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Selling my iMac, what do I need to do?
- Thread starter MrDLai
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https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065
Erasing the drive is highly recommended (do a secure erase if your drive is not an SSD). In the end you can choose between installing El Capitan (or any other system you have) or installing the system your Mac shipped with by using Internet Recovery.
Erasing the drive is highly recommended (do a secure erase if your drive is not an SSD). In the end you can choose between installing El Capitan (or any other system you have) or installing the system your Mac shipped with by using Internet Recovery.
Well done for asking. Many do not bother and cause themselves and the buyer all sorts of problems later. Will send you the step by step guide as soon as I get back to my computer(on iPhone at the moment).
OK back at the desk;
What to do (officially) before selling a used Mac
When preparing to sell or give away your Mac, you may want to erase some or all files from its hard drive. But first determine whether you should back up your computer and disable certain features and services. These steps show the recommended sequence of actions:
1. Deauthorize your computerfrom iTunes, if applicable.
2. Back up your data usingTime Machineor otherbackup methods for OS X MavericksorMountain Lion.
3. If you use Find My Mac or other iCloud features on this Mac, complete these steps:
1. Back up your iCloud content.
2. Choose Apple Menu () > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
3. Deselect the Find My Mac checkbox.
4. Sign out of iCloud. When you sign out of iCloud, you're asked whether you want to remove iCloud data from your Mac. Removing iCloud data in this way makes sure that the data isn't also removed from any of your other devices that are using the same iCloud account.
4. If you're using OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 or later, sign out of iMessage:
1. In the Messages app, choose Preferences > Accounts.
2. Select your iMessage account, then click Sign Out.
5. Reformat your hard drive and reinstall OS X. Follow the appropriate instructions:
· OS X Mavericks
· OS X Mountain Lion
· OS X Lion
After you reformat your hard drive and reinstall OS X, the computer restarts to a Welcome screen and asks you to choose a country or region. If you want to leave the Mac in an out-of-box state, don't continue with the setup of your system. Instead, press Command-Q to shut down the Mac. When the new owner turns on the Mac, the Setup Assistant will guide them through the setup process.
Once again thanks for asking, you have saved your buyer and yourself unnecessary issues.
Cheers,
Rod
What to do (officially) before selling a used Mac
When preparing to sell or give away your Mac, you may want to erase some or all files from its hard drive. But first determine whether you should back up your computer and disable certain features and services. These steps show the recommended sequence of actions:
1. Deauthorize your computerfrom iTunes, if applicable.
2. Back up your data usingTime Machineor otherbackup methods for OS X MavericksorMountain Lion.
3. If you use Find My Mac or other iCloud features on this Mac, complete these steps:
1. Back up your iCloud content.
2. Choose Apple Menu () > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
3. Deselect the Find My Mac checkbox.
4. Sign out of iCloud. When you sign out of iCloud, you're asked whether you want to remove iCloud data from your Mac. Removing iCloud data in this way makes sure that the data isn't also removed from any of your other devices that are using the same iCloud account.
4. If you're using OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 or later, sign out of iMessage:
1. In the Messages app, choose Preferences > Accounts.
2. Select your iMessage account, then click Sign Out.
5. Reformat your hard drive and reinstall OS X. Follow the appropriate instructions:
· OS X Mavericks
· OS X Mountain Lion
· OS X Lion
After you reformat your hard drive and reinstall OS X, the computer restarts to a Welcome screen and asks you to choose a country or region. If you want to leave the Mac in an out-of-box state, don't continue with the setup of your system. Instead, press Command-Q to shut down the Mac. When the new owner turns on the Mac, the Setup Assistant will guide them through the setup process.
Once again thanks for asking, you have saved your buyer and yourself unnecessary issues.
Cheers,
Rod
It isn't tied to your Apple ID. You only need to enter your Apple ID once for downloading the installer, but once downloaded your Apple ID is not part of the installation process. Once you reinstall the system you just shutdown when the first window appears (typically language choice) or just skip the part where you have to enter your Apple ID (it's completely optional).
@Rodan52: This is word for word in the link I posted above.
wow thank you so much for this step by step guide! I will follow it over the weekend
thanks for the clarification - this saves me the hassle of needing to install snow leopard and expect to the buyer why it doesn't have the latest OS in it.
KALLT is spot on. The AppleID is not tied to the install.
What you might want to do is tell the new owner to go to the App Store straight away and login with their AppleID and "purchase" El Capitan then just stop the download. That way if they ever want to go to recovery and erase and reinstall they will have El Capitan associated with their AppleID to allow the download from recovery.
I'm pretty sure that El Capitan create a recovery partition that is not at all linked to any Apple ID. (and if his Mac is able to do "Internet recovery install", that too isn't tied to any Apple ID but to the Hardware.)
Your Apple ID is only tied to your user account and it's optional. You can remove the link at any time. It would also be enough to just delete the user account when you give the Mac to someone else, but it isn't recommended for privacy reasons (as identifiable data can be stored in non-user libraries too). The only other obstacle is of course the installer your download from the App Store (the .app file). You can't give that one to somebody else, but you can create a bootable disk with it that does not have this limitation.
What I am saying is if your Mac did not come with El Capitan and you have updated to El Capitan, if you command-r boot to recovery and erase Macintosh HD, then click reinstall OS... you will be required to enter and AppleID that was previously used to "purchase" El Capitan. If you do not have one you will not be able to download El Capitan.
If the Mac came from the factory with El Capitan, then you would be correct that no AppleID is needed. But if it was upgraded to El Capitan an AppleID will be required.
It doesn't matter anyway, it's not of the seller's concern. There is always a base system available with Internet Recovery (or if that isn't available, an install DVD). The seller's Apple ID will not cause any problems down the road. If the buyer wants to have El Capitan then they have to purchase El Capitan themselves, regardless whether it is installed.