# How to safely wipe your old laptop before giving it away

> Protect your personal data before selling, donating, or recycling an old computer.
- Title: How to safely wipe your old laptop before giving it away
- Summary: Protect your personal data before selling, donating, or recycling an old computer. Back up everything first, then use your operating system's built-in secure…
- Keywords: data privacy, laptop disposal, factory reset, windows backup, macos time machine, secure data wiping, recycling, personal information protection, technology, safely, wipe, old
- Source: Engadget — https://engadget.com/2259329/how-to-wipe-old-laptop
- Author: Christine Persaud
- Published: 2026-09-20T15:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: data privacy, laptop disposal, factory reset, windows backup, macos time machine, secure data wiping, recycling, personal information protection, technology
## Your old laptop holds your secrets
Before selling, donating, or recycling an old laptop, you must protect your personal data. Simply deleting files isn't enough; they can still be recovered.
## Back up everything first
On Windows, use Windows Backup to save to OneDrive or a portable hard drive. For Mac, use Time Machine to back up to a USB drive with at least twice your MacBook's storage.
## Consider a combination backup approach
Windows Backup covers settings and personalization, but only offers 5GB free storage. Combine it with a local backup using EaseUS Todo Backup's free version for complete protection.
## Sign out and deauthorize everything
Before wiping, sign out of all accounts and deauthorize software licenses like Adobe Creative Suite. Some licenses only work on a limited number of computers.
## Windows 11 secure wipe process
Go to Start, Settings, System, Recovery, then Reset PC. Choose Remove everything, then enable Clean data to securely overwrite the drive and make data unrecoverable.
## Windows 10 and 8.1 wipe steps
Windows 10: Settings, Update and Security, Recovery, then Reset this PC. Windows 8.1: Settings, Change PC settings, Update and recovery, then Remove everything and reinstall Windows.
## Mac wipe for Monterey and later
Open System Settings, General, Transfer or Reset, then Erase All Contents and Settings. Enter your computer password and Apple ID password to complete the secure wipe.
## Older Intel Mac wipe process
First sign out of iCloud manually to remove Activation Lock. Then restart in Recovery Mode, use Disk Utility to erase the drive as APFS, and reinstall macOS.
## Your laptop is now ready to go
After a secure wipe using built-in tools, your data is unrecoverable. Your old laptop is now safe to sell, donate, or recycle without risking your personal information.
## Key takeaway

Back up everything first, then use your operating system's built-in secure wipe tools to make your data unrecoverable before handing over your old laptop.