What programs are installed on refurbished MacBooks?

Question

Accepted Answer

Refurbished MacBooks come with the same software bundle that is pre-installed on new MacBooks. The operating system is reinstalled during refurbishment, and all of Apple's built-in apps are included.

Default apps included

Every refurbished MacBook ships with Apple's standard suite of built-in applications:

Safari for web browsing
Apple Music (formerly iTunes) for music and podcasts
Photos (formerly iPhoto) for photo and video management
iMovie for video editing
GarageBand for music creation
Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for productivity
FaceTime and Messages for communication These apps come free with macOS and are automatically available after setup.

What macOS version to expect

The version of macOS installed determines which apps and features you get. Most refurbishers install the latest compatible macOS, but this can vary. Check what version of macOS MacBooks come with for details on default and maximum supported versions.

Can you install your own software?

Yes. A refurbished MacBook works exactly like a new one, so you can install any software you want:

Download apps from the Mac App Store using your Apple ID
Install third-party apps from developer websites
Use package managers like Homebrew for developer tools

There are no restrictions on software installation. If your MacBook supports the macOS version required by an app, it will run without issues.