How to check a used laptop before you buy
- Meet in a place with Wi-Fi and a power socket, and ask for the charger.
- Run this full check and save the report — it covers the screen, keyboard, touchpad, speakers, microphone, camera, battery and internet.
- Look at the screen on white and black backgrounds for dead pixels, bright spots and pressure marks.
- Check the battery health: on Windows run powercfg /batteryreport, on a Mac open System Information → Power.
- Make sure the laptop is not locked to someone else’s account (Apple ID, Microsoft account or a company management profile).
- Look at the hinges, ports and charging port, and listen to the fan under load during the speed test.
- Compare the processor, memory and storage in the report with what the seller advertised.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the full check take?
About 10 minutes. The automatic checks take under a minute; the rest depends on how carefully you test the keyboard and screen.
Does the check send my data anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Only if you click “Share report” is a summary of the results saved so the link works.
Can I use it on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Steps that don’t apply — for example the keyboard on a phone — can be skipped, and the touchscreen step appears automatically on touch devices.
What should I do if a step shows a problem?
Open the full test for that part from the report for more detail, and see the related fix guide.