Deleting personal iCloud info from work laptop?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Deleting personal iCloud info from work laptop?

I'm about to change jobs so my existing work laptop (2018 MacBook Pro) is going back to my employer before I move on. With their consent, I've used their laptop for some personal stuff inc logging into my own iCloud account. I've used all of the iCloud apps and capabilities inc password autofill, emails in the Mail app, Messages, Contacts, Calendar, Safari, Photo, downloads etc etc

I don't have full admin rights to the laptop so can't completely remove my user account or flatten the laptop before handing it back.

How do I permanently remove all my personal iCloud data from their laptop before I hand it back? Am I right in saying, if I simply sign out of my personal iCloud account ALL my stuff will be permanently deleted from it or are local files kept on the laptop which could be accessed once I hand it back via specific software programs?

For the record: I mostly used iCloud file storage for my own personal stuff but there will be some personal files etc on the SSD / desktop. Can they also be permanently deleted?

Whilst I have no reason not to trust my old employer, I wouldn't want all my personal stuff being 'restored' through some of the current restore software packages by someone unscrupulous.

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Apr 7, 2021 4:52 AM

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Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

64,998 points

Apr 9, 2021 4:10 AM in response to rosscopeco73

Sign out Apple ID and its password is from iCloud.com will sign out web account and it will not delete the data , however your company Apple ID is signed in Mac system preferences , the company has authority for complete Mac , may be other devices for other employees / including your data are synced .

The way to access your iCloud account is open a new tab ( use command and T keys ) on www.icloud.com with your account credentials .

You want to save the data on iCloud simultaneously want to delete from office Mac .

If you are having spare Mac ( used in home ) connect an external hard drive Use external storage devices with Mac - Apple Support

See the section - Copy iCloud documents and data before signing out

In the article If you sign out of iCloud on Mac - Apple Support

Once you are confident that your icloud data is saved , go to office and from their Mac delete the files / photos / mails / calendar ....data in recently deleted folder for files / photos , erase them permanently , the mails move to trash , erase permanently , not a single data what ever in download folder , or saved in other locations should not exist on office Mac .

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Answer 2

tygb

Level 9

64,998 points

Apr 7, 2021 8:21 AM in response to rosscopeco73

It depends what type of user account Set up users, guests and groups on Mac - Apple Support is created in office Mac it will be different apart from admin account , do you know admin name and password .

Are you using guest account or standard account , how do you access Mac without knowing admin name and password or switch user accounts Switch quickly between users on Mac - Apple Support

Sitting in the office arrange a new Mac and transfer data into it .Transfer your information to Mac from another computer or device - Apple Support

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Answer 3

rosscopeco73 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 9, 2021 1:34 AM in response to tygb

I've got a standard account (not guest) with access to 90% of the MacBook functions but no access to the admin user name and password.

I've got my own name and password but for things like software updates and installing new apps, I need to go through the company IT department who can remotely access my laptop when I ask them too.

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