexels

If you’re seeking a hassle-free transaction, SellYourMac is your one-stop shop for selling your Mac.

SellYourMac makes it fast, safe, and easy to sell your Apple products with a simple three-step process:

1. Get a free quote.
2. Ship your device.
3. Get paid fast!

About SellYourMac

Founded by company Brian Burke “The Mac Man” in 2006 and branded as SellYourMac.com (SYM) in 2009, SYM is positioning itself to become the world’s largest and most trusted purchaser of used Apple computers, iPhones, and iPads.

SellYourMac is OWC’s Apple trade-in program that gets you cash for your Mac and ensures that it doesn’t end up in a landfill. The product will be securely wiped and refurbished before heading to a new home. Any parts that are removed are cleaned and assessed for either reuse or recycling. Learn more about how apple trade in works by reading our comprehensive guide.

You can also extend the life of your Apple computer with memory or storage upgrades—a service that OWC is reputed for. Head to the OWC trade-in page and see what your device is worth.

For more information, visit SellYourMac.com.

• How should I prepare to move to a new Mac?
  It’s important to have a game plan in advance and the most important step is to back up your data so you can transfer it to your new MacBook.
• What should I do before I sell my Mac?
  There are a series of steps you should take before selling your Mac including, canceling your Apple Care Coverage, and signing out of iCloud, iTunes, and iMessage. Refer to the complete what-to-do list in the second section of the blog or by watching our “What to Expect Video”.
• What’s the best way to send my Mac to its new owner?
  We suggest selling your Mac hassle-free with SellYourMac!