Whether or not you’re planning to purchase a brand new Mac otherwise you acquired one as a present, your present Mac doesn’t want to finish up in a closet. So what do you do with it? If you happen to aren’t planning to present it to a fortunate good friend or member of the family, you may commerce or promote it to assist pay for that new Mac. Right here’s the best way to get each final little bit of worth out of your previous Mac.
Apple has a help doc that has good directions on what you need to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac and we additionally focus on how to prepare an old Mac for sale in a separate article. However we now have some expertise in that division that may enable you to get essentially the most out of your trade-in or sale.
Deal with your Mac effectively
Your Mac’s bodily situation performs a key position in what you will get in return throughout a trade-in sale. If in case you have a Mac that you simply plan to maintain for some time however know that you simply’re going to ultimately commerce or promote it whenever you improve, do what you may to take excellent care of it.
Desktop Macs just like the Mac mini and iMac are straightforward to keep up since they gained’t transfer from their location very a lot, if in any respect. Wipe off the mud that accumulates over time. Mud build-up could make your Mac work more durable to maintain itself cool, so common dusting additionally makes positive your Mac runs effectively. If in case you have an iMac, be sure your show stays pristine by cleansing your display with a tender fabric each few weeks. Screen protectors are additionally obtainable, however they require a substantial amount of persistence and a very good quantity of talent to placed on correctly.
Laptop computer Macs are extra susceptible to wreck since they’re meant to be introduced with you to work remotely. Use a very good high quality laptop computer bag, and at all times remember the fact that you’re utilizing an expensive funding–we’ve all seen loads of individuals at our native espresso store deal with their laptops carelessly. Don’t be that particular person. Talking of espresso outlets, attempt to maintain drinks and meals away out of your MacBook in case a spill occurs.
Watch out with how you utilize it. For instance, for those who’re connecting a USB system, strive to not blindly plug it right into a port. Feeling across the Mac’s port with a connector can scratch up the case, leaving an unpleasant look of wear and tear that may depart a foul impression on somebody evaluating your laptop.
Preserve the unique field (you don’t want the delivery field) and documentation. If in case you have the unique cables and adapters, save these, too. Folks generally improve to quicker chargers or longer cables, so maintain the originals with the field. If you happen to don’t have this stuff, that’s okay, you’ll nonetheless be capable to commerce or promote your Mac. However you’ll most likely get extra with them, particularly for those who promote it privately.
Wipe your knowledge from the Mac: The steps
Save your knowledge
Whenever you’re able to commerce or promote your previous Mac, be sure you again up the information that’s on it. If you happen to haven’t backed up your Mac beforehand, we suggest getting an exterior storage system.
The best technique to again up is Apple’s built-in Time Machine. Utilizing Time Machine is good as a result of you should use it to carry out an information restore in your new Mac, which then pulls over your whole previous settings, recordsdata, and apps, so your new Mac will probably be configured similar to your previous one. You too can use a third-party backup service or cloud storage like iCloud or Dropbox to avoid wasting essential recordsdata, reminiscent of your Paperwork folder, photographs, and media recordsdata. You’ll be capable to restore these recordsdata to your new Mac, however any apps will have to be downloaded from the App Retailer or the developer’s web site. You’ll additionally must redo your settings in your new Mac.
Deauthorize your Mac out of your Apple ID
This is a crucial step. Apple tracks what gadgets you utilize, and for those who don’t signal out, the brand new proprietor of your previous Mac could not be capable to set it up. To signal out, use your iPhone, iPad, or one other Mac and go to your Apple ID account at appleid.apple.com, then log in along with your username and password. Go to the Units part of the webpage, the place you’ll see a listing of gadgets related along with your Apple ID. Click on on the Mac you wish to deauthorize and a pop-up seems. Click on the Take away from account button. A affirmation dialog will seem, and also you’ll want to substantiate that you simply wish to carry out this motion.
As soon as that’s executed, on the previous Mac, be sure it’s logged out of iCloud by checking System Preferences/System Settings. You’ll additionally wish to be sure it’s logged out of Messages, which you’ll be able to verify within the Messages app.
Foundry
Reset the NVRAM on Intel Macs
Intel Macs use NVRAM to rapidly entry sure settings. To reset the NVRAM, flip off your Mac. Then maintain down the Choice, Command, P, and R keys on the keyboard and energy on the Mac. Preserve holding down these keys as your Mac boots after which boots once more. If you happen to hear the boot sound a second time otherwise you see the Apple brand seem, disappear, after which reappear, you may let go of the keys. This isn’t needed on M1 Macs.
Erase the storage system and reinstall macOS
Ensure your knowledge is saved and also you’re linked to Wi-Fi earlier than you proceed with erasing the storage and reinstalling macOS utilizing macOS Restoration. Right here’s the best way to begin the method:
- On an Intel Mac, maintain down the Command+R keys whereas turning on the pc.
- On an M-series Macs, press and maintain down the ability button whereas turning it on.
The macOS Restoration menu will seem. You possibly can then use Disk Utility to wipe your Mac’s drive. (Apple has detailed directions on how to do that for Intel and M1 Macs.) When Disk Utility is completed, stop the app, after which click on on Reinstall macOS within the Restoration menu to put in the working system.
The macOS Restoration menu.
Apple
Promote your Mac
Okay, now that your previous Mac is able to go, it’s worthwhile to resolve the place you’re going to promote it. There are a number of third-party websites that you would be able to go to, although chances are you’ll not get as a lot as you could possibly from promoting on to somebody via eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist. However promoting to a reseller will be supreme if you wish to keep away from the effort of coping with different individuals. Listed here are a number of the extra in style buyback websites and what they provide.
We additionally focus on the best place to sell a Mac or MacBook in a separate article.
Decluttr
With Decluttr you get a suggestion in your Mac that’s locked in for 28 days. They cowl the delivery prices and can examine your merchandise to substantiate that it’s in good situation. If Decluttr modifications the supply based mostly on their analysis, you may request that they return the pc to you, and they’re going to cowl the delivery value. If you happen to settle for, you’ll obtain fee via PayPal or direct deposit. [Disclaimer: Decluttr is a past sponsor of the Macworld Podcast.]
Word that whereas Decluttr’s web site has a bit labeled Sell your MacBook, that part additionally has areas the place you may promote Mac minis, iMacs, and Mac Execs.
Decluttr will purchase your desktop or laptop computer Mac.
Gazelle
Gazelle buys (and sells) MacBooks solely–its web site doesn’t seem to mean you can promote them a desktop Mac. After letting them know the situation of your merchandise, they supply a quote that’s good for 30 days and covers delivery. After receiving your Mac, they’ll study it and will make you a brand new supply if the Mac doesn’t match the preliminary analysis. If you happen to flip down the brand new supply, you will get your Mac again however it’s a must to pay for delivery. They pay you with a verify, via PayPal, or an Amazon reward card.
Swappa
Swappa is a market the place you promote on to different individuals. To verify transactions are safe, Swappa verifies listings, handles PayPal-only funds, and organizes delivery. The charges Swappa costs are included within the posted costs. If you happen to’re hesitant about posting on eBay or Craigslist, Swappa is an effective various.
Commerce in your Mac
It’s possible you’ll not get as a lot as you could possibly by promoting your Mac to an individual or third-party service, however trade-ins are virtually hassle-free and handy. Commerce-ins are additionally usually obtainable when a Mac isn’t in sellable however working situation. You often get compensated with a present card, retailer credit score, or credit score towards your buy.
Apple
The trade-in course of with Apple is fast and straightforward. Apple asks a couple of questions on your machine’s situation (it’s worthwhile to present the serial quantity), after which the supply will be utilized to a brand new buy. Apple will contact you if it must revise its supply after inspecting your Mac.
Your trade-in worth can be utilized towards the acquisition of a brand new Mac on Apple.com.
Apple
Amazon
Amazon has a Trade-In program, however as of this writing, it doesn’t appear to be open to Macs of any variety. You possibly can submit iPads, iPhones, or different non-Apple gadgets, and so they pay you with an Amazon reward card. It takes some time to course of your trade-in, and you will get extra at different websites, however for those who store at Amazon ceaselessly, it’s a sexy service.
Greatest Purchase
Best Buy has a trade-in program, however you’ll want to seek out your actual mannequin earlier than you can begin the method. You get a Greatest Purchase reward card.
Walmart
Walmart has a program in partnership with CExchange, nevertheless it’s just for Mac laptops. You get a Walmart eGift card.