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Cybersecurity

Back Up, Sign Out and Wipe: Securing an Old Laptop Before Disposal

Engadget says users should back up data, sign out of accounts, de-authorize software and securely wipe a Windows or Mac laptop before selling, donating or recycling it.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-21 01:20

Throwing a laptop in the trash is not an option. Engadget said the best choices are to sell or donate a machine that still works, or to take it to a safe recycling program if it does not. The preparation steps apply to both MacBooks and Windows computers, and they matter whether the device is going to a friend, a secondhand store or a recycler.

Backing up comes first. On a Windows PC, users can search for Windows Backup in the Start menu to see what can be sent to OneDrive and when the last backup ran. Engadget noted that free Microsoft accounts include only 5GB of cloud storage, though users can subscribe for more. A local backup to a portable hard drive or SSD is another option; files can be copied manually, or EaseUS Todo Backup's free version can automate the process. Because Windows Backup also covers settings such as account details and personalization, Engadget said a combination backup is smart.

MacBook users can use Apple's Time Machine, the built-in macOS backup tool, to back up everything to a USB drive for recovery on another computer. Engadget said users should go to System Settings, then General, then Time Machine, then Add Backup Disk, select a connected storage device ideally with at least twice the storage of the MacBook, and follow the instructions. Some data can also be backed up to iCloud under System Settings, the user's name, iCloud and Saved to iCloud. Apple also offers only 5GB of free storage, with subscriptions available for more.

Third-party backup software and cloud services can work as well. As a supplement to a full backup, Engadget advised checking important apps and enabling browser sync so bookmarks are not lost. Users should also check the laptop's ports for small USB dongles or SD cards that may be left behind.

Before wiping the machine, Engadget said users should sign out of all accounts and de-authorize software licenses for tools such as the Adobe suite. Some licenses can be used on only a limited number of computers, so an old laptop could otherwise waste one of those slots. If a license cannot be moved by signing into an account on a new computer, users should copy the license or product key so they can contact the provider.

A basic factory reset is the simplest wipe, but Engadget said data removed from a computer is still technically recoverable. Modern versions of Windows and macOS have built-in reset tools that de-authorize accounts, wipe the machine, reset everything and make the old drive contents unrecoverable, the report said. Third-party software is also available for users who want to make sure the drive is completely clean.

The Windows process varies by version. For Windows 11, Engadget said users should go to Start, Settings, System, Recovery and Reset PC; choose Remove everything; select Cloud download or Local reinstall; then, on the Additional settings page, choose Change settings and enable Clean data to securely overwrite the drive. On Windows 10, the path is Settings, Update & security, Recovery, then Get started under Reset this PC, with a similar process from there. Windows 8.1 users can find it under Settings, Change PC settings, Update and recovery, Recovery, then Get started under Remove everything and reinstall Windows. Windows 7 requires bootable media, the manufacturer's recovery partition or a third-party tool to erase the drive.

For a Mac running macOS Monterey or later, Engadget said users should open System Settings, then General, then Transfer or Reset, then Erase All Contents and Settings. They must enter the computer password and Apple ID password to sign out, confirm the erasure, and the computer will sign out of iCloud, wipe and restart. Older Intel-based Macs require signing out of iCloud manually to remove Activation Lock, Engadget said. That is found under System Settings, the user's name and Sign Out, or System Preferences, Apple ID, Overview and Sign Out, depending on the macOS version. After that, users should enter Recovery Mode by holding Command + R after a restart, select Disk Utility, Continue, and Erase.