Selling My MacBook: The 10-Step Checklist (2026)

To sell a MacBook safely, work through ten steps in this order: back up, note the exact spec and serial number, check the battery cycle count, get quotes, sign out of iCloud and Find My, sign out of everything else, erase, gather the charger and box, pack and post insured, then get paid. Erasing comes late, after the quote.

Most of those steps already have a full guide on this site, so this post does not repeat them. It is the one-page order of operations, with the reason for the order, and a link to the detailed walkthrough whenever a step needs more than a paragraph. Print it, or keep it open in a tab while you work.

Why does the order matter?

Because two steps cannot be undone. Once you erase, your files are gone and so is the easy way to read your Mac's specification. Once you post, you cannot fix anything you forgot. Every step below is placed so that the irreversible ones come last, after you have everything you need.

1. Back up everything

Plug in an external drive and run a Time Machine backup, or at least copy your documents, photos and desktop. Check that iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive have finished syncing. Apple's own preparation checklist puts the backup first for the same reason we do: a backup can restore everything to your next Mac, and there is no undo after an erase.

2. Write down the exact specification and serial number

Open the Apple menu, then About This Mac. Note the chip (for example M3 or M4 Pro), the memory, the storage, the screen size, the year and the serial number. Storage and memory both move a quote, and a guess costs money in both directions. If you are not sure what your model is worth, our guide to how much your MacBook is worth shows how each factor feeds into the price.

3. Check the battery cycle count

Hold the Option key, click the Apple menu and choose System Information, then select Power. The cycle count is listed there, and battery health is under System Settings, Battery. Apple rates the batteries in Apple silicon MacBooks for 1,000 cycles. A high count is not a reason to stop, it is simply something to state honestly. How much it moves the price is covered in our post on battery health and resale value.

4. Get your quotes

Now compare offers, with the details from steps 2 and 3 in front of you. An accurate description is what keeps a quote from changing on arrival. Look for a fixed quote, a clear inspection promise and free return if a revised offer is declined. If you sell privately instead, read our guide to avoiding scams when selling a MacBook before you arrange anything.

5. Sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My

Open System Settings, click your name and choose Sign Out, entering your Apple Account password to turn off Find My. This is the step that removes Activation Lock, and a Mac with Activation Lock on cannot be set up by anyone else, so no legitimate buyer can accept it. Our walkthrough on how to turn off Find My and sign out of iCloud covers the screens and the common errors. If the Mac is already locked to an account you cannot reach, our page on how to sell a locked MacBook explains the ways to release it.

6. Sign out of everything else

The small things that cause trouble later:

• Messages. Sign out in the Messages settings.
• Media purchases. In the Music app, choose Account, Authorisations, Deauthorise This Computer.
• Paid software. Deactivate seat licences, such as creative suites or audio plug-ins.
• Bluetooth accessories. Unpair any keyboard, mouse or headphones you are keeping.
• AppleCare. If the Mac is covered, decide whether to transfer the plan to the new owner or cancel it; our AppleCare and resale guide explains both.

A work Mac also needs checking for company device management. If a management profile appears in System Settings, General, Device Management, read our guide to selling an MDM-enrolled MacBook first.

7. Erase the Mac

On a Mac with Apple silicon or a T2 chip running macOS Monterey or later, Erase All Content and Settings wipes it in one pass; on current macOS it is under System Settings, General, Transfer or Reset. Older Macs use Disk Utility in Recovery. Every screen, including the FileVault detail, is in our guide on how to wipe a MacBook before selling. Shut the Mac down at the setup screen and do not create a new account.

8. Gather the charger, box and receipt

None of these is required. A genuine Apple charger is counted if you include it and say so in the quote form. The original box adds a little on a like-new machine and makes good inner packaging. A receipt is not needed for a normal sale, but keep a copy for your records. Leave out third-party chargers, cases and stickers.

9. Pack and post it insured

Wrap the MacBook in bubble wrap, then place it in a sturdy double-walled box with around 5cm of padding on every side, so it cannot move when shaken. Our guide on how to package and post a MacBook shows the method. Use a tracked, insured service and keep the receipt until the sale is complete. With us, the label is free and fully insured, and the box goes over the counter at any Post Office.

10. Get paid, and check the result

Once the Mac arrives it is inspected against your description. If it matches, the quoted price is paid; if something differs, you should be shown what and why, and be free to decline and have the Mac returned. With us, a declined revision means a free, insured return, and an accepted quote is paid by bank transfer within 24 hours of the Mac passing inspection. Check the amount against your quote, then remove the Mac from your Apple Account device list if it still appears.

The checklist in one line

Back up, note the spec, check the battery, get quotes, sign out, sign out of the rest, erase, gather extras, post insured, get paid. When you reach step 4, get your fixed quote: it arrives by email within 2 working hours, and stays locked for 14 days while you work through the rest.