Setting up a new MacBook Pro doesn't have to be a scary process. Thanks to iCloud, the Mac App Store, and other cloud-based storage providers like Dropbox, this premise isn't nearly as terrifying as it used to be. But there are still a few steps you're going to want to make sure you go through when setting up your new laptop from scratch.
Here are the steps you should follow to get your computer up and running.
Step 1: Set up your computer
Before you can get to the fun of customizing your Mac, you should probably unpack it and set it up first. Logging into iCloud here will start the process of syncing your keychain, internet accounts, and Desktop & Documents folders (if you have them active), so it's good to do right off the bat.
Step 2: Reauthorize your internet accounts
iCloud will sync all your internet accounts from another Mac, but any non-Apple account will have to be reauthorized (read: password re-entered) before you can use them again. As such, doing this first in a new machine is ideal.
Your two options here are “Start, taskbar, and action center” and “Title bars and window borders.” The first option uses the accent color as the background for your Start menu, taskbar, and action center and also highlights certain items on those elements—such as app icons on. The iTunes Artwork screensaver fills your Mac’s display with the covers of your albums. Even better, you can just click an album to get the music started. Change your wallpaperall day long.
Repeat for each account you wish to reauthorize. Clone hard drive mac os.
Step 3: Customize your System Preferences
While you're in System Preferences, you might as well customize some other aspects of your system. This includes, but isn't limited to:
Step 4: Check for Software Updates
New Macs should ship with the latest and greatest software, but on the off-chance you're not on the latest version, check for new updates:
Step 5: Redownload Mac App Store apps
Next, you should redownload Mac App Store apps that you need on the new computer.
Step 6: Re-download non-Mac App Store apps
If you use any Adobe products or other non-Mac App Store items, you won't be able to re-download them from the App Store: Instead, open Safari and download them from their respective websites. A big one here is Dropbox: Not only is it good to get your folders synced, but if you use Dropbox for syncing your information (say, 1Password), you'll want it installed so that your passwords are easily accessible.
Step 7: Set up your password manager
Before you get into customizing Safari and your other apps, make sure you can sign in to all of them by setting up your password manager. (You do have a password manager, right? If not, now is a great time to think about getting one, so you don't have to scrounge for passwords any time you need to set up a device from scratch.)
Step 8: Customize the Finder, Safari, and other app views
The View menu allows most app windows to be pretty thoroughly changed, depending on your preference; a must-customize list includes Finder, Safari, and Mail, but pick the apps you use most often to fix first!
This is also the time you might want to customize the Touch Bar for each app, if you have a compatible Mac, and or add Favorites to Mail's toolbar (which don't sync via iCloud, for some reason).
Step 9: Add Safari extensions
Most of us use at least one Safari extension on our Macs, whether that's a Pinterest pinner, Buffer socialer, or ad blocker. After you've customized Safari, it's a great time to configure your Safari extensions.
Step 10: Log in to common websites
Whether your internet addiction includes Facebook, Quora, Twitter, Google, or Reddit, chances are there's a web service you can't live without. Go ahead and log into those now, so you don't have to worry about scrounging around for two-factor codes. (You do have two-step authentication set up, right?)
Step 11: Make sure Messages is sending from the right iCloud address
When you set up a computer from scratch, you lose out on a key part of your history: your iMessage archive, which is encrypted and only synced as part of an iCloud backup. As such, you'll need to re-customize your Messages settings, including which address you send from by default. Otherwise, people may not understand why '[email protected]' is suddenly sending them iMessages.
May 26, 2020 And as updates that change the macOS version number become available, this article is updated to show the latest version of that macOS. If your Mac is using an earlier version of any Mac operating system, you should install the latest Apple software updates, which can include important security updates and updates for the apps installed. Feb 16, 2019 Simply click on the version number at the About This Mac screen, a hexadecimal code next to the version will appear showing that specific software release build number. The build number can be helpful for more advanced users to know, but is generally not necessary information for average Mac. Check software version for mac.
Step 12: Sign in to Music and Photos
Want to use Apple Music and iCloud Photo Library? You'll need to open Music and Photos before doing so and likely log in with your Apple ID and password.
Step 13: Enjoy your new Mac!
After all that customization, take some time to enjoy using it! It's new and shiny, after all.
Offline web design software mac. (And then maybe make a backup, so you don't have to set up from scratch again.)
What's on your must-customize list?
That's the list! But what do you folks do when setting a computer up from scratch? Let me know in the comments.
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Updated May 2020: Includes information for macOS Catalina and new MacBook Pros.
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