Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Preparing Mac for sale

M

miretogo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 19, 2014
137
134
Hello everyone,

I have two questions about preparing my Mac for sale:

1. I removed my user account (selecting the option to delete all its data) via the "Users and Groups" menu from a new user account I created. Also, I always used FileVault encryption for the user I removed. Is that sufficient so that the new owner can't recover my files?

2. Since I am unsure whether I was still logged in to iCloud before I removed the user account, I went to iCloud.com and removed the Mac from my Apple ID. Since the Mac ran macOS Big Sure before, there was no iTunes anymore to log out of. I also wasn't logged in to iMessage. Is that all I should do with regards to my Apple ID?
 
miretogo said:
Hello everyone,

I have two questions about preparing my Mac for sale:

1. I removed my user account (selecting the option to delete all its data) via the "Users and Groups" menu from a new user account I created. Also, I always used FileVault encryption for the user I removed. Is that sufficient so that the new owner can't recover my files?

2. Since I am unsure whether I was still logged in to iCloud before I removed the user account, I went to iCloud.com and removed the Mac from my Apple ID. Since the Mac ran macOS Big Sure before, there was no iTunes anymore to log out of. I also wasn't logged in to iMessage. Is that all I should do with regards to my Apple ID?
Click to expand...
I would reinstall the whole operating system on any computer before selling or giving it away.

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Reset your Mac to factory settings to prepare it for a new owner.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
Thanks you for your reply. I have looked at Apple's official guide before. But the last time I tried to "simply" format a Mac's drive and reinstall macOS, it cost me numerous hours, a lot of nerves and in the end I had to send the Mac in to special company to get it working again:

All thanks to Apple's numerous new "security features" that make everything more complex and difficult. Also in my experience, Internet Recovery is very unrealiable and sometimes simply doesn't work for unknown reasons. I experienced Internet Recovery's unreliability just last week, when it just didn't work one day and then suddenly worked the next day:

Therefore, I rather not go down the path of formatting and reinstalling macOS again. But if there is another, less invasive option, then I'd be interested. However, based on my (limited) understanding of macOS, my user data should be irretrievable by the future Mac's owner because I used FileVault encryption. That said, I am not SURE about this.
 
"iMac 2020"

Hmmm.... seems to me the 2020 iMacs have a t2 chip, right?
I'm wondering if you have the option of using "erase all content and settings"?

Try this (no promises):
a. Open System Preferences
b. Now, go to the menu bar, and under System Preferences see if there's a choice named "erase all content and settings".
c. If there IS, that's the one you want to use.
d. Choose it, enter your password, and you will see the "erase assistant".
e. Just click through and it will do everything you need.
 
Doesn't "Erase all Content and Settings" only erase the data of the current user? Apple's article isn't specific what it actually does: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212749

It only says: "Use Erase All Content and Settings to quickly and securely erase all of your settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed."

Since it says "[...] your setttings, data, and apps [...]", I would guess that it only deletes that data for the active user. However, I deleted my user account already.
 
OP:

I suggest you try the "erase all content and settings" option IF it's available to you.

Just TRY IT -- then come back and tell us about the results.

I predict that you'll be pleased.
 
Weaselboy wrote:
"It also needs to be an Apple Silicon Mac, so that 2020 model won't have the feature"

Hmmmm... I'm looking at Apple's support page here:

Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings - Apple Support

Use Erase All Content and Settings to quickly and securely erase all of your settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
... and it says:
"This feature requires macOS Monterey or later and a Mac with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip."

Would not the "or" suggest that it could work on Intel Macs with the t2?
(if so, that would include the 2020 iMac)
 
Weaselboy said:
It also needs to be an Apple Silicon Mac, so that 2020 model won't have the feature.
Click to expand...
I used "Erase All Content and Settings" on my 2018 Intel Mac mini last month, which features a T2. It will work just fine on a 2020 iMac.

miretogo said:
Doesn't "Erase all Content and Settings" only erase the data of the current user?
Click to expand...
I would suggest following this "Erase Your Mac" article on Apple's website. You'll want to use Erase Assistant before selling or transferring your Mac. Afterward, it should be a clean slate, having removed all of your data and credentials, and therefore your iMac should be ready for transfer to a new owner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back