If you’ve recently upgraded to a new computer, you might be wondering what to do with your old one. Instead of letting it gather dust, consider donating the laptop. When you donate your pre-owned laptop, you extend its life cycle and help someone gain access to technology they couldn’t afford otherwise. Many nonprofits and charities accept used electronics and repurpose them for educational and other social programs.
This guide covers essential tips before donating your laptop and highlights organizations that accept used laptops.
Steps to Prepare Your Laptop for Donation
1. Back Up Your Files
Whether you donate or sell your laptop, safeguard your data. Create backups of important documents, photos, videos, and contacts. You can use external hard drives or cloud storage services, such as Google Drive and Dropbox, to ensure your files are accessible.
2. Gather Original Accessories
If available, collect the power adapter, user manual, and any packaged software that came with the notebook. Additional accessories like mice and keyboards can be valuable to schools and nonprofits.
3. Erase Personal Information
Simply deleting files is not enough—perform a factory reset to remove all personal data from your storage drive. Check out our guides on how to reset a Dell laptop and how to factory reset an Apple laptop for detailed steps.
Where to Donate Your Used Laptop
1. Goodwill
Goodwill accepts used electronics in any condition. They partner with the Dell Reconnect program, making tech recycling easy and accessible. Donating your laptop to Goodwill helps both the environment and the community.
Devices Accepted at Goodwill:
- Desktop towers
- Laptops and Chromebooks
- Monitors
- Printers and scanners
- Keyboards
- Gaming consoles like Xbox
- And more!
How to donate? Simply drop off your laptop at any Goodwill location, free of charge.
2. Computers With Causes
Computers With Causes is a nonprofit offering charitable donation programs for individuals and corporations. Donations provide much-needed educational and vocational resources to support communities.
What can you donate?
You can contribute computers, tablets, and other gadgets by filling out an online donation form or calling (888) 228-7320. Plus, donations are tax-deductible.
3. ReSupply
You can donate a computer through ReSupply by scheduling a pickup online. Here’s how:
- Visit the ReSupply website to fill out a pickup request form.
- Schedule a pickup – Enter your address, select the items you want to donate, and choose a pickup date.
- Confirm donation details – Provide contact information and any special instructions for pickup.
- Pay the pickup fee – ReSupply charges a fee based on item size, location, and other factors.
- Receive tax receipts – After pickup, you’ll get a receipt for tax deduction purposes.
ReSupply partners with charities and professional haulers to ensure donated items are properly handled.
Final Thoughts
Donating your used laptop is a great way to give back to your community, support nonprofit initiatives, and help reduce electronic waste. Once you back up your files, collect any necessary accessories, and reset the computer, it’s ready for the new user! All that is left is to choose a reputable organization to donate to. Your contribution makes a difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Donating your laptop helps bridge the digital divide by providing access to technology for individuals or organizations in need. It’s also an eco-friendly way to give your old devices a second life, reducing e-waste.
Backup your data, reset the notebook, clean it, and remove any stickers or markings. Collect all additional accessories you’d like to include.
Yes, in most cases! If you’re donating to a registered nonprofit or charity, you can request a receipt for tax purposes. Be sure to consult with a tax professional for specific advice.
Donating a computer that hasn’t been wiped of personal data, as well as not disclosing that the gadget does not work or is damaged, to the recipient.