Install Sierra when selling Mac?

[psymac]

I want to do a clean install of Sierra on my Mac Mini as I just sold it. However, when I do the macOS recovery it's installing Yosemite ( which I assume is the OS that came with the Mac Mini), and not Sierra.

How can I get Sierra to be installed as a new OS for the buyer to set up with their Apple ID without using my Apple ID?

 

[BrianBaughn]

Assuming the Mini is Sierra capable, you could create a bootable Sierra installer (USB stick) from a downloaded Sierra installer app found in the Applications folder. You could create the USB installer on a different Mac, also.

I did this recently on a MacBook Pro but in my case the installer was for El Capitan and the MBP had never had anything past Lion 10.7.x installed.

 

[KALLT]

You should sell it with Yosemite. The Sierra download is tied to your Apple ID and the buyer may run into problems if they forget to ‘buy’ it themselves.

 

[CoastalOR]

You should sell it with Yosemite. The Sierra download is tied to your Apple ID and the buyer may run into problems if they forget to ‘buy’ it themselves.

Is that really true now since the download of Sierra no longer shows in the "Purchased" tab? I'm not sure what happens when 10.13 is released and someone wants to re-download 10.12. I will be saving the 10.12 installer app in case I need it.

 

[Zazoh]

I just did something similar. Downloaded Sierra and placed on USB Drive through some instructions I found on the internet. Did the Option restart and erased the HD and installed from the USB drive. When it prompted for iCloud account, I skipped that step and finished the install with an account called admin.

Seemed to install fine without the "Verification" of purchase. It was to a 2011 15" MBP.

 

[KALLT]

Is that really true now since the download of Sierra no longer shows in the "Purchased" tab? I'm not sure what happens when 10.13 is released and someone wants to re-download 10.12. I will be saving the 10.12 installer app in case I need it.

I have not tried a reinstallation from Recovery, but the Sierra purchase is still shown under ‘Purchases’ on El Capitan.

Regardless, it is not wise to buy a computer second-hand and then not reinstall the system yourself. I would just wipe the drive completely and let the buyer install the original system from Recovery themselves. Reinstalling Yosemite will assure that Internet Recovery works and that the buyer can decide how to move forward without having to download two complete systems.

 

[psymac]

Yes, I see now that Sierra is a free update from Yosemite, so I can let the buyer do that themselves.

 

[webberade]

Here are the instructions to download and create a bootable USB installer for Sierra

http://www.macworld.com/article/309...-a-bootable-macos-sierra-installer-drive.html

 

[Julien]

With the new owner needed to create an Apple account and then having access to the OS through the App Store what is the point of installing any OS?

 

[Left4DeadBoy]

hi If that appears that you cant install Sierra on your model; then thats due to that being an older model where Apple themselves didnt set that up using Sierra because Sierra hadnt been installed anywhere at that time . You will find it necessary to include install instructions; because you cant do anything to install Sierra; and thats not a problem; tell them to visit the App Store after they get their Mac computer up and they can make a couple clicks with their mouse to get that .