When it comes time to sell or give away your Mac, you’ll want to make sure you wipe the computer and restore it to factory settings. This not only protects your personal information from getting into the wrong hands, but also allows the new owner to start fresh with their own data and settings.
Why should you wipe your Mac before selling it?
There are a few important reasons to wipe your Mac:
- Removes personal data – This includes files, photos, emails, messages, browsing history, saved passwords, and any other personal information stored on the computer.
- Removes installed software – Wiping the Mac deletes any applications, programs and software you’ve downloaded and installed.
- Removes account information – All user accounts and related preferences and settings are deleted.
- Allows new owner to start fresh – The new owner can set up the Mac as if it was brand new out of the box.
- Improves resale value – Buyers may be wary of personal data still being on the computer and wiping it can fetch a higher resale price.
Essentially, you want to completely reset the Mac to a clean, factory-fresh state before the next person starts using it. This gives them a blank slate to set up the Mac as their own.
How to wipe and restore a Mac
There are a couple ways to fully reset a Mac. The most thorough method is to completely reformat the hard drive, which scrubs all the data. You can also restore the Mac using Apple’s built-in options.
Method 1: Reformatting the hard drive
Reformatting (or repartitioning) the hard drive is the most complete way to wipe a Mac and start over. This will completely erase ALL data, applications, operating system files and partitions on the hard drive. The Mac will be left with a blank hard drive.
To reformat the hard drive on a Mac:
- Back up any data you want to keep first. Reformatting will erase everything.
- Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold Command + R keys to boot into Recovery Mode.
- Select Disk Utility from the options.
- Click Continue to proceed.
- Select the disk name from the left sidebar (typically “Macintosh HD”).
- Click the Erase button.
- Choose a format (Mac OS Extended is recommended).
- Click Erase to confirm – this will start reformatting the drive, which can take a while.
- When done, you can reinstall macOS to make the wiped Mac usable again.
Reformatting completely resets the hard drive. After reinstalling macOS, it will be as if you have a brand new Mac again.
Method 2: Use Apple’s reset options
If you don’t want to completely reformat the hard drive, you can also use Apple’s built-in options to erase data and restore the Mac:
Option 1: Erase All Content and Settings
This will wipe the hard drive and restore macOS while keeping the operating system intact. To use this option:
- Restart your Mac and go to System Preferences > General
- Click “Erase All Content and Settings”
- Enter your administrator password to confirm
- macOS will be reinstalled, wiping the hard drive in the process
Option 2: Restore from a Time Machine backup
If you have a Time Machine backup available, you can use System Recovery to restore from that backup, which essentially resets the Mac to that earlier point in time. Be sure to use a backup made BEFORE you added any personal data to the Mac.
To restore from Time Machine:
- Boot into Recovery Mode by restarting and holding Command + R
- Choose “Restore from Time Machine Backup”
- Select the backup point to restore from
- Confirm to wipe the Mac and restore the earlier OS version
Option 3: Reinstall macOS
You can boot into Recovery Mode and reinstall the macOS from scratch. This will wipe the hard drive and install a fresh copy of the operating system.
- Restart into Recovery Mode with Command + R
- Select Reinstall macOS from the utilities window
- Follow the prompts to install the OS – this will wipe the hard drive
These options within macOS Recovery will restore the Mac to factory settings without needing to reformat the drive.
How to securely delete personal files
Before wiping your Mac completely, you may want to make sure all personal files are completely deleted first. This makes them irrecoverable so no traces are left behind.
To securely delete files and folders:
- Locate the items you want to permanently delete in the Finder
- Drag files to the Trash bin to delete them initially
- Open the Trash folder and select the items
- Right click and choose “Secure Empty Trash”
- Files will be securely overwritten before permanently deleted
You can also use a dedicated app like Permanent Eraser to securely overwrite files multiple times.
How to wipe a MacBook vs. a Mac desktop
The basic process of wiping and restoring a Mac is the same whether you have a MacBook laptop or iMac desktop. However here are some differences to note:
MacBook
- Make sure it’s plugged into power before wiping
- Use Command + R on reboot to enter Recovery
- Choose macOS reinstall or erase options from Recovery
- Time Machine backups may be on an external drive
iMac
- Wired keyboard and mouse recommended for Recovery options
- Internal Time Machine backups can be erased
- Access to internal hard drive to physically remove if desired
The options are essentially the same, just adapt to whether you have a desktop or laptop model.
Important things to do before selling your Mac
Before wiping your Mac and passing it along to a new owner, make sure you take these important steps:
- Deauthorize iTunes and App Store – This stops the new owner from accessing your purchases
- Unlink iCloud account – Don’t let the new owner access your iCloud data and lock you out
- Sign out of iMessage – Deregister your number so messages don’t go to your new device
- Back up your data – Copy important files, photos, etc. before wiping
- Remove SIM card – If your Mac has cellular capability with a SIM card, remove it
- Check Find My Mac – Make sure Activation Lock is turned off
Taking these steps beforehand ensures your information and accounts are protected after passing along the Mac.
What you need before wiping your Mac
To successfully wipe your Mac completely, make sure you have the following:
- Your Apple ID and password to deactivate Find My Mac
- Apple ID used to purchase programs for deauthorizing
- The password of a local admin account on the Mac
- Backups of your important files and data
- Access to macOS Recovery or install media to reinstall the OS
Having these details on hand will ensure you can fully wipe the Mac and restore it to factory settings without issue.
Steps for selling your wiped Mac
Once you’ve wiped your Mac and removed any personal data, you’re ready to sell it. Here are some final steps:
- Do a final check of the system to make sure all files are removed
- Clean the Mac thoroughly inside and out to improve its appearance
- Price the Mac at the current market value using eBay/Craigslist for guidance
- Create a listing with detailed specs, photos and condition details
- Meet buyer in a public place if selling locally via Craigslist
- Pack securely and get delivery confirmation if shipping
- Transfer ownership officially once purchased
- Remove device from your Apple account afterwards
Taking these steps will help you securely sell your Mac for the best possible price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wiping a Mac necessary before selling it?
Yes, you should wipe your Mac before selling it or passing it along to someone else. This removes all personal data stored on the computer and allows the new owner to start with a fresh system.
What is the best free tool for wiping a Mac?
The best free tool for wiping a Mac is the Disk Utility application included with macOS. You can access it by booting into Recovery Mode. Disk Utility provides options to securely erase and reformat the hard drive.
How long does it take to wipe a MacBook Pro?
It typically takes 1-2 hours to completely wipe and restore a MacBook Pro, depending on the size of the hard drive. Reformatting the drive takes the longest time. Using macOS restore options is quicker but less secure.
Does wiping a Mac delete the operating system?
It depends on the method used. Reformatting the hard drive completely deletes the operating system. But using macOS restore options like “Erase All Content and Settings” keeps the OS intact while wiping data.
Can deleted files be recovered after wiping a Mac?
No, deleted files cannot be recovered after properly wiping a Mac. Methods like reformatting, reinstalling macOS or restoring from a Time Machine backup will completely overwrite the existing data making it unrecoverable.
Is it better to sell or donate my old Mac?
If your Mac is relatively recent and still has decent value, you may want to consider selling it to get some money in return. Really old Macs with low value can be donated to schools or non-profits where they can still be useful.
How can I tell if Find My Mac is activated?
To check if Find My Mac is activated, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > Find My. If Find My Mac is On, Activation Lock is enabled. This must be turned off before wiping and selling.
Conclusion
Wiping your Mac completely erases all data and gives you a fresh system to sell or pass along. Make sure you backup your data, deactivate Find My Mac, sign out of iCloud and disable lock settings beforehand. Then wipe the Mac using macOS Recovery options or by reformatting the hard drive. This will protect your personal information and let the new owner start with a clean Mac they can set up.