A new Mac is a fresh start, which means it is also an opportunity to get things right from the beginning rather than accumulating years of configuration drift. This guide walks through the key decisions during and after setup.
During initial setup: choices that matter
Apple ID
Sign in with the Apple ID you actually use for iCloud, the App Store, and Apple services. If you have multiple Apple IDs (a common situation if you have changed emails over the years), use your primary one. You can add a second Apple ID for purchases later if needed, but starting with the right primary ID avoids complications with iCloud sync and Family Sharing.
Account name and home folder
Your account name becomes your home folder name (/Users/yourname) and it is annoying to change later. Use lowercase, no spaces, no special characters. johndoe or john, not John Doe. Whatever you type here will appear in Terminal paths and some system prompts for the life of the Mac.
FileVault
Enable it. FileVault encrypts your entire drive, which matters if the Mac is ever lost or stolen. On Apple Silicon Macs, FileVault has negligible performance impact. The only risk is losing your recovery key, so when it is generated: save it in your password manager or another secure location immediately. Do not just dismiss that screen.
iCloud Drive
During setup, macOS asks if you want to store your Desktop and Documents in iCloud Drive. This is useful if you have multiple Macs or access files from iPhone/iPad, but it can be surprising if you are not expecting it — files appear to live on your Mac but actually sync to and from iCloud. Decide deliberately rather than accepting the default without thinking about it.
After setup: first things to configure
Software Update
Go to System Settings > General > Software Update and install any waiting updates. A new Mac from a box may be running a macOS version that is weeks or months old.
Trackpad and mouse settings
Go to System Settings > Trackpad and set tracking speed and click sensitivity to your preference. Enable “Tap to click” if you prefer tapping over pressing. Most people find the default tracking speed too slow — moving it to about 70-80% of maximum is usually better for general use.
Energy settings
Under System Settings > Battery (or Energy Saver on desktops), set display sleep timing to match how you work. On a MacBook, enable “Optimized battery charging” to extend battery lifespan over time.
Install your browser
Download whatever browser you use: Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Arc. If you use Safari, sign in to iCloud to sync your bookmarks and tabs from other devices.
Password manager
If you use a password manager app, install it before anything else that requires a password. This makes setup substantially easier. If you rely on iCloud Keychain, it will sync automatically once you are signed in to your Apple ID.
Menu bar cleanup
After installing apps, the menu bar fills up. Right-click (or Control-click) menu bar icons you do not use and look for a “Remove from Menu Bar” option. Alternatively, hold Cmd and drag icons off the menu bar. A cleaner menu bar makes it easier to find what you actually need.
Set up backups before you do anything else
Before transferring important files or starting work on the new Mac, configure Time Machine. See our Time Machine guide for the full walkthrough. The best time to set up a backup is before you need it, and the second-best time is right now.