Before departing your job and returning your work laptop, we recommend you take these steps to protect your personal information. Here are the steps you should take before returning your work computer.
5 Laptop Return Tips.
Congratulations on getting a new job! You are starting a new path of your professional journey. Before leaving your old job its important to give back your company laptop.
Though your laptop was for "work only", you likely added some personal information like saved passwords, or your Netflix account and need to delete this information before returning your laptop. Here are some recommended tips you should take before returning your company laptop.
Tip #1 - Back Up Your Documents
Organize any remaining company files based on who will need them in your company. For example, if you have financial reports give them to the finance department. If multiple coworkers need files you created, back them up to a shared network drive so everyone can access them. Remember when leaving a company you always want to leave on good terms.
If there are personal files you need or templates you created that you would like to keep copy them over to a USB drive or to your personal cloud storage.
Tip #2 - Delete Personal Applications and Files
Look in places where you saved files, like the Desktop, My Documents, Downloads and other folders you made. Look on your computer for personal photos, videos, and audio files.
On Windows you can search for files directly or on MacOS use Finder to find important files. We recommend you log out and delete personal applications like Spotify for Music or Netflix.
Tip #3 - Save Your Personal Usernames and Passwords
Most of us save passwords on our internet browser for convenience after we create them and do not remember them. Write down and save your personal usernames and passwords.
Tip #4 - Clear Your Browser Data
We recommend you delete your internet history, passwords, cookies, and bookmarks. Most modern browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox, make it easy to delete all your browser data in the browser settings.
To delete your browser data in Chrome, first open Chrome, in the top right click on the 3 dot menu button (ellipsis), hover over the history tab, select history, on the left menu select "Clear Browsing Data". Make sure advanced is selected and time range is "All Time". Double check there is a blue check mark next to each option, and lastly select "clear data".
Tip #5 - Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash Before Returning Your Company Laptop
Remember to delete all your files by throwing them in the recycle bin and emptying it. Files are not deleted from your device until you empty the recycle bin.
To Empty the Recycle Bin on Windows right click on the Recycle Bin and select Empty Recycle Bin.
To Empty the Trash on MacOS click the trash icon on the Dock. On the pop up window click the empty button in the top right corner of the finder window.
Always Leave On Good Terms
Make your transition out of the company as easy as possible. Allow your colleagues to access any needed files or work you finished. Inform your supervisor of the status on any projects you are working on or recently finished.
Bonus Tips
We recommend wiping down your computer with electronic safe computer wipes or a microfiber cloth before returning it. If you where issued a company phone you can use these tips as a guideline to clear your phone.
Return all accessories given to you by your Information Technology department, such as keyboards, mouses, USB dongles, USB drives, mouse pads, docking stations and monitors. We recommend to sign and keep a copy of an asset return form if your Human Resources or Information Technology department has one so you can prove that you returned all company equipment.