What to Do Before Giving Away an Old Laptop

For students and home users

For what to do before giving away an old laptop, a single old laptop is a straightforward pickup — no need to wait for a larger batch. Back up what you need, wipe accounts and personal files, and book whenever it's convenient.

Resale or recycling

For what to do before giving away an old laptop, if a laptop or desktop still powers on and functions, it's worth checking resale value before assuming recycling is the only option. Non-working or severely outdated devices are the clearer candidates for straightforward recycling.

Data comes before anything else

For what to do before giving away an old laptop, computers are one of the most common sources of leftover personal or business data. A factory reset removes a lot, but for certainty — especially on a device that held business files — ask about data destruction before the device changes hands.

Related services