Last updated . Follow your own organisation's IT asset disposal policy where it is stricter.
1. Before you wipe
- Make sure anything the business needs is backed up.
- Remove the device from your management tools (Intune, Jamf, Google Admin and so on) and from Apple Business Manager or Windows Autopilot, so it won't re-enrol into your company after the reset.
- Sign out of personal and company accounts, and turn off Find My on Macs.
- Remove any BIOS/UEFI or firmware passwords. Schools need full admin access.
- If you use BitLocker or FileVault, the reset below cryptographically erases the drive.
2. Reset the laptop
Windows 10 and 11
- Open Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC.
- Choose Remove everything.
- Under additional settings, turn on Clean data (this overwrites the drive).
- Let it reinstall Windows, then stop at the first setup screen.
MacBooks (Apple silicon or T2 chip)
- Open System Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter the admin password, then sign out of the Apple ID when prompted, which turns off Activation Lock.
- Stop at the setup assistant.
For older Intel Macs without a T2 chip, erase the drive in Disk Utility from macOS Recovery, then reinstall macOS.
Chromebooks
- Deprovision the device in the Google Admin console.
- Powerwash it: Settings → Advanced → Reset settings → Powerwash.
3. Final check
- The laptop turns on and reaches the setup screen.
- There are no lock screens, management prompts or passwords.
- Put chargers with their laptops (an elastic band works).
Prefer to remove the drives?
Some organisations' policies require drives to be physically removed or destroyed. Tell us when you get in touch. A laptop without a drive is much harder for a school to use, but we'll let you know whether we can still place it.