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Sell My MacBook

Sell a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

Intel or Apple silicon, immaculate or with a swollen battery. Free postage, a free quote with no obligation, and payment within three working days of it arriving and being checked.

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Do this first

Turn off Activation Lock before it leaves you

More MacBook sales fall over on this than on anything to do with condition. It takes two minutes while the machine is still in front of you, and it is awkward to sort out once the laptop is somewhere else.

  1. Back up anything you want to keep. This erases the machine.
  2. System Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings.
  3. Follow the prompts. This signs you out of iCloud and releases Activation Lock as part of the process.
  4. If it will not start, sign in to your Apple account on another device and remove this Mac from your device list instead.

What it is worth

What moves the figure on a MacBook

Different from a Windows laptop, because the range is narrower and buyers are fussier about specifics.

Apple silicon or Intel

The single biggest divide. M-series machines hold value considerably better than the Intel models they replaced, and the gap has widened rather than closed as software has moved on.

Battery cycle count

Apple records it and you can read it yourself: hold Option, click the Apple menu, then System Information → Power. A low count on an older machine is worth mentioning, because it is unusual and it shows.

The exact model, not the year you bought it

Apple menu → About This Mac gives the model identifier. It matters more than the purchase date, because the same external design covers several different specifications.

Whether Activation Lock is off

This is the one that stops a sale dead. See below — it is worth doing before you send anything.

Questions

Selling a MacBook, answered

Anything else, call 020 3411 1951.

Why does Activation Lock matter so much?

Because a MacBook still locked to an Apple ID cannot be set up by anyone else. It is not a matter of knowing the password — the machine checks with Apple, and until the original account releases it the laptop is effectively unusable to a new owner. Wiping the drive does not clear it.

How do I turn Activation Lock off?

Sign out of iCloud, or use Erase All Content and Settings under System Settings → General → Transfer or Reset, which signs you out and releases the lock in one pass. If the machine will not start, you can remove it from your account remotely by signing in to your Apple account on another device and removing it from your list of devices. The full wiping steps.

Will you buy one with a swollen battery or a bad screen?

Yes. Swollen batteries are common on older Airs and Pros and are a known service item rather than a write-off, though it does mean the machine should not be left charging or posted casually — tell us and we will say how to send it safely. Screen faults, including the anti-glare coating wearing off, are worth listing rather than assuming they end the conversation.

What about the butterfly keyboard models?

The 2016 to 2019 machines with the butterfly mechanism are well known for sticking and repeating keys. It affects what they are worth but does not make them worthless, and a machine that has already had the keyboard replaced under Apple’s programme is worth saying so about.

Do I need the box and the charger?

The charger makes a real difference and is worth including — MagSafe and higher-wattage USB-C adapters have value of their own. The box is a small bonus rather than a requirement.

Selling a Windows machine as well? Selling a laptop covers the rest.

Find out what your MacBook is worth

Model, rough age and condition is enough to start. Free postage, and no obligation to accept the figure.

Get A Free QuoteOr call 020 3411 1951