Before selling or trading in your Mac, it’s essential to erase all personal data so the next owner cannot access it. You should also perform a fresh installation of macOS to ensure the new user can set up the device as their own.
Below you can follow our simple, step-by-step guide to prepare your Mac for its new home.
Remove Your Apple ID and Find My Mac
Before you erase your Mac, remove your Apple ID and disable Find My Mac. If this step isn’t completed, the new owner won’t be able to activate or fully use the device. While you can sometimes do this during the erase process, we recommend completing it beforehand to ensure everything is cleared properly. It’s best to do this directly on the Mac rather than through iCloud.com.
On your Mac:
- Open System Settings.
- Click your Apple ID in the top left corner.
- Uncheck the Find My Mac toggle.
- Enter your Apple ID password when prompted.
- Click Sign Out.
- Go to iCloud.com and log in with your Apple ID.
- Check your list of linked devices to confirm the Mac has been removed.
If your Mac still appears in iCloud
If your device still shows in your iCloud account, remove it manually:
- Log into iCloud.com with the same Apple ID used on the Mac.
- Open Find My.
- Select All Devices, then choose the Mac you would like to remove.
- Click Remove from Account.
✅ Once complete, your Mac will no longer be tied to your Apple ID, making it ready for data erasure and a fresh macOS installation.
⚠️ Important: Check for Device Management Locks (MDM)
Some Macs may be enrolled in Mobile Device Management (MDM) or another form of organisational control.
- If the Mac belongs to a school or workplace, contact them to remove the device from their management system. Only the system administrator can do this.
- Until the management profile is removed, the Mac should not be sold, as controls remain active and the device may still be considered the organisation’s property.
Erase Your Mac: Erase All Content and Settings
Now that you’ve removed iCloud and Find My Mac, you can erase your device and install a fresh copy of macOS.
⚠️ Important: Before proceeding, make sure you’ve backed up all of your data. Once erased and reinstalled, the data will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
How to Erase Your Mac
- Open System Settings > General.
- Select Transfer or Reset.
- Click Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your user password when prompted, then click Continue.
👉 Note: If you’re asked for your Apple ID password, your iCloud account hasn’t been fully removed. You can still sign out at this stage, but double-check via iCloud.com that the Mac has been removed from Find My before continuing.
What Happens Next
- The erasure process may take some time. Leave your Mac plugged in and powered on until it completes.
- Once finished, your Mac will restart and display the setup screen, just like when you first bought it. On the latest versions of macOS, you’ll see the 'Hello' welcome screen.
At this point, your Mac is fully reset and ready for its new owner.
💡 Looking for your next Mac?
At Hoxton Macs we offer a wide range of refurbished Macs, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio
