Here is how to reset your pre-owned iMac and restore macOS to its original state.

If you’ve decided to sell your used iMac, you can’t simply turn it off and give it to the new owner. You’ll need to wipe your personal data and reset iMac to factory settings. It’s a fairly straightforward process that doesn’t require an advanced degree in computer science, though allow yourself a few hours to finish it. This article explains how to reset iMac to sell it. If you’re looking for information on how to wipe MacBook Pro to sell it, read our previous guide.

How To Reset iMac To Sell It: Back Up Your Data

If you have anything on your iMac that you want to keep, you’ll need to create a backup. That way you can be sure that your personal data is safe after you reset your computer. One way to backup up your documents, photos, contacts, etc. is by manually copying everything to an external drive or iCloud. Keep in mind that iCloud only offers 5GB of free storage, so you might need to purchase an upgrade or split your data between several drives.

A more efficient and secure way to create a backup is through Time Machine, a pre-installed feature on your iMac. Just connect an external storage device, click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen, select ‘System Preferences’, choose ‘Time Machine’, and then click ‘Select Backup Disk.’ Lastly, select your external drive and proceed with the backup.

Before performing a backup, it might also be a good idea to go through your files and delete the ones you no longer use. You don’t want to back up anything you won’t need. 

How to Reset iMac To Sell It: Deactivate Accounts

To avoid any trouble with regards to your personal accounts and information, make sure to sign out of any services associated with your system.

• iTunes/Apple Music. If your iMac is running macOS Mojave or earlier, you need to sign out of your iTunes account. On macOS Catalina and later, iTunes has been replaced with Apple Music, Apple TV+, Podcasts, and Books. You can deauthorize these accounts the same way as iTunes: go to ‘Account’ in the menu bar, select ‘Authorizations’, and click ‘Deauthorize Your Computer.’
• iCloud.  Sign out of iCloud if you don’t want the new owner to access any of your cloud data. Go to ‘System Preferences’, choose ‘iCloud’, then ‘Sign Out.’ You’ll be asked to confirm whether you want to remove data from your iMac.
• iMessage. If you’ve been using Apple’s built-in messaging app on your computer, sign out of it as well. 

How To Reset iMac To Sell It: Unpair Bluetooth Devices

There’s a good chance you’ve been using certain Bluetooth devices with your iMac, such as a keyboard, mouse, and speakers. Open the Apple menu, click on the ‘System Preferences’, then choose ‘Bluetooth”. You will see the devices that need to be unpaired. 

How To Reset iMac To Sell It: Erase Hard Drive

Once you’re done with the above steps, it’s time to erase your iMac’s startup disk. First, restart your computer. After the iMac shuts down completely but before it begins to restart, press and hold Command and R keys together. The Recovery Mode window will pop up. Next, click the ‘Disk Utility’ in the Utilities window and select “Macintosh HD.” The last step here is to click “Erase” – the data from your hard drive will be gone.

How To Reset iMac To Sell It: Install macOS/ OS X

After you wipe the hard drive, install a brand-new copy of macOS or OS X on your iMac. From the ‘Utilities’ menu, click ‘Reinstall macOS’ or ‘Reinstall OS X’, depending on the original software version on your computer. Once the process is complete, shut down the device by holding down Command and Q keys. Your iMac is now in its factory condition and ready for the new owner.

Conclusion

Resetting your iMac to default settings is important if you’re planning to sell your pre-owned machine. Factory reset is a fairly easy yet tedious process, and our simple guide will get your iMac ready for sale in no time. If you’re considering iMac trade in, Gadget Salvation is a great platform for that.