When Buying a Used Mac

Before we start

Sometimes you don't actually need a new Mac — you just need to breathe new life into the old one! If you feel similar buying a new device, just because your current i performs badly, effort the following:

1. Download and install MacKeeper
2. Clean of junk, duplicates and costless up your storage
3. Run a thorough adware scan and remove threats if found
4. Enable real-fourth dimension antivirus and anti-malware protection

By the mode, the latter is recommended for brand-new Macs equally well.

Are you a Windows-to-Mac switcher with a limited budget? And so buying a refurbished Mac with a warranty and tech back up included sounds like the best option. Alternatively, you can relieve actress money by purchasing a used Mac. We'll walk you through all the necessary steps you lot should take to ensure the Mac you are purchasing won't crash the very next day.

Note: It's a great idea to perform some basic diagnostics when you meet your seller. So, recollect to take an external USB drive with macOS preinstalled, and headphones.

Step ane: Check for damages

Start diagnostics by advisedly examining the body of the used Mac for any concrete damages, such every bit visible scratches. Next, cheque all the screws. Whatsoever loose screws tin be a sign that the Mac has been serviced by a non-authorized repair service. Also, make sure the screen and the case aren't bent.

Finally, check the display hinges (the joints that hold the display and example together). These hinges should exist powerful plenty to support the lid and foreclose it from casually falling.

If you notice any damages when buying a used Mac, you lot could utilise it to deal.

Pace 2: Check how old that Mac is

Does the current Mac possessor claim the Mac is in similar-new condition? That may be true, but that doesn't mean it's actually new. You can check the actual historic period of the Mac by going to About This Mac section of the Apple menu in the upper left corner of the screen.

If macOS is not installed on the used Mac you're examining, you tin can check its age with its serial number. Turn the Mac over and you'll find the serial number side by side to the regulatory markings. Employ these resource to identify the Mac model and its age, also as its warranty and support at the Apple'southward coverage check webpage.

Step iii: Boot this Mac

Time to give this Mac a whirl. Make certain the machine yous want to buy starts and macOS loads all the manner to the desktop picture. If macOS is not installed on this machine, use the bootable drive yous brought with you (the 1 with macOS on board). Hold down the Pick key once you hear the startup chime and select the external startup drive.

If the Mac doesn't boot, it'south not really a deal-breaker. You can check out our tips on what to dо if a Mac doesn't plow on. However, it's up to y'all to decide whether you're prepare to overcome such obstacles. And if yous are, it might be another reason for a discount on the 2d-paw Mac.

Stride 4: Disable firmware countersign

Mac users ready upward various passwords for their devices, but one of them can be a existent headache for the new Mac owner. Bad news if the seller set a firmware password on their device — y'all won't be able to showtime your Mac from the USB drive. When booting a Mac and hearing a startup chinkle, agree downwards the Option primal. If you're prompted to type in the firmware password, inquire the Mac owner to turn it off.

Here's how to disable firmware password:

1. Plough off the Mac
2. Turn it on again and agree down Command (⌘) + R keys immediately afterwards
3. Release the keys when y'all encounter a lock icon and a countersign field
4. Ask the Mac owner to enter the firmware password
5. Click Utilities and select Firmware Password Utility or Startup Security Utility
6. Click Turn Off Firmware Password
7. Enter the firmware countersign when requested
8. Quit the utility and restart the Mac

Stride 5: Check the display status

To spot defective pixels on the display, become to a dead pixels checker that fills your screen with pure colors. Alternatively, open up pictures with a mono-colour groundwork (red, green, blueish, white, or black) on the used Mac. If any pixels are damaged, you'll observe small spots on the display.

Information technology'due south ok if there's a expressionless pixel or ii. However, if in that location are groups of cleaved pixels, then y'all probably shouldn't buy this used MacBook.

Looking alee, if you need any advice or have any specific questions regarding the device you lot've chosen, you can always install MacKeeper and message/telephone call our tech expert.

Our squad would dearest to assist you cull the best device for you, and they will besides explicate  how to apply MacKeeper effectively to prolong your Mac'southward life.

Step 6: Run a keyboard test

Utilize the macOS congenital-in Text Edit app to make sure the keyboard is not malfunctioning. Open it and type every keyboard character. Works fine? Now try the Caps Lock button and functional keys. Works perfectly? Slap-up!

Alternatively, you may utilise Keyboard Viewer. Go to the language menu at the pinnacle menu bar, and select Show Keyboard Viewer. Now every key you hit is displayed in the new keyboard-like window.

Step 7: Bank check the optical drive

If the Mac y'all're about to buy has the optical bulldoze, insert a DVD or a CD disk to check if it reads information.

Step 8: Check all ports

Information technology'due south easy to do. Just connect your external drive to the USB port. Do the same with the headphones. Works? Amazing!

Stride 9: Run webcam diagnostics

Launch the Facetime app or the Apple's Photo Booth app to test the iSight photographic camera. Can you lot see your confront in the app window? That means your webcam works perfectly.

If you encounter a pop-up message saying "In that location is no connected camera", change your app's default camera to the iSight camera. If this problem persists, it could exist a sign of camera issues.

Pace 10: Check hard drive

Deejay Utility is a handy tool to help yous examine the Mac'southward hard drive health.

Hither'southward what to do:

1. Become to Applications in Finder
2. Choose Utilities
3. Select Disk Utility
4. Click on Get-go Assistance in the menu higher up
5. Click Run

The checkup volition take a while and one time you're done, you'll see a window with a list of letters regarding the status of your difficult drive. If yous notice any messages in red, information technology means that something is wrong with the deejay.

A MacBook with a failing difficult drive can be a big headache, only it'south not the stop of the globe. You can e'er fix or supersede it. If this is the example, then brand sure to get a discount from the seller.

Step 11: Check the battery

MacBooks are known for their outstanding bombardment performance, so yous want to brand sure the Mac you lot buy won't drain after just an hour or and then of utilize.

To bank check your Mac's battery health:

1. Click on the Apple Logo
2. Concord down the Option cardinal
3. Select System Data from the drop-downwards menu
4. Open the Power section in the left sidebar menu
5. Pay attention to the Health Information section

Cycle count and Status will help you diagnose the Mac's bombardment health. Most Mac batteries tend to concluding betwixt 300 and g charge cycles. Here you can detect more information on battery bicycle count for different Macs. Make sure the battery cycle count and health are within the limit. As a general rule, the less bombardment bicycle count the better.

Stride 12: Apple Hardware Test

The last step we recommend is an Apple Hardware Test (or Apple Diagnostics on newer Macs). It detects problems with the logic board, memory, and other hardware components.

To starting time Apple Hardware Test:

1. Disconnect all external devices and turn off the Mac
2. Turn it back on and hold the D key once you hear the startup chime
3. Select the language you demand and printing the arrow push button to run the test

For more information, check out this article on Apple Diagnostics.

Got five minutes? Watch our YouTube tutorial to see the steps above!

FAQ

How to test out a used MacBook before you buy it?

To test out a used MacBook earlier you buy, run Apple Diagnostics. It's a built-in Apple tool that tin help you detect bug with RAM, bombardment, sensors, graphics, CPU, and other hardware components. Here's how to run Apple Diagnostics to test out a used MacBook before committing to a purchase:

1. Shut downwardly your Mac and disconnect all peripherals
2. Press and hold the power push until the startup window appears
3. Printing Command (⌘) + D
4. Await for the examination to complete and review the results

How to cheque whether a MacBook is original or not?

To check whether MacBook is original or not, get to the Check Coverage page, which is an Apple tree service allowing you lot to verify your warranty status. In one case there, enter Mac'south serial number into the search field, solve a CAPTCHA, and click Continue. Among the results, y'all volition observe the validation of the purchase date, phone tech support, and service coverage amid others.

To check whether the MacBook is original you need its serial number. It can be found in the About this Mac section of the Apple menu. Alternatively, look up the series number on Mac's bottom case.

How to bank check whether a second-hand or refurbished Mac is stolen or non?

To check whether a second-hand or refurbished Mac is stolen or not, ask the seller to provide the original box and receipt. If the reseller cannot provide you with the receipt, check used Mac's Find My settings. If the settings are disabled, information technology doesn't necessarily mean the Mac has been stolen, but it's a reason to enhance your guard.

Ask the seller to tell you the approximate expiration date of Apple's Limited Warranty and check whether it matches the information on the Bank check Coverage page.

Hither's how information technology's done:

1. Get to the Apple menu and select Nigh this Mac
2. In a window that opens, copy a series number
3. Get to the Check Coverage page and paste the serial number into the search field
4. Compare the results to the 1 provided by the seller
5. If at that place's a considerable discrepancy between the two dates, stay away from the purchase

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Source: https://mackeeper.com/blog/12-things-to-check-before-buying-second-hand-macbook/

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