MacLife UK – August 2019

Sign out of Messages
In this app, go to Messages >
Preferences. Click the iMessage tab in the
new window, then click the Sign Out button to
ensure this Mac stops getting messages that
are pushed by Apple’s server to your Apple ID.

Erase internal storage
In Recovery (bit.ly/mfrcvry), open Disk
Utility and choose View > Show All Devices.
Select the internal drive and click Erase. If
it’s a hard disk or Fusion Drive, click Security
Options and select a suitable erasure level.

Quit the Setup Assistant
Wait for the macOS installer to finish
up. When it reaches the Welcome screen, press
Cmd+Q and click Shut Down. When the Mac’s
new owner starts it up, they’ll get to set it up
as if it were fresh from the factory.

Unpair Bluetooth devices

If you’re passing on the keyboard and

mouse/trackpad, leave those paired for the

next owner. In Bluetooth prefs, select other

devices you want to unpair in turn, clicking

on each one’s “X” so the Mac forgets them.

Install macOS

Still in Recovery, you should now install

macOS onto the erased internal storage.

By entering Recovery using Cmd+R, the option

to install macOS should give you the same

version you’ve just been running.

Remove from your

account

Note your Mac’s serial number. Once your Mac

has gone, if you’ve an iOS device, open Settings

> [your name] and locate that Mac in the list of

products, then click “Remove from Account”.

GENIUS TIP

Disk Utility doesn’t erase

SSDs to sanitize sensitive

data. Turn on FileVault

encryption, let it

complete, then erase

the drive in Disk Utility.

GENIUS TIP

Potentially increase your

MacBook’s sale value

by advertising its

battery cycles (if low).

Look in Apple > About This

Mac > System Report >

Hardware > Power.

How to do anything on your Mac, iPhone & iPad

All images rights: Apple. maclife.comAUG 2019 83