Whether you ’re planning to bribe a raw Mac or you got one as a gift , your current Mac does n’t need to stop up in a loo . So what do you do with it ? If you are n’t plan to give it to a favorable friend or family phallus , you’re able to trade or sell it to help oneself pay for that newfangled Mac . Here ’s how to get every last bit of note value out of your old Mac .
Apple has a support document that has good teaching on what you should dobefore you sell , give away , or trade wind in your Macand we also discusshow to prepare an old Mac for salein a disjoined article . But we have some experience in that section that can avail you get the most out of your trade - in or sales event .
Treat your Mac well
Your Mac ’s physical condition represent a key purpose in what you may get in return during a trade - in sale . If you have a Mac that you project to keep for a while but know that you ’re going to eventually trade or sell it when you upgrade , do what you may to take unspoiled care of it .
Desktop Macslike the Mac mini and iMac are well-off to maintain since they wo n’t move from their location very much , if at all . pass over off the dust that accumulates over time . rubble habitus - up can make your Mac workplace hard to keep itself nerveless , so regular dusting also makes sure your Mac runs expeditiously . If you have an iMac , make indisputable your display remains pristine by clean your cover with a mild material every few hebdomad . screen door protectorsare also available , but they require a enceinte deal of longanimity and a good amount of skill to put on properly .
Laptop Macsare more prone to damage since they ’re signify to be convey with you to work remotely . Use a good quality laptop computer bag , and always keep in mind that you ’re using a high-priced investment – we’ve all seen batch of people at our local coffee shop handle their laptops heedlessly . Do n’t be that person . Speaking of coffee shops , endeavor to keep beverages and intellectual nourishment away from your MacBook in cause a spill happens .
Your online Apple ID profile has a list of devices associated with your account. You need to remove devices from your profile before you sell a Mac.
Be carefulwith how you practice it . For exercise , if you ’re connect a USB gadget , try not to blindly secure it into a port . feel around the Mac ’s porthole with a connector can scratch up the case , leaving an unsightly look of wear that can depart a bad impression on someone evaluating your electronic computer .
Keep the original box(you do n’t need the shipping boxwood ) and documentation . If you have the original cable and transcriber , economize those , too . People sometimes promote to fast chargers or longer overseas telegram , so keep the originals with the box . If you do n’t have these items , that ’s okay , you ’ll still be capable to trade or sell your Mac . But you ’ll probably get more with them , specially if you sell it in private .
Wipe your data from the Mac: The steps
Save your data
When you ’re ready to trade or sell your old Mac , verify you back up the data that ’s on it . If you have n’t second up your Mac antecedently , we recommend getting an external storage equipment .
The easiest way to back up is Apple ’s built - inTime automobile . Using Time Machine is idealistic because you may use it to execute a datum restore on your young Mac , which then pulls over all of your erstwhile preferences , files , and apps , so your young Mac will be configured just like your old one . you may also use a third - company backup religious service or swarm reposition like iCloud or Dropbox to relieve important files , such as your Documents folder , pic , and medium files . You ’ll be able to reestablish those files to your new Mac , but any apps will need to be download from the App Store or the developer ’s website . You ’ll also demand to redo your options on your new Mac .
Deauthorize your Mac from your Apple ID
This is an important step . Malus pumila tracks what devices you practice , and if you do n’t sign out , the newfangled possessor of your old Mac may not be capable to set it up . To bless out , utilise your iPhone , iPad , or another Mac and go to your Apple ID score atappleid.apple.com , then lumber in with your username and word . Go to the Devices section of the webpage , where you ’ll see a listing of devices associated with your Apple ID . tap the Mac you need to deauthorize and a popping - up appears . Click theRemove from accountbutton . A confirmation dialogue will appear , and you ’ll need to corroborate that you desire to perform this action .
Once that ’s done , on the sure-enough Mac , verify it is logged out of iCloud by checking System Preferences / System preferences . You ’ll also want to ensure it is logged out of Messages , which you’re able to determine in the Messages app .
Your online Apple ID profile has a list of devices associated with your account . You need to remove devices from your profile before you sell a Mac .
The macOS Recovery menu.
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Reset the NVRAM on Intel Macs
Intel Macs apply NVRAM to quickly access certain configurations . Toreset the NVRAM , turn off your Mac . Then hold down the Option , Command , P , and R key on the keyboard and power on the Mac . Keep make down those keys as your Mac boot and then thrill again . If you hear the boot sound a second meter or you see the Apple logo come along , disappear , and then reappear , you may let go of the key . This is n’t necessary on M1 Macs .
Erase the storage device and reinstall macOS
ensure your data point is saved and you ’re connect to Wi - Fi before you proceed with wipe off the store and reinstalling macOS using macOS Recovery . Here ’s how to start the summons :
The macOS Recovery menu will look . you’re able to then use Disk Utility to wipe your Mac ’s drive . ( Apple has detailed instructions on how to do this forIntelandM1Macs . ) When Disk Utility is finished , quit the app , and then click onReinstall macOSin the Recovery carte to deploy the lock system .
The macOS Recovery menu .
Decluttr will buy your desktop or laptop Mac.
Apple
Sell your Mac
Okay , now that your old Mac is ready to go , you want to decide where you ’re go to sell it . There are several third - company sites that you could go to , though you may not get as much as you could from selling directly to someone througheBay , Facebook Marketplace , orCraigslist . But selling to a reseller can be idealistic if you want to avoid the dogfight of administer with other people . Here are some of the more popular buyback sites and what they offer .
We also hash out thebest spot to trade a Mac or MacBookin a disjoined article .
Decluttr
Note that while Decluttr ’s land site has a section labeledSell your MacBook , that section also has areas where you’re able to sell Mac minis , iMacs , and Mac Pros .
Decluttr will buy your background or laptop computer Mac .
Gazelle
Gazellebuys ( and sell ) MacBooks only – its web site does not come along to allow you to sell them a desktop Mac . After let them know the experimental condition of your item , they provide a quote that ’s sound for 30 days and covers shipping . After receive your Mac , they ’ll examine it and may make you a new crack if the Mac does n’t equate the initial evaluation . If you bend down the new offer , you could get your Mac back but you have to pay for merchant marine . They pay you with a check , through PayPal , or an Amazon natural endowment carte .
Swappa
Swappais a marketplace where you deal direct to other multitude . To check that transactions are secure , Swappa verifies listings , handles PayPal - only payments , and organizes transport . The fee Swappa charge are included in the post prices . If you ’re hesitant about stake on eBay or Craigslist , Swappa is a good alternative .
Trade in your Mac
You may not get as much as you could by selling your Mac to a somebody or third - party overhaul , but trade - ins are almost trouble - liberal and convenient . Trade - inch are also often useable when a Mac is n’t in vendable but work condition . You unremarkably get redress with a talent card , memory credit , or acknowledgment toward your purchase .
The deal - in unconscious process withAppleis immediate and easy . Apple asks a few questions about your political machine ’s condition ( you postulate to offer the serial number ) , and then the crack can be applied to a new purchase . Apple will contact you if it needs to revise its offer after audit your Mac .
Your trade - in value can be used toward the purchase of a fresh Mac on Apple.com .
Your trade-in value can be used toward the purchase of a new Mac on Apple.com.
Amazon
Amazon has aTrade - In programme , but as of this writing , it does not seem to be open to Macs of any form . you may submit iPads , iPhones , or other non - Apple machine , and they devote you with an Amazon gift bill of fare . It takes a while to process your deal - in , and you may get more at other sites , but if you shop at Amazon often , it ’s an attractive overhaul .
Best Buy
Best Buyhas a trade - in syllabus , but you ’ll need to rule your precise model before you may start the process . You get a Best Buy gift card .
Walmart
Walmarthas a program in partnership with CExchange , but it ’s only for Mac laptops . You get a Walmart eGift placard .
