Whether or not you’re planning to purchase a brand new Mac otherwise you obtained one as a present, your present Mac doesn’t want to finish up in a closet. So what do you do with it? Should you aren’t planning to offer it to a fortunate buddy or member of the family, you possibly can commerce or promote it to assist pay for that new Mac. Right here’s the way to get each final little bit of worth out of your outdated Mac.
Apple has a help doc that has good directions on what it is best to do earlier than you promote, give away, or commerce in your Mac, and we additionally focus on the way to put together an outdated Mac on the market in a separate article. However now we have some expertise in that division that may assist you get essentially the most out of your trade-in or sale.
Deal with your Mac nicely
Your Mac’s bodily situation performs a key function in what you may get in return throughout a trade-in sale. When you’ve got a Mac that you just plan to maintain for some time however know that you just’re going to ultimately commerce or promote it while you improve, do what you possibly can to take excellent care of it.
Desktop Macs just like the Mac mini and iMac are straightforward to take care of 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 tougher to maintain itself cool, so common dusting additionally makes certain your Mac runs effectively. When you’ve got an iMac, make certain your show stays pristine by cleansing your display screen with a gentle material each few weeks. Display screen protectors are additionally out there, however they require a substantial amount of persistence and a very good quantity of ability to placed on correctly.
Laptop computer Macs are extra inclined to break since they’re meant to be introduced with you to work remotely. Use a very good high quality laptop computer bag, and all the time understand that you’re utilizing an expensive funding–we’ve all seen loads of folks at our native espresso store deal with their laptops carelessly. Don’t be that individual. Talking of espresso outlets, attempt to hold drinks and meals away out of your MacBook in case a spill occurs.
Watch out with how you employ it. For instance, in case you’re connecting a USB machine, 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 go away a nasty impression on somebody evaluating your pc.
Hold the unique field (you don’t want the transport field) and documentation. When you’ve got the unique cables and adapters, save these, too. Individuals generally improve to quicker chargers or longer cables, so hold the originals with the field. Should you 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 in case you promote it privately.
Wipe your knowledge from the Mac: The steps
Save your knowledge
Whenever you’re able to commerce or promote your outdated Mac, be sure to again up the information that’s on it. Should you haven’t backed up your Mac beforehand, we suggest getting an exterior storage machine.
The simplest strategy to again up is Apple’s built-in Time Machine. Utilizing Time Machine is right as a result of you should utilize it to carry out an information restore in your new Mac, which then pulls over your whole outdated settings, recordsdata, and apps, so your new Mac can be configured similar to your outdated one. It’s also possible to use a third-party backup service or cloud storage like iCloud or Dropbox to save lots of necessary recordsdata, reminiscent of your Paperwork folder, images, and media recordsdata. You’ll be capable to restore these recordsdata to your new Mac, however any apps will must 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 employ, and in case you don’t signal out, the brand new proprietor of your outdated Mac might 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 together with your username and password. Go to the Units part of the webpage, the place you’ll see a listing of gadgets related together 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 just wish to carry out this motion.
As soon as that’s finished, on the outdated Mac, make certain it’s logged out of iCloud by checking System Preferences/System Settings. You’ll additionally wish to make certain it’s logged out of Messages, which you’ll examine 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. Hold holding down these keys as your Mac boots after which boots once more. Should you hear the boot sound a second time otherwise you see the Apple brand seem, disappear, after which reappear, you possibly can let go of the keys. This isn’t mandatory on M-series Macs.
Erase the storage machine and reinstall macOS
Make certain your knowledge is saved and also you’re related to Wi-Fi earlier than you proceed with erasing the storage and reinstalling macOS utilizing macOS Restoration. Right here’s the 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 facility button whereas turning it on.
The macOS Restoration menu will seem. You’ll be able to then use Disk Utility to wipe your Mac’s drive. (Apple has detailed directions on how to do that for Intel and M-series Macs.) When Disk Utility is completed, give up 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 outdated Mac is able to go, you want to determine the place you’re going to promote it. There are a number of third-party websites that you may go to, although chances are you’ll not get as a lot as you can from promoting on to somebody via eBay, Fb Market, or Craigslist. However promoting to a reseller could be best if you wish to keep away from the effort of coping with different folks. Listed below are among the extra well-liked buyback websites and what they provide.
We additionally focus on the greatest place to promote a Mac or MacBook in a separate article.
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 transport. After receiving your Mac, they’ll study it and will make you a brand new provide if the Mac doesn’t match the preliminary analysis. Should you flip down the brand new provide, you may get your Mac again, however it’s a must to pay for transport. They pay you with a examine, via PayPal, or an Amazon present card.
Swappa
Swappa is a market the place you promote on to different folks. To verify transactions are safe, Swappa verifies listings, handles PayPal-only funds, and organizes transport. The charges Swappa fees are included within the posted costs. Should you’re hesitant about posting on eBay or Craigslist, Swappa is an effective different.
Commerce in your Mac
You might not get as a lot as you can 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 out there 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 just a few questions on your machine’s situation (you want to present the serial quantity), after which the provide could be utilized to a brand new buy. Apple will contact you if it must revise its provide 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 Commerce-In program, however as of this writing, it doesn’t appear to be open to Macs of any form. You’ll be able to submit iPads, iPhones, or different non-Apple gadgets, and so they pay you with an Amazon present card. It takes some time to course of your trade-in, and you may get extra at different websites, however in case you store at Amazon steadily, it’s a horny service.
Greatest Purchase
Greatest Purchase has a trade-in program, however you’ll want to search out your actual mannequin earlier than you can begin the method. You get a Greatest Purchase present card.
Walmart
Walmart has a program in partnership with CExchange, however it’s just for Mac laptops. You get a Walmart eGift card.