Guide
Selling, donating or recycling a computer? How to wipe it safely first
An old computer still holds your email, saved passwords, photos and documents — and simply deleting files or emptying the bin does not remove them. Wiping it properly takes about an hour, mostly waiting, and the built-in tools on Windows and Mac now do it well. The order matters, so follow the steps below.
Before you wipe anything
Once the computer is erased there is no going back, so do these first.
- Back up your files — copy everything you want to keep to an external drive or the cloud, and check it is there
- Export what lives only on the computer — browser bookmarks, saved passwords, email that is not on a server, and licence keys for paid software
- Deactivate software — some programs, such as Adobe and older Microsoft Office versions, limit installs — sign out or deactivate so you can use the licence on your new machine
- Moving to a new computer? — transfer everything across first, and only wipe the old one once you are sure nothing is missing
Sign out of your accounts
This step matters most on a Mac. If Find My is left on, the next owner hits Activation Lock and cannot use the computer — and it stays linked to your Apple Account.
On Windows
- Microsoft account — the reset below removes it, but if the PC is listed under your devices at account.microsoft.com, remove it there afterwards
- BitLocker — a reset with "Remove everything" handles encrypted drives — no need to decrypt first
- Unpair accessories — remove Bluetooth devices you are keeping, so they do not reconnect to the old PC
On a Mac
- Sign out of your Apple Account — System Settings > your name > Sign Out — this also turns off Find My and Activation Lock
- Messages and iCloud — signing out removes iCloud data from the Mac; your iCloud copy stays safe online
- Unpair Bluetooth devices — remove keyboards, mice or AirPods you are keeping
Erase it properly
Use the built-in reset, not file deletion. On modern computers with encrypted SSDs these tools make the old data effectively unrecoverable, and they leave a fresh system ready for the next person.
On Windows 10 and 11
- Reset this PC — Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC (Windows 10: Update & Security > Recovery)
- Remove everything — choose "Remove everything", not "Keep my files"
- Clean the drive — under "Change settings", turn on "Clean data" — it takes longer but erases the drive properly
- Leave it at setup — when it restarts to the setup screen, switch it off; the new owner sets it up
On a Mac
- Erase All Content and Settings — Apple Silicon or T2 Macs on macOS Monterey or later: System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset
- What it does — signs you out, removes your data and settings, and erases the encrypted drive in minutes
- Older Intel Macs — start in Recovery (Command-R), erase the drive in Disk Utility, then reinstall macOS
- Leave it at setup — when it reaches the setup assistant, shut it down
If the computer will not turn on
A dead computer still contains your data. On older PCs and Intel Macs with a removable drive, the drive can be taken out and either erased in another machine or physically destroyed. On Apple Silicon MacBooks and many thin laptops the storage is soldered and encrypted, so the data is very hard to read without your password — but if it holds anything sensitive, ask the recycler or repairer how they handle storage, and get it in writing for business machines.
Where it goes next
Working computers are worth more to someone else than to landfill: sell them, hand them down, or donate them. Computers and their batteries should never go in household rubbish — e-waste goes to a council drop-off, a retailer take-back scheme or a recycler who handles it properly.
Worked through these and still stuck? Read us the symptoms and we will tell you what is likely wrong — free, any hour.
Call 0478 953 755Common questions
Is deleting my files and emptying the Bin enough before selling a computer?
No. Deleted files are usually still on the drive and can be recovered with free software. Use the built-in reset — "Reset this PC" with "Remove everything" and "Clean data" on Windows, or "Erase All Content and Settings" on a Mac — which erases the drive properly.
What happens if I forget to sign out of my Apple Account before selling a Mac?
The Mac stays linked to your account through Activation Lock, and the new owner cannot set it up. You can remove it remotely by signing in at iCloud.com, opening Find Devices and removing the Mac from your account — but signing out before you erase is far simpler.
Do I need to remove the hard drive before recycling a computer?
Not if you have wiped it with the built-in reset. If the computer is dead and has a removable drive, taking the drive out or having it erased is sensible. Modern Macs and many thin laptops have soldered, encrypted storage that cannot be removed.
Should I wipe a computer before giving it to a family member?
Yes, if they will use it as their own. It removes your accounts, passwords and files, and gives them a clean, faster system set up in their name — which also avoids them being locked out later.
Still not sure?
Describe what the machine is doing and we will tell you what is likely wrong and whether it is worth fixing — before you spend anything. Diagnosis over the phone is free, 24 hours a day.
Call 0478 953 755