HOW TO Reset your Mac before selling it

1 Deauthorize iTunes

In iTunes, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID’s password and allow the process to complete. If you forget to do this, you can only deauthorize all computers later (bit.ly/deauitu).

2 Sign out of iCloud

Open the System Preferences’ iCloud pane and click the Sign Out button. Although this isn’t essential, it makes it harder for anyone to try to access your account once your Mac is no longer in your possession.

3 Sign out of Messages

In this app, go to Messages > Preferences. Click the iMessage tab in the new window, then click the Sign Out button to ensure this Mac stops getting messages that are pushed by Apple’s server to your Apple ID.

4 Unpair Bluetooth devices

If you’re passing on the keyboard and mouse/trackpad, leave those paired for the next owner. In Bluetooth prefs, select other devices you want to unpair in turn, clicking on each one’s “X” so the Mac forgets them.

5 Erase internal storage

In Recovery (bit.ly/mfrcvry), open Disk Utility and choose View > Show All Devices. Select the internal drive and click Erase. If it’s a hard disk or Fusion Drive, click Security Options and select a suitable erasure level.

6 Install macOS

Still in Recovery, you should now install macOS onto the erased internal storage. By entering Recovery using Cmd+R, the option to install macOS should give you the same version you’ve just been running.

7 Quit the Setup assistant

Wait for the macOS installer to finish up. When it reaches the Welcome screen, press Cmd+Q and click Shut Down. When the Mac’s new owner starts it up, they’ll get to set it up as if it were fresh from the factory.

8 Remove from your account

Note your Mac’s serial number. Once your Mac has gone, if you’ve an iOS device, open Settings > [your name] and locate that Mac in the list of products, then click “Remove from Account”.