Engadget Guide Details How to Turn an Old MacBook Into a Home NAS Server

The guide says old MacBooks should be erased, reset to factory settings and updated to the most stable version of macOS they can run before being repurposed. It recommends using external storage drives rather than the older Mac's internal disk because of data value, storage limits and the risk of disk failure. A network and Ethernet cable are needed for a fast, stable connection to a router. For Intel Macs with HDMI output, a headless HDMI plug can make the machine think a display is attached and activate the GPU for better video performance. The free Amphetamine app can prevent the Mac from sleeping.

For the simplest setup, macOS already includes File Sharing in Apple's Sharing settings, according to Engadget. Users can enable File Sharing, select folders to share, assign access privileges, make data available to Windows and Android devices, and share from an external drive. The Mac provides an IP address for connections, and shared files can be browsed through Finder.

Engadget says older Macs can also run media server applications including Plex, Kodi and Infuse. Plex is described as widely used, with an attractive, user-friendly interface, ease of use and the ability to stream content remotely for a fee, while home streaming is free. Installing Plex requires an account and Plex Media Server, followed by the setup wizard. Users point Plex to media locations across the network, and Plex downloads movie artwork and information to populate a Netflix-like browser. The guide warns that older Macs with low RAM may stutter when transcoding 4K footage, so Plex should be set to stream in Original quality to minimize this.

For more advanced users, Linux and open-source applications can turn an old Mac into a sophisticated NAS system with tools such as web-based dashboards, though old Macs with low memory will struggle. Engadget notes Linux is a vast ecosystem with many approaches. A relatively user-friendly solution for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs is to replace the OS with Debian and overlay it with CasaOS or Umbrel, both of which provide resources to guide the process. M-series Macs can also install Debian as a virtual machine. Users comfortable with command-line access can run Docker directly on Debian to install and manage apps more effectively.

Adopting Linux means the Mac will no longer run macOS and will become a headless NAS system managed remotely through a browser, the guide says. Additional tools can expand the setup, including Nextcloud, which turns the Mac into an online file storage system, or Jellyfin, a free, open-source Plex alternative. Engadget describes the process as a way to have fun and get more out of an old Mac.