Engadget
Don't just hand your laptop to a friend or secondhand store; you need to protect your personal data.
You can hold onto it as a backup, hand it down to a family member, use it as a media server and much more.
Of course, you shouldn't throw an old laptop in the trash. The best options are selling or donating if it's still usable, or taking it in for safe recycling otherwise. No matter what destiny you choose for your old laptop, there are a few steps you should take first.
Clearing out your files and running a factory reset are both crucial, but there's more to it. Whether you're getting rid of a MacBook or a Windows computer, make sure you do what's necessary to protect your private information and prepare the device for a new owner, if applicable.
Backing up is always the first step, even before transferring files to a new laptop. On a Windows PC, you can use Windows Backup by searching for it in the Start menu. While you can copy files to the drive manually, EaseUS Todo Backup's free version is a good choice for automating this.
Visit System Settings > General > Time Machine > Add Backup Disk, then select the storage device you have connected and follow the instructions. You can also use iCloud to back up some kinds of data under System Settings > > iCloud > Saved to iCloud.
On Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery and click Get started under Reset this PC; the process is similar to Windows 11 from there.