Laptop Trade In: How to Properly Prep Your Device

Everything you need to know and do before selling your computer, here in one place.

So, you’ve decided to part ways with your beloved working Windows laptop or MacBook, and you chose laptop trade-in as your next step. It is certainly a great way to get some cash for your next laptop purchase. But how exactly do you prepare your device for sale? What steps must you take to ensure your laptop is ready to be traded in? Below, we share some insights for both Windows and Mac users.

Windows Laptop Trade In

We recommend making several preparations before trading in your laptop to ensure that your personal information is safe and protected and that your gadget is fully ready for the new owner.

Back up your data

Before you do anything else, create a complete backup of your system and another full backup of all your files. You can transfer all your important files and documents to an external storage device, which is usually quite fast and efficient. You can smoothly restore your data on your new laptop once you have it.

If there’s no external hard drive around, you can choose to store your files on a cloud storage service of your choice, such as Dropbox or Google Drive. That way, you can access your data on your smartphone or tablet if your new laptop is not ready yet.

Lastly, if your current laptop has Windows 10, you can take advantage of the built-in feature that lets you create a system image backup. You can effortlessly back up all your settings, apps, and files.

Sign Out of Your Accounts

To prevent others from accidentally accessing your personal information after a laptop trade-in, make sure to log out of all your email accounts, apps, and services on your Windows computer. Also, remember to remove the device from your Microsoft account and unpair any devices you might have, such as a smartwatch or headphones.

Tidy Up Your Laptop

Tidying up your laptop before trade-in is a small yet significant step often overlooked. Dust and debris usually accumulate on the surface and screen, so cleaning your device will make it look more presentable and might potentially even increase its value. Also, don’t forget to remove any protective screens or coverings.

MacBook Laptop Trade In

If you decide to trade in your current MacBook and purchase an updated version instead, it is also vital to prep your device correctly. In addition to creating a full backup of your files and cleaning your MacBook, similar to Windows users, we suggest taking a few additional steps to ensure your laptop trade-in goes smoothly. If you happen to have a broken MacBook, read our tips on how to sell it.

Sign Out of iTunes, iMessage, and iCloud

MacBook software is individually licensed, and it won’t get transferred to the computer’s new owner. Yet it’s better to be safe than sorry, so make sure to sign out of everything your personal information is connected to. It is also important to note that there is a limit on how many Mac devices can be signed into the same iTunes account, so it is certainly beneficial to sign out of your account before trading in your laptop to avoid any issues in the future.

Unpair Bluetooth Devices

Before you sell your MacBook, check if all of the connected Bluetooth devices you have paired (headphones, mouse, etc.). Sometimes, simply disconnecting might not entirely remove the device from the list. Using the “remove” option is the best way to ensure the device is fully unpaired.

Here is how to unpair your Bluetooth gadgets, depending on your macOS version:

Using System Settings/Preferences:

For macOS Ventura or later:

Go to the Apple menu > System Settings.
Click “Bluetooth” in the sidebar.
Hover your cursor over the device you want to remove.
Click the “Disconnect” or “Remove” (x) button that appears.

For earlier macOS versions:

Go to the Apple menu > System Preferences.
Click “Bluetooth.”
Select the device you wish to unpair.
Click the “x” or “Remove” button.

Erase Hard Drive and Reinstall MacOS

Once you back up all your files and data and sign out of all your accounts, you can erase everything on the MacBook by reformatting the hard drive. After removing all the contents, reinstall a new copy of macOS to tie up any remaining loose ends.

Conclusion

Laptop trade in is a good option for getting some extra cash towards your next electronics purchase. Regardless of the model or condition, with some simple and straightforward preparation you can easily maximize your return.

Gadget Salvation makes the trade-in process as easy as ever. If you’re ready to sell your laptop for value, get a fast quote for your device with them. Visit their website and see how it works .