What to do with an old laptop

If your old laptop still works, give it a lighter operating system or one simple job, like a home server, homework computer or kitchen laptop, or give it to someone who needs it. If it’s done, wipe it properly, remove it from your accounts and take it to a certified recycler.

Last updated October 25, 2026 · Facts checked against Microsoft, Google, US EPA and project websites

The short version

  • Slow on Windows? Try Linux Mint or ChromeOS Flex from a USB stick first. Both are free.
  • Give it one job: shared file storage, a media server, a homework computer or a kitchen laptop.
  • Passing it on? Back up, then use Reset this PC → Remove everything with the drive-cleaning option, and remove it from your Microsoft account.
  • Never put a laptop or its battery in the household trash. Use a certified recycler or a manufacturer or retailer take-back program.

Start here: does it still work well enough?

If it turns on and the screen and keyboard work, it’s worth reusing. Most of the ideas below don’t need a fast processor.

If it runs Windows 10 and can’t upgrade to Windows 11, read our Windows 10 end of support guide first. You can also look up your model in our Can It Run? database.

Idea 1: Give it a lighter operating system

Free · Best for a laptop that feels slow on Windows

Linux Mint is a free operating system with a familiar desktop. It comes in three editions: Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce, which the project describes as “light, simple, efficient”. You can boot it from a USB stick into a live session to look around first. Changes you make there aren’t saved, and it runs slower than an installed system. Our Linux Mint guide for Windows users and our list of lightweight Linux distros cover the details.

ChromeOS Flex is Google’s free system that turns an old PC or Mac into something like a Chromebook. Google lists these minimums: a 64-bit Intel or AMD processor, 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. It says processors and graphics from 2012 and earlier are unlikely to work, and that Flex is officially supported only on certified models. See our ChromeOS Flex guide.

Before you install: Installing ChromeOS Flex erases everything on the drive, and Google says dual booting isn’t supported. A full Linux Mint install can also erase the drive. Copy your files somewhere safe first, and use the live USB to test before you commit.

Idea 2: Turn it into a home server, NAS or media server

Free software · Best if you’re comfortable following setup guides

An old laptop can sit on a shelf and serve files or media to the rest of the house. These are well-known free projects:

A laptop’s internal drive is usually small, so plan on an external USB drive for storage. If it will stay plugged in all the time, Microsoft recommends keeping lithium-ion batteries between about 20% and 80%. It says Smart charging, on devices that support it, can hold the battery at that level even while the laptop stays plugged in.

If the case ever starts to bulge, stop using the laptop (see our overheating guide).

Idea 3: Make it a homework or kitchen computer

Free · Best for a laptop that’s slow but reliable

A laptop that only runs a browser, documents and video calls doesn’t need much power. For a child, set up a separate account. Microsoft Family Safety lets parents set screen time limits and block apps and sites on Windows.

In the kitchen, use it for recipes, music and calls. Keep it on a firm, flat surface with the vents clear, and away from direct sunlight.

Idea 4: Donate it or trade it in

Best for a working laptop you no longer need

The US EPA says donating or recycling electronics conserves natural resources and avoids pollution. It also says to delete all personal information first, so wipe the laptop as described below.

Ask local schools, libraries and charities what they accept, and include the charger. In the US, Dell Reconnect takes electronics of any brand, in any condition, at participating Goodwill locations. Dell Trade In gives credit toward a Dell.com purchase, not cash. Programs and terms change, so check the current details before you go.

If it’s done: wipe it properly

Before you start: This permanently deletes everything on the laptop. Back up your documents, photos and passwords first. If the drive is encrypted with BitLocker, have your recovery key ready.

Microsoft recommends the following if you plan to donate, recycle or sell a PC:

  1. Open the Reset option. In Windows 11, go to Settings → System → Recovery and select Reset PC. In Windows 10, go to Settings → Update & Security → Recovery and select Get started under “Reset this PC”.
  2. Choose Remove everything, then Cloud download or Local reinstall.
  3. In the settings for the reset, turn on the option to clean the drive (shown as “Clean data”). This removes your files and cleans the drive, which makes them much harder to recover.
  4. Follow the prompts to start the reset.

Cleaning the drive can take a long time. Microsoft says the screen may stay black for more than 15 minutes, and restarting the laptop yourself could make the reset fail, so leave it plugged in and let it finish. If Windows won’t start, you can run the same reset from the recovery environment: Troubleshoot → Reset this PC.

Microsoft also notes that this option doesn’t meet government and industry data-erasure standards. Dell says its consumer recycling programs don’t provide confirmation that a drive was destroyed. If the laptop held very sensitive data and the drive is removable, consider keeping the drive.

Remove it from your accounts

After the reset, sign in at account.microsoft.com/devices, find the laptop and choose Show details → More actions → Remove. Microsoft also suggests choosing Unlink so the laptop no longer counts toward your Microsoft Store device limit. Do the same in any other service that lists your devices.

Recycle it responsibly

The EPA says lithium-ion batteries, and devices that contain them, should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. Batteries that get crushed in a garbage truck or sorting plant can start fires. Your options:

Handle the battery separately

If the battery is designed to be removed, take it out and recycle it at a battery drop-off or household hazardous waste collection point. The EPA advises covering the terminals with non-conductive tape, such as electrical tape, or putting each battery in its own plastic bag. If the battery is built in, recycle the whole laptop with it inside.

If the battery is swollen or damaged, don’t pry it out. Dell warns that puncturing, bending or crushing a swollen battery can be dangerous, and the EPA says to contact the manufacturer for handling instructions.

Frequently asked questions

How do I dispose of an old laptop?

Back it up, reset it with Remove everything and the drive-cleaning option, and remove it from your Microsoft account. Then take it to a certified electronics recycler, a manufacturer or retailer take-back program, or your local hazardous waste program. Don’t put it in the trash or the recycling bin.

Can I use an old laptop as a NAS or home server?

Yes. Free projects like openmediavault (file storage), Jellyfin (media streaming) and Nextcloud (file sync) are built for this. Expect some setup time, and add an external drive for storage.

Where can I donate an old laptop?

Ask local schools, libraries and charities what they accept, and wipe the laptop first. In the US, Dell Reconnect takes electronics of any brand and condition at participating Goodwill locations.

How do I dispose of an old laptop battery?

Take it to a battery recycling drop-off or household hazardous waste collection point, never the trash. Tape the terminals with electrical tape or bag it on its own. If it’s swollen or stuck in the laptop, leave it in and ask the manufacturer or recycler how to handle it.

Is resetting Windows enough to wipe a laptop before recycling?

For most people, Reset this PC with Remove everything and the drive-cleaning option is the step Microsoft recommends. It makes files much harder to recover, but Microsoft says it doesn’t meet government and industry erasure standards. If the drive held highly sensitive data, keep the drive.

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