Moving to a new Mac? Before taking these steps, you can use Migration Assistant to move your files from the old Mac to your new Mac.
Create a backup
Jun 16, 2020. Apple says the new MacOS Big Sur update is its biggest design change in almost 20 years. The refreshed operating system for Mac computers includes a big update to the web browser, more privacy.
Make sure that you have a current backup of your important files. Learn how to back up your Mac.
Sign out of iTunes in macOS Mojave or earlier
If you're using macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes. From the menu bar at the top of the screen or iTunes window, choose Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. Then enter your Apple ID and password and click Deauthorize.
Learn more about deauthorizing computers used with your iTunes account.
Sign out of iCloud
If you're using macOS Catalina or later, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Apple ID. Select Overview in the sidebar, then click Sign Out.
If you're using macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click iCloud, then click Sign Out.
You will be asked whether to keep a copy of your iCloud data on this Mac. You can click Keep a Copy, because you're erasing your Mac later. Your iCloud data remains in iCloud and on any other devices that are signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
Sign out of iMessage
If you're using OS X Mountain Lion or later, open the Messages app, then choose Messages > Preferences from the menu bar. Click iMessage, then click Sign Out.
Reset NVRAM
Shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. This clears user settings from memory and restores certain security features that might have been altered.
Learn more about resetting NVRAM or PRAM.
Optional: Unpair Bluetooth devices that you’re keeping
If your Mac is paired with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, trackpad, or other Bluetooth device that you plan to keep, you can unpair it. This optional step prevents accidental input when the Mac and device have separate owners but remain in Bluetooth range of each other.
If you're unpairing Bluetooth input devices from a desktop computer such as an iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Pro, you must plug in a USB keyboard and mouse to complete the remaining steps in this article.
To unpair a Bluetooth device, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Bluetooth. Move your pointer over the device that you want to unpair, then click the remove (x) button next to the device name.
Erase your hard drive and reinstall macOS
The best way to restore your Mac to factory settings is to erase your hard drive and reinstall macOS.
After macOS installation is complete, the Mac restarts to a setup assistant that asks you to choose a country or region. To leave the Mac in an out-of-box state, don't continue setup. Instead, press Command-Q to shut down the Mac. When the new owner turns on the Mac, the setup assistant guides them through the setup process.
No matter the model or condition, we can turn your device into something good for you and good for the planet: Learn how to trade in or recycle your Mac with Apple Trade In.
New Apple Product Rumors
It's Apple's Worldwide Development Conference (WWDC) day today, and the company is widely expected to announce the start of transition from Intel processors to its own, ARM architecture-based chips for laptops and desktop computers.
But while previous reports suggested a fairly timid transition, a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is far more exciting.
Kuo (via 9to5Mac) claims that Apple will launch an ARM-based, 13.3-inch MacBook Pro as early as the last quarter of 2020 or the first quarter of 2021. He also expects Apple to launch a 24-inch iMac with an ARM-based processor in this timeframe.
Kuo's report has a notable difference from Bloomberg's report from April, which said Apple would introduce its ARM-based chips into laptops first, as it would be hard for them to rival the performance of Intel chips in the iMac and Mac Pro. Kuo, however, expects the ARM-based chips to offer a massive, 50-100% performance improvement over their Intel-based predecessors. Details are scarce, but if Apple could achieve that with the iMac, the company could transition to the new chips pretty quickly, and Kuo thinks all new Macs will run on Apple chips starting in 2021.
Kuo also expects Apple to launch a new-form MacBook to go into production in mid-2021, also with an ARM-based chip. Apple should also launch a MacBook with a mini-LED display in the first half of 2021.
SEE ALSO: How to watch Apple's WWDC 2020 event
There was also some potentially disappointing news for everyone who expected new hardware at this year's WWDC. Several leakers, including Jon Prosser and Max Weinbach, say Apple probably won't launch any hardware, and Bloomberg's analyst Mark Gurman seems to agree as well. It's unclear whether this was planned all along or if Apple scrapped the launch at the last minute.
I had two sources tell me no hardware for WWDC tomorrow. They aren’t on WWDC related teams but heard it through the Apple grapevine. I’d take this with a grain of salt, but thought it was worth mentioning.
— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) June 21, 2020
New Apple Mac Pro
Don't get us wrong: If Apple announces ARM-based chips, there will be a lot of hardware talk at the event, but if these recent reports are true, there will be no fixed-date hardware launches.
Previous rumors suggested Apple would be launching a new iMac with a new design language similar to the iPad Pro. And Kuo did say in his latest report that a new iMac launch is imminent (to avoid confusion, Kuo was referring to an Intel-based iMac, which should be Apple's last new Mac before the company transitions to ARM chips).
As for software, there should be a ton of new stuff across all of Apple's platforms; check out our overview of possible new features here.
New Mac From Apple To Pc
We'll find out who's right and who's wrong soon enough, as the WWDC – which is a special, virtual event this year – starts today (Monday) at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT. Here's how to tune in.