5 things to know when buying a used Mac

• Buying a used Mac can save you some money, but there are some important things to keep in mind.
• Make sure to test a used Mac – make sure the screen has no dead pixels and the ports are working, among other operational aspects.
• You should also check the specifications of the Mac and make sure the battery is in good condition.
• Visit the Insider Tech Reference Library for more stories.

You can save a lot of money by buying a Mac that you own. As soon as a computer leaves retail, it loses much of its value, but a Mac that is a few years old can still have great value.

5 things to know when buying a used Mac

However, there are always some risks associated with buying a second-hand computer, so here are some things to know about buying a used Mac.

Refurbished is usually better than used

There is a huge market for previously owned Macs, and you can buy a used Mac directly from a private owner, or you can get a refurbished model that has the advantage of being inspected, replacing faulty components, certifying in good condition, and even featuring warranty coverage. In general, getting a refurbished Mac is much safer than buying a used computer without a warranty, and you can find refurbished models on reputable reseller sites and even directly from Apple.

Beware of impending Mac obsolescence

All Macs, regardless of model or age, will eventually become obsolete. That means it will no longer be supported by Apple and you will not be able to install operating system updates or security patches. For a used Mac to be a good value, you must have one that puts that obsolescence date as far into the future as possible. It’s a good idea not to invest in a used Mac that’s more than three years old, because Apple tends to support its computers for about six years. Also, keep in mind that Apple is moving away from Intel processors. As Macs with Intel chips are phased out in favor of Apple’s own silicon, your used Intel Mac may start to go out of date sooner than expected.

Get the details on the Mac used

If you are buying a Mac from a private seller, you may need that person’s help to get a detailed view of the computer before making the purchase. The easiest way to find out all the important specs at once, including the year the model was produced, is to request a screenshot of the “About This Mac” screen, found in the Apple menu. It will tell you details like model, serial number, RAM, OS version, and more.

Make sure there is no firmware password

The previous owner may have set a firmware password, which can prevent you from starting your Mac from a USB port, which can be important during troubleshooting or disaster recovery. To find out, start Mac and hold down the Option key. If you are prompted for a password, ask the owner to disable it before purchasing the computer.

Test the Mac to make sure it is working properly

If you can spend some time with your Mac before buying it, there are some simple tests you can run to make sure your computer is in good working order. Minor cosmetic blemishes aren’t a big deal, but if the battery is dead, that could be a deal breaker.

Perform a factory reset

When you buy a used Mac, you don’t know the history of what has been on the hard drive. The previous owner probably performed a factory reset, but there is no reason to take chances, there may be

malware
installed even if it looks clean. For details on how to do this, read our article “How to clean a Mac computer and reset it to factory settings.”