4 clever uses for an old Mac

Have you recently set up your new Mac and now you’re faced with the decision of what to do with your old device? It’s still sitting on your desk, waiting for a new purpose.

Luckily, there are several options available to you. You could factory reset your old Mac and sell it, as they tend to retain some value. However, if you can think of a good use for it at home, it might be more beneficial to keep it. Just like we discussed creative uses for old iPhones or iPads, here are some ideas for repurposing your old Mac.

Smart TVs are convenient, but sometimes using a browser on a computer is more efficient. If you find yourself struggling with your smart TV, consider connecting your old Mac to it. This setup can work well, especially if your old Mac is a laptop or a Mac Mini. All you need is an HDMI cable (or a Thunderbolt adapter if your Mac doesn’t have an HDMI port).

This setup becomes even more convenient with a wireless mouse and keyboard, allowing you to control everything from the comfort of your couch. Additionally, any Mac can function as an Airplay receiver, enabling you to share your iPhone or iPad’s screen and audio on your TV. This feature is especially handy if your smart TV doesn’t support Airplay.

Keep in mind that using an iMac for this purpose may not be ideal due to the cumbersome setup of connecting one screen to another. However, you could repurpose your old iMac as a streaming TV for a spare room or any area where background entertainment is desired.

Retro Gaming

While repurposing an old Wii for retro gaming is a popular choice, setting up emulation software like OpenEmu or RetroArch on your old Mac is even simpler. You can add ROMs from various systems and connect a controller to your Mac for a console-like gaming experience. This setup works best when your Mac is connected to a TV, effectively turning it into a gaming console.

Home Server

If you need a server for sharing files on your local network, accessing your computer remotely, or setting up a private email server, an old Mac can serve as an excellent solution. This is especially true for the Mac Mini, which can be discreetly placed in a cabinet or drawer. By configuring the Mac’s settings under General > Sharing in the System Preferences, you can enable file sharing, media sharing, and more. You can even set up SSH access for advanced users. Essentially, you can transform your old Mac into a functional home server relatively easily.

Time Machine Backup

To simplify backups for your new Mac, consider using your old Mac as a Time Machine backup server. This setup allows you to back up your new Mac without the hassle of manually connecting a backup drive. Simply create a shared folder on your old Mac dedicated to Time Machine backups and configure Time Machine to utilize it. While there are alternative methods for network backups, backing up to an old Mac has proven to be a reliable and efficient solution. If your old Mac is already functioning as a server, this option is worth considering.

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