Even the best gaming laptops only last a certain amount of time before they break or start slowing down to the point where it’s impossible to play properly. Upgrading some of the hardware can extend the lifespan of your laptop but, eventually, you will need to replace it. But you need to be very careful when getting rid of the old laptop because it has a lot of personal information on it. You also need to make sure you dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way because electronic waste is a big problem right now. If you have an old gaming laptop that you don’t need anymore, here’s how to get rid of it responsibly.

Back Everything Up 

Your laptop has a lot of important information on it, and if you’re using it for gaming, you have a lot of save data too. Before you get rid of your old laptop, you need to back everything up so you don’t lose anything important and you can easily set up your new laptop when you get it. When you are backing up your laptop, take the opportunity to clear out any old files that you don’t need anymore so you don’t clutter up the new laptop. Then, get yourself an external hard drive and backup all of your data. Alternatively, you can use a cloud storage service to save all of your files. 

Clear The Laptop

Once it’s backed up, you need to clear everything off the laptop. When you throw the laptop away, there is a chance that somebody could take sensitive information from it. People often make the mistake of simply deleting files but they are still accessible, so you need to clear them completely. You can find a quick guide here to show you how to make sure that files are gone for good. If the laptop is still in good working order and you are planning to sell it, clearing it properly is crucial. If you plan to throw the laptop away, you can make extra sure that your data is secure by destroying the hard drive. 

Find A Recycling Center 

You can’t just throw an old laptop in the bin because electronics need to be disposed of properly or they will cause damage to the environment. Most local authorities have guidelines about how to dispose of old laptops and, in most cases, you will need to take it to a recycling center. Make sure that you check the guidelines and take your old laptop to the nearest recycling center. Alternatively, you could look for businesses that recycle and refurbish old laptops. This is a better option because your old laptop will still get used instead of being thrown out. 

Now that you have disposed of your old laptop in the right way, it’s time to start looking for a new one. If you are unsure about what you should be looking for in a new gaming laptop, check out this list of the best ones in 2021.