Donate devices

Donate laptops and IT equipment.

Most of our donations come from businesses and organisations replacing their equipment. Every donation is arranged in advance, so we know what’s coming and can make the most of it.

Arrange a donation What we accept
Donated laptops lined up on the workshop bench, plugged in under the Plug the Gap banner

How it works

Arrange it first, every time.

We’re a small team and can’t take devices left at our unit without warning. A quick email first lets us check your equipment and agree a collection or drop-off time.

Donating a device of your own? We’re glad to hear from you too, as long as it meets the specification below. Email us first, the same as everyone else.

  1. Check your devices

    Compare them with the minimum specification below.

  2. Email us a list

    Tell us what you have, how many, and roughly how old, at info@ptg.org.uk.

  3. We agree a time

    We’ll arrange to collect, or a time for you to drop off.

  4. We wipe and refurbish

    Any data left on a device is securely erased before it’s passed on.

Minimum specification

What we can accept.

We accept devices that can be securely refurbished and reliably reused. A laptop doesn’t have to support Windows 11 if it can run ChromeOS Flex instead, and if it already runs Windows 10, Windows 11 or ChromeOS, we should be able to use it.

Laptops and desktop PCs

  • 2016+ Processor
  • 4GB+ Memory
  • 32GB+ Storage
Operating system
Able to run Windows 11, or a supported ChromeOS-based system such as ChromeOS Flex
Power
Powers on reliably
Display
Working, with no significant damage
Keyboard and trackpad
Working, on laptops
Battery
Safe and serviceable. We may replace it where that’s economical
Connectivity
Working Wi-Fi or Ethernet
Locks
No BIOS/UEFI, firmware, MDM or other management locks that can’t legitimately be removed

Tablets and smartphones

Each device should be:

  • Still able to receive security updates
  • At least 32GB of storage
  • A working screen and touchscreen
  • Working Wi-Fi and charging
  • Removed from the previous owner’s Apple, Google or manufacturer account
  • No Activation Lock, Factory Reset Protection or MDM restrictions
  • Not reported lost, stolen or network blocked

Please don’t send

What we generally can’t accept.

  • Devices too old or underpowered to run Windows 11 or a ChromeOS-based system reliably
  • Significant liquid, screen or chassis damage
  • Swollen or unsafe batteries
  • Devices that don’t power on and would cost too much to repair
  • BIOS-, firmware-, activation- or MDM-locked devices where the lock can’t legitimately be removed
  • Devices reported lost or stolen
  • Anything that’s an electrical or physical safety risk

Impact since 2022

What donated tech has done so far.

120+ laptops and devices handed over to people who need them
90+ device requests fulfilled for people and community groups
20+ businesses and organisations have donated equipment
45 requests for devices in 2026, up from 8 in 2023
  1. 4 2022
  2. 8 2023
  3. 38 2024
  4. 38 2025
  5. 45 2026

From our donation and referral records, November 2026.

Contact

Get in touch

We accept device requests through referrals from organisations, rather than from individuals. Get in touch to find out more, make a referral, or offer support.

Call us01603 985655 Email usinfo@ptg.org.uk
Two Plug the Gap team members working through a laptop setup together