Need help with MacBook I just sold! Worried that a factory reset wasn’t complete!!

I sold my old MacBook on eBay after I erased the computer and reinstalled the latest OS. The computer was sold with the “choose your language” screen. A day after he received it, he messaged me asking me for a password to unlock the disk “Untitled - Data.” Is it possible that the disk did not get factory reset?! And if it didn’t, can he access any of my old information on the computer? I don’t know how to proceed. Any help would be appreciated!!

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Nov 13, 2025 1:23 AM

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Posted on Nov 13, 2025 6:57 PM

Is the scratched out Hint in the photo your hint? If that is your Hint, then it appears you did not properly erase the Mac. The good news is it appears Filevault is enabled so as long as the new owner is not able to guess the password from the Hint, then your data should be safe (it is only as safe as the password used though).


FYI, here are all the steps you should have performed prior to selling a Mac:

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support


You neglected to mention the exact model of this Mac. This is very important because the procedure to erase an encrypted Mac is different between the older models and the newer 2018+ Macs (T2 & M-series models). If it is an older 2017 & earlier model without the T2 security chip, then you can just have the new owner erase the whole physical drive using Disk Utility (see the "Erase" instructions in the Apple article I linked.....Step #5). This will allow the new owner to erase & properly reinstall macOS. Since you had Filevault enabled, it will destroy the ability to access.


If it is a 2018+ Mac with T2 chip or M-series Mac, then it will likely require access to another Mac running macOS 26.x Tahoe (possibly macOS 15.x Sequoia) to perform a DFU Firmware Restore....I'm not entirely sure if that will work....it should if FindMy is not enabled. One of these models may require you to get the laptop back & properly erase the system using the Apple article I linked.


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 13, 2025 6:57 PM in response to groshong

Is the scratched out Hint in the photo your hint? If that is your Hint, then it appears you did not properly erase the Mac. The good news is it appears Filevault is enabled so as long as the new owner is not able to guess the password from the Hint, then your data should be safe (it is only as safe as the password used though).


FYI, here are all the steps you should have performed prior to selling a Mac:

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support


You neglected to mention the exact model of this Mac. This is very important because the procedure to erase an encrypted Mac is different between the older models and the newer 2018+ Macs (T2 & M-series models). If it is an older 2017 & earlier model without the T2 security chip, then you can just have the new owner erase the whole physical drive using Disk Utility (see the "Erase" instructions in the Apple article I linked.....Step #5). This will allow the new owner to erase & properly reinstall macOS. Since you had Filevault enabled, it will destroy the ability to access.


If it is a 2018+ Mac with T2 chip or M-series Mac, then it will likely require access to another Mac running macOS 26.x Tahoe (possibly macOS 15.x Sequoia) to perform a DFU Firmware Restore....I'm not entirely sure if that will work....it should if FindMy is not enabled. One of these models may require you to get the laptop back & properly erase the system using the Apple article I linked.


Need help with MacBook I just sold! Worried that a factory reset wasn’t complete!!

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