How to sell or trade in your old Mac and save on a new one

Whether you’re considering buying a new Mac or getting one as a gift, your current Mac doesn’t need to end up in a closet. So what do you do with it? If you don’t plan to gift it to a lucky friend or family member, you can trade it in or sell it to help pay for that new Mac. Here’s how to get the most out of your old Mac.

Apple has a support document with good instructions on what you should do before selling, giving away, or trading in your Mac, and we also explain how to prepare an old Mac for sale in a separate article. But we have some experience in this area that can help you get the most out of your trade or sale.

Treat your Mac well

The physical condition of your Mac plays a key role in what you can get in return during a trade-in sale. If you have a Mac that you plan to keep for a while, but you know you’ll eventually trade it in or sell it when you upgrade, do what you can to take good care of it.

Desktop Mac like the Mac mini and iMac are easy to maintain because they won’t move around much, if at all. Wipe away dust that accumulates over time. Dust buildup can make your Mac work harder to stay cool, so regular dusting also ensures that your Mac runs efficiently. If you own an iMac, make sure your screen stays pristine by cleaning your screen with a soft cloth every few weeks. Screen protectors are also available, but they require a lot of patience and a lot of skill to put on correctly.

Portable Macs are more prone to damage since they are meant to be taken with you to work remotely. Use a good quality laptop bag and always keep in mind that you are using an expensive investment: we have all seen many people in our local coffee shop handling their laptops carelessly. Don’t be that person. Speaking of coffee shops, try to keep drinks and food away from your MacBook in case of spills.

Be careful with how you use it. For example, if you are connecting a USB device, try not to blindly plug it into a port. Touching the Mac’s port that has a connector can scratch the case, leaving an unsightly worn look that can leave a bad impression on someone evaluating your computer.

Keep the original box (you do not need the shipping box) and documentation. If you have the original cables and adapters, keep those too. People sometimes opt for faster chargers or longer cables, so keep the originals with the box. If you don’t have these items, it doesn’t matter, you can always trade or sell your Mac. But you’ll probably get more, especially if you sell it privately.

Erase your data from Mac: the steps

Save your data

When you’re ready to trade in or sell your old Mac, be sure to back up the data on it. If you haven’t backed up your Mac before, we recommend getting an external storage device.

The easiest way to backup is Apple’s built-in Time Machine. Using Time Machine is ideal because you can use it to perform a data restore on your new Mac, which then recovers all of your old settings, files, and applications, so your new Mac will be set up just like your old one. You can also use a third-party backup service or cloud storage like iCloud or Dropbox to save important files, such as your Documents folder, photos, and media files. You will be able to restore these files on your new Mac, but all apps will need to be downloaded from the App Store or the developer’s website. You will also need to redo your settings on your new Mac.

Deauthorize Your Mac Using Your Apple ID

This is an important step. Apple tracks the devices you use, and if you don’t log out, the new owner of your old Mac may not be able to set it up. To sign out, use your iPhone, iPad, or another Mac and go to your Apple ID account at appleid.apple.com, then sign in with your username and password. Go to the Devices section of the web page, where you will see a list of devices associated with your Apple ID. Click on the Mac you want to deauthorize and a pop-up window will appear. Click it Remove from account button. A confirmation dialog box will appear and you will need to confirm that you want to perform this action.

Once done, on the old Mac, make sure it is signed out of iCloud by checking System Preferences/System Settings. You also need to make sure it’s signed out of Messages, which you can check in the Messages app.

Foundry

Foundry

Foundry

Reset NVRAM on Intel Macs

Intel Macs use NVRAM to quickly access certain settings. To reset NVRAM, turn off your Mac. Then hold down the Option, Command, P, and R keys on the keyboard and turn on the Mac. Continue to hold these keys while your Mac boots up and then restarts. If you hear the startup sound a second time or see the Apple logo appear, disappear, and then reappear, you can release the keys. This is not necessary on M1 Macs.

Erase the storage device and reinstall macOS

Make sure your data is saved and you are connected to Wi-Fi before proceeding with wiping storage and reinstalling macOS using macOS Recovery. Here’s how to start the process:

• On an Intel Mac, hold down Command+R while turning on the computer.
• On an M series Mac, hold down the power button while turning it on.

The macOS Recovery menu will appear. You can then use Disk Utility to erase your Mac’s drive. (Apple offers detailed instructions on how to do this for Intel and M1 Macs.) When Disk Utility is finished, exit the application, then click Reinstall macOS in the Recovery menu to install the operating system.

Apple

Apple

Apple

Sell ​​your Mac

Okay, now that your old Mac is ready to go, you need to decide where you’re going to sell it. There are several third-party sites you can access, although you may not get as much benefit from selling directly to someone through eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist. But selling to a reseller can be ideal if you want to avoid having to deal with other people. Here are some of the most popular buyback sites and what they offer.

We also discuss the best place to sell a Mac or MacBook in a separate article.

Declutter

With Decluttr, you benefit from an offer for your Mac blocked for 28 days. They cover shipping costs and will inspect your item to confirm it is in good condition. If Decluttr changes the offer based on their review, you can request that they return the computer to you and they will cover the shipping costs. If you accept, you will receive payment via PayPal or direct deposit. [Disclaimer: Decluttr is a past sponsor of the igamesnews Podcast.]

Note that while Decluttr’s site has a section called Sell Your MacBook, this section also has areas where you can sell Mac minis, iMacs, and Mac Pros.

Declutter

Declutter

Declutter

Gazelle

Gazelle only buys (and sells) MacBooks – their website doesn’t seem to let you sell them a desktop Mac. After informing them of the condition of your item, they provide you with a quote valid for 30 days and covering shipping costs. After receiving your Mac, they will examine it and may make you a new offer if the Mac does not match the initial evaluation. If you decline the new offer, you can get your Mac back but you must pay shipping costs. They pay you by check, PayPal, or an Amazon gift card.

Exchange

Swappa is a marketplace where you sell directly to other people. To ensure secure transactions, Swappa verifies listings, handles PayPal payments only, and arranges shipping. Fees charged by Swappa are included in the prices displayed. If you’re hesitant about posting on eBay or Craigslist, Swappa is a good alternative.

Trade in your Mac

You may not get as much money as you could by selling your Mac to a third-party person or service, but trading in is almost simple and convenient. Trade-ins are also often available when a Mac is not salable but in working condition. You are usually compensated with a gift card, store credit, or credit toward your purchase.

Apple

The trade-in process with Apple is quick and easy. Apple asks a few questions about the condition of your machine (you must provide the serial number), then the offer can be applied to a new purchase. Apple will contact you if it needs to revise its offer after inspecting your Mac.

Apple

Apple

Apple

Amazon

Amazon offers a trade-in program, but as of this writing it doesn’t appear to be open to Macs of any kind. You can submit iPads, iPhones, or other non-Apple devices, and they pay you with an Amazon gift card. It takes some time to process your trade-in, and you can get more on other sites, but if you shop Amazon frequently, it’s an attractive service.

Best buy

Best Buy offers a trade-in program, but you’ll need to find your exact model before you can start the process. You get a Best Buy gift card.

Walmart

Walmart has a program in partnership with CExchange, but it’s only for Mac laptops. You receive a Walmart e-gift card.