How to Secure Your Data Before Selling a Used Mac
Selling a used Mac can be a great way to recoup some of its value, especially since Apple products tend to hold up well over time. However, before passing your Mac along to a new owner, it’s crucial to protect your personal information to prevent identity theft. Follow this guide to secure your data before trading in your Mac.
1. Secure Your Files
First and foremost, back up any files you want to keep before cleaning out your Mac. You have several backup storage options available, including iCloud, an external hard drive, or another Mac via Time Machine.
Using iCloud
To start, open iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. After that, go to Settings to check your available memory; if needed, delete old files or purchase additional storage. Next, select the apps you want to back up by navigating to Settings, choosing your account name, and opting for iCloud. Use the toggle switches to designate which apps to include, and finally, click “Back up now” to start the process.
Using Time Machine
Alternatively, you can use Time Machine for your backup. Begin by inserting an external drive into your Mac. Then, go to System Preferences > Time Machine > Select Backup Disk. Choose your external drive and click Use Disk. If prompted, format the drive before proceeding.
Additionally, you can back up between two Macs on the same network. To facilitate this, enable File Sharing on the destination Mac.
2. Check Your Accounts on the New Device
Before erasing your Mac, ensure you can access all your accounts, such as Apple ID, iCloud, iMessage, and iTunes, on another device. This step is essential to avoid losing access to important logins after the reset.
For Safari Users
If you use Safari, begin by opening the app and going to Preferences. From there, select Passwords and review the list of saved accounts to confirm they are accessible on a different device.
3. Sign Out of All Accounts
Simply erasing your hard drive won’t unlink your Mac from your Apple accounts, so you must sign out and deauthorize them to protect your information from future users.
To Deauthorize Your Mac
Open the Music/iTunes, Apple TV, or Apple Books app to start this process. Next, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer and sign in with your Apple ID.
To Sign Out of iCloud
If you are using macOS Catalina or later, open System Preferences, click your Apple ID, and choose Overview, then select Sign Out. For macOS Mojave or earlier, open System Preferences, click iCloud, and select Sign Out.
To Sign Out of iMessage
To sign out of iMessage, open the Messages app and click on Messages > Preferences > Accounts. From there, select your account and click Sign Out.
4. Remove Your Device from Apple Support
A commonly overlooked step is unlinking your Mac from Apple Support. By failing to do this, the new owner may gain access to services tied to your device. To remove your Mac, visit support.apple.com/my-support, sign in with your Apple ID, and delete the device you plan to sell.
5. Perform a Factory Reset
Once your files are backed up and you’ve signed out of all your accounts, you are ready to wipe your Mac. Here’s how to execute a factory reset:
- First, enter recovery mode (refer to Apple’s instructions for your specific model).
- Next, open Disk Utility from the recovery options menu.
- Locate the Macintosh HD drive, select it, and click Erase. Label it “Macintosh HD” and format it to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS.
- If you have additional internal drives, repeat this step for each one.
- Finally, close Disk Utility and return to the recovery screen, then shut down the Mac by pressing Command-Q.
Simplify the Process with Expert Help
Preparing your Mac for sale can be time-consuming. If you’re a small business looking to save time, consider hiring IT professionals to handle data backup and wiping for you. Reach out to us to learn more about how we can help secure your information and streamline the process.
