You Should Know These 6 Things Before Trading Your Mac
With their latest M-line SOCs, Apple has been bringing pain to Windows users with regard to raw performance. While they might still lack in gaming, they far exceed what they lack in almost everything else. However, if you are still stuck using your ten-year-old Intel-based Mac and are itching to upgrade, there are some precautions you might want to consider before you make the move. Throughout this article, you will learn six essential actions that you ought to take to keep your data secure and ready yourself for the next chapter of your Macbook life.
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| You Should Know These 6 Things Before Trading Your Mac |
Backup All Important Files And Wipe The Hard Drive Clean
The first and arguably most critical step is to back up your valuable data and then wipe everything from the hard drive. The backup part is relatively straightforward, primarily when using Apple's own iCloud or another third-party backup service. However, the wiping part can be a little trickier, particularly for the less tech-savvy among you. For example, this guide states that the process will differ slightly depending on the model you own. Fortunately, by using a reputable online guide, you can adhere to the procedure strictly, helping you avoid any hiccups you may encounter along the way. Keep in mind that you should not give up on this task just because it is challenging. If you sell your computer to another person without wiping the data, you risk all sorts of nasty outcomes, from identity theft to having your bank account completely emptied.
In addition to Apple's own backup service, it's prudent to consider utilizing a third-party service that allows you to store several copies of your vital data. While nothing untoward is likely to happen to your iCloud account (ensuring you set it up with a robust password), it's much better to take the belt and braces approach, particularly when dealing with data. Fortunately, you have a plethora of options to choose from, ranging from consumer-level to enterprise-grade. However, in most cases, consumer backup solutions will be your best bet. Ease of use, storage capacity, and cost are all factors to weigh to ensure critical files and settings are safely archived in case of hardware failure or human error. Reliability is vital to keeping precious data secure. Also, once you get your new Mac, be sure to set up Time Machine so your backups occur in the background.
Disable Activation Lock Before Selling
The activation lock feature introduced in recent versions of macOS is designed to prevent thieves from erasing and activating a stolen Mac without the original owner's Apple ID and password. However, this can cause issues for legitimate resellers. For instance, with the activation lock still enabled, the new owner would be unable to fully set up the used device, even after paying for it. To avoid problems and potential disputes during the sale, you should sign out of iCloud (after performing a backup) and turn off Find My Mac before resetting it to factory settings. This allows a seamless transition to the subsequent users while still keeping your own Apple ID secure and usable for your next Mac.
Unpair All Connected Devices
It can pay to take the additional step of unpairing all of your previously connected devices from your old Mac before resetting it and readying it for its new home. Macs often store Bluetooth pairing data for things like headphones, mice, and keyboards. If this information isn't cleared during the rest of the process, it could allow the following user to potentially access those profiles still linked to the previous owner's Apple ID. Therefore, although it might be tedious, it is highly recommended to go through each device and unpair and delete each connected device from your laptop.
Sign Out Of All Services You Use
Although wiping the drives clean is enough to ensure the security of your data, it doesn't automatically mean you will sign out of the various services you use. Many modern applications only allow pairing to a certain number of devices, and by not signing out, you risk being unable to reuse them on your new computer. Even though this isn't as much of an issue as it used to be, and most programs allow you to remove a device via their website, you shouldn't take this for granted. All it takes is around thirty minutes to sift through all the recent apps you use and correctly sign out as per their guidelines.
Give It A Thorough Clean
Just like a used car, a clean laptop is more likely to demand a higher price than one caked in dirt and grime. Get the alcohol wipes ready because you will need to do a thorough cleaning to restore their pristine condition. This also extends to the various accessories that you will bundle with it. For instance, you should wipe the charger and cables clean so they match the look of your laptop.
Check The Condition Of Accessories
When you sell an old laptop, it's usually considered good etiquette to include all the accesses that came with it and perhaps even those you bought extra to sweeten the deal. However, you should double-check that everything works so you don't receive any complaints down the road. You should inspect cables for tears and connections for corrosion. If you happen to be the kind of awful person who treats their accessories with reckless abandon, it is probably a good idea to purchase a new set. This might bump up the price a little (over and above what you fork out for new accessories) and will expedite the sale. If all looks good, you are ready to pass your laptop to its new owner without a hitch.
Parting ways with an old laptop is a bit like saying goodbye to an old friend, mainly if you have used it extensively for years. However, by following the tips in this post, you can ensure that your data and IDs are safe and ready for use on your machine and that the buyer receives a fully functional Mac.