Buzz
Before selling your old Macbook, the first thing you need to do is wipe clean all your personal data from the device, to avoid any potential mishaps. Check out the steps to clean up data on your Macbook below, provided by Mytour.
1: Back Up Your Mac
If you've just purchased a new Mac, you can transfer all data from your old Mac to it or use Mac backup with Time Machine to ensure the safety of your important data. You can refer to how to back up your Mac using Time Machine to understand this process better.
2: Log out of all accounts
The software you've installed on your Mac comes with licenses for you, meaning the new owner of your Mac cannot transfer the software licenses, except for the operating system. To avoid any mishaps, log out of all accounts, ensuring your personal information is disconnected from your Mac.
How to log out of iTunes
Step 1: Open iTunes on your Mac.
Step 2: Click on Account from the Menu bar on the left side of the screen.
Step 3: Select Sign Out.
How to log out of iMessage
Step 1: Open Messages on your Mac.
Step 2: Click on Messages from the Menu bar at the top-left corner of the screen.
Step 3: Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Choose your iMessage account.
Step 5: Click on Sign Out.
How to log out of iCloud
Step 1: Click on the Apple icon at the top-left corner of your Mac screen.
Step 2: Select System Preferences from the menu.
Step 3: Choose iCloud.
Step 4: Uncheck the box for Find My Mac.
Step 5: Enter your system password when prompted.
Step 6: Click on Sign Out.
Step 7: Click on Remove data from this Mac when asked.
3. Reformat the hard drive
After backing up important data and logging out of all accounts on your Mac, you can now wipe clean the data on your Macbook by reformatting the hard drive.
Step 1: Open or restart your Mac.
Step 2: Press and hold Command + R simultaneously during the startup process. Release the keys when you see the macOS Utilities window.
Step 3: Select Disk Utility.
Step 4: Click on Continue.
Step 5: Choose Startup disk (usually named Macintosh HD or similar).
Step 6: Click on Erase at the top of the Disk Utility window.
Step 7: Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the drop-down menu next to Format.
Step 8: Choose GUID Partition Map from the menu next to Scheme.
Step 9: Click on Erase.
Step 10: After the process is complete, select Quit Disk Utility from the Disk Utility menu at the top-left corner of the screen.
4. Clean Install of Mac
After reformatting the hard drive, the next step is to perform a clean install of macOS. Simply access the Utilities window. Restart your Mac, then during the startup process, press and hold the Command + R keys until you see the Apple logo.
Note:
Ensure your Mac is connected to the Internet for software verification. You'll receive this notification during the installation process.
Step 1: Open or restart your Mac.
Step 2: Press and hold Command + R during the Mac startup process until you see the macOS Utilities window, then release the keys.
Step 3: Click on Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X) to reinstall the operating system on your Mac.
Step 4: Click on Continue.
Step 5: Select your hard drive (may be Machintoch HD or similar) when prompted.
Step 6: Click on Install to install the operating system on your Mac. Your Mac will restart after the installation process is complete.
Step 7: After installation is complete, press and hold Command + Q. Skip any setup instructions.
Step 8: Click on Shut Down to turn off your Mac.
For MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
Follow these steps to securely erase data stored on the Touch Bar on your Macbook Pro. Alternatively, if using third-party software or Target Disk mode to erase data on your Mac, you can also follow these steps to ensure data stored on the Touch Bar is securely erased.
Step 1: Open or restart your MacBook Pro.
Step 2: Press and hold Command + R during the Mac startup process until you see the macOS Utilities window, then release the keys.
Step 3: Click on Utilities in the Menu bar on your MacBook Pro, located at the top-left corner of the screen.
Step 4: Click on Terminal from the Utilities menu.
Step 5: In the Terminal window, enter the following command:
xartutil --erase-all
Step 6: Press Return.
Step 7: Type Yes when asked for confirmation.
Step 8: Select Terminal from the Menu bar, located at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Step 9: Choose Quit Terminal.
By following the instructions to clean up data on Macbook as provided by Mytour above, you can apply this method to erase your personal data before selling your old Macbook. Wishing you all the best.
