Reusing old Apple hardware is a little easier than resuscitating an old PC, as long as Apple still supports your device. For older Macs with Intel processors, hold down the Command+R keys during boot-up to enter recovery mode and reinstall macOS. For newer Macs (those using Apple silicon), keep holding down the power button until you see a list of your storage drives and an Options button appear. Similar recovery and reinstallation options are available in the Options menu. Recovery might automatically install the most recent version of macOS that’s compatible with your Mac, and that’s the right thing to do. With that version, you’ll get the most recent security patches available for your system, and common apps like Chrome and Microsoft Office will run properly.
Older Macs made before 2020 use processors made by Intel, and Apple has been slowly phasing out support for these computers. Apple treats each product line differently when it comes to OS support, so while MacBook Pros made from 2018-2019 can run 2024’s macOS Sequoia, MacBooks Airs made at the same time can only run the version of macOS released in 2023, macOS Sonoma. You can use Apple’s website to see which macOS you have installed, and which macOS version is compatible with your computer. macOS Ventura stopped receiving security patches in fall 2025, which means Macs from 2017 or before are no longer supported by Apple. You can still run less-secure versions of the older macOS versions, but we generally don’t recommend it. Some older MacBooks can run ChromeOS Flex instead, however.
To reuse an old iPad, first perform a factory reset to erase old apps and data, and to give yourself a clean slate. Then, install the most recent version of iOS or iPadOS that the tablet can run. Models older than 2019’s iPad mini (5th gen), iPad Air (3rd gen) and the 8th-generation iPad can no longer update to the latest version of iPadOS, however. And in addition to missing regular security updates, they may not be able to run the apps and games you want to use. Apple occasionally releases security updates for older devices, but these instances seem to be only to patch critical flaws. You can check your iPad’s compatibility here, and if you don’t see your model under iPadOS 26, use the drop-down menu at the top of the page to try older iPadOS versions.
