Forum Discussion
How to remove personal information from computer before selling
Hi everyone, I'm preparing to sell my computer and want to ensure that all my personal information is completely removed before handing it over to the new owner. I'm not very tech-savvy, so I'm look...
Most modern operating systems have a built-in reset or recovery option that allows you to restore your computer to its original factory settings. You can use this trick to remove personal information from computer before selling, which typically erases all personal data and reinstall the operating system.
For Windows:
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under "Reset this PC," click Get started.
- Choose Remove everything (this ensures all personal files, apps, and settings are deleted).
- Follow the prompts to complete the reset.
For macOS:
- Restart your Mac and hold down Command + R to enter Recovery Mode.
- Select Disk Utility and erase your startup disk (choose APFS or JFS+ format).
- Quit Disk Utility and select Reinstall macOS to reinstall the operating system.
In short, factory reset is a very simple way to delete and remove personal information from computer before selling.