How to set up a new Mac

Forget men, I want to marry my MacBook. It’s dependable, reliable and you can even go shopping with it, Alexandra Potter

macOS is one of the most powerful, robust, secure, intuitive, and stable operating systems in the world. The setup assistant will launch once you turn the computer on and is pretty straight forward.

1. Navigate Initial Preferences. Select your preferred language, keyboard layout, and connect to your local Wi-Fi network. When prompted by Migration Assistant, select whether you want to transfer information from a Time Machine backup, a Windows PC, or another Mac, or choose to skip it for a clean slate.

2. Enable Location Services (required for accurate time zones, Maps, and local Siri results). Sign in with your Apple ID. On the Computer Account creation screen, enter your Full Name, Account Name, Password, and Hint. Check the boxes for Allow my Apple ID to reset this password and Set time zone based on current location.

3. Enable Security and Siri:Setup Assistant. Check Turn on FileVault disk encryption. Select Allow my iCloud account to unlock my disk (note that while convenient, this allows Apple to technically assist in decrypting your drive). Proceed to enable Siri when prompted.

4. Verify Hardware Coverage. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select About This Mac. Click on the More Info… button if required by your macOS version, and look for your AppleCare+ or Limited Warranty status.
   A window will display your exact hardware specifications, serial number, and active coverage expiration date.

Homebrew, Essential Apps

1. Homebrew is a macOS package manager. It install the stuff you need that apple didn’t.

   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
   echo >> /Users/nmaximo7/.zprofile
   echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv zsh)"' >> /Users/nmaximo7/.zprofile
   eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv zsh)"
   

   Finally, verify that Homebrew is set up correctly: brew doctor

2. Install some software:

   # Source Code Pro is widely considered a very good, reliable monospaced font for reading and writing code
   # Homebrew has two install types:
   # `brew install ` — command-line tools (git, python, uv, node…)
   # `brew install --cask ` — full GUI applications, the Homebrew equivalent of dragging a `.dmg` into /Applications,
   # but scriptable and upgradable with `brew upgrade`.
   brew install --cask font-source-code-pro
   brew install --cask vlc 
   zen-browser # Zen is a free, Firefox-based web browser designed for macOS.
   # Alternatives: google-chrome and brave-browser
   dropbox # Dropbox is a file hosting service.
   syncthing-app # Syncthing is a continuous file synchronization program.
   google-drive # Download and sync with Google Drive.
   gimp # Gimp is a free and open source image manipulation program.
   virtualbox # The world's most popular open source, cross-platform, virtualization software.
   visual-studio-code # A source-code editor made by Microsoft.
   obsidian # Obsidian is both a Markdown editor and a knowledge base app.
   handbrake # Video transcoder.
   neovim # Neovim is a Vim-based text editor engineered for extensibility and usability, to encourage new applications and contributions.
   docker # Install Docker, then test it: docker run hello-world
   rocket # You can type emoticons easily everywhere, e.g., :wav 〰️, :smiley 😄, etc. It is faster than using the macOS's Emoji keyboard shortcut (Command + Control + Space).
   rectangle # Moves and resizes windows in macOS using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas (cmd + option + left/right). full screen: cmd + shift + '
   

3. Productivity: Deskflow is a free and open-source KVM. It is the actively-maintained successor to Input Leap/Barrier/Synergy, and it’s explicitly network-compatible with them. Espanso is an open source, cross-platform text Expander. Raycast replaces Spotlight with an extensible productivity hub that handles window management, clipboard management, API extensions, and custom web searches.

   (i) Tap the repo: `brew tap deskflow/tap`. 
   (ii) Trust it (this cask needs that explicit step): `brew trust deskflow/tap`. 
   (iii) Install: `brew install deskflow`.
   

4. VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player.

5. KeyClu is a simple and handy overview of application shortcuts. Easy to use: just press ⌘ twice and hold to see the list. AeroSpace is an i3-like tiling window manager for macOS.

6. Install and configure git, stow. Git is a distributed version control software system that is capable of managing versions of source code or data. stow is a symlink farm manager.

7. Install other terminals, such as iTerm and Ghostty. Configure Zsh: customizable prompts, plugins, themes, nerd fonts. Remote access via ssh and Tailscale.  

   brew install git stow # Git is a free and open source distributed version control system.
   eza # A modern replacement for ls.
   bat # A cat clone with wings.
   fzf # fzf is a general-purpose command-line fuzzy finder.
   tldr # Too long, didn't read, a replacement for man pages.
   # Maybe, you could install: cowsay, ponysay, fortune, lolcat, top, and neofetch, too.
   

8. System Preferences, Users & Groups, go to the Login items tab, +, then navigate to your Applications folder and select AeroSpace, Deskflow, Espanso, KeyClu, Obsidian, and Raycast.

9. KeePassXC is a free cross-platform password manager. To sync it flawlessly on Dropbox, save your KeePassXC’s database inside the shared cloud folder (e.g., ~\Dropbox). Then, navigate through KeePassXC, Preferences, uncheck Safely save database files (may be incompatible with Dropbox, etc.) and Backup database file before saving in the File Management section.

     brew install --cask keepassxc
   

   macOS keeps your website passwords in iCloud Keychain, and the built-in Passwords app lets you view, update, and delete them. If you want to replace your password manager (e.g., KeePassXC), export your passwords from it as a CSV file (Database, Export, CSV File…) and import them in the Passwords app with File, Import Passwords from File.

10. Install and configure Python, VSCode and AI (Ollama, Continue)

11. AeroSpace has quickly become the favorite tool for engineers and power users looking for an i3-like Linux workflow on Mac. An alternative is yabai.

LocalSend

LocalSend is a cross‑platform, open‑source tool that lets you send files between devices on the same local network without internet, accounts, or cloud services. It works on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. So it behaves like AirDrop, but open-source and cross‑platform. PairDrop is basically a web‑based version of LocalSend’s idea.

1. Install: brew install --cask localsend

2. Allow incoming connections (Firewall). macOS blocks unknown apps by default. You must explicitly allow LocalSend.
   System Settings, Network, Firewall. Turn Firewall ON (if off).
   Click Options… Press +. Search for LocalSend.app.
   Set it to Allow incoming connections. This is essential — otherwise other devices cannot send files to your Mac.

3. Allow Local Network permissions. macOS Ventura/Sonoma added a new privacy category: Local Network.
   System Settings, Privacy & Security, Scroll to Local Network, Find LocalSend.app, Toggle ON.
   This allows LocalSend to discover devices on your LAN.

Set Up a Mac Like a Pro: Sensible Settings

1. Name your Mac: Apple menu, System Settings, General, About or scutil --set ComputerName "the-name"

2. Declutter the Dock. Right-click any unwanted app in the Dock, select Options, and click Remove from Dock. Next, open System Settings, Desktop & Dock. Toggle on Automatically hide and show the Dock and toggle off Show suggested and recent apps in Dock.

3. Set up the Finder. Click the Finder icon (smiling face) in your Dock. In the top menu bar, click View and select Show Path Bar (show the path bar). Click View again and select Show Status Bar (show the path bar). Show hidden files: Command + Shift + ..

4. Change accessibility settings. System Settings, Accessibility: Display, Display constrast (increase contrast makes the interface easier to read), Text size, Pointer size, etc.

5. Adjust your displays. In Displays settings, you change the resolution, refresh rate, and color profile for an external monitor.

6. Set your wallpaper and screen saver: System Preferences, Wallpaper.

7. Turn on FileVault in Privacy & Security.

8. Apple uses Privacy & Security to limit what apps can do. As you add apps, you may need to grant permissions here, and often a dialog asks for permission to use a system service. You’ll use a terminal application to install software and run commands, so give it permissions now. Click the + button and choose Terminal from the Utilities folder inside Applications. Then:

   Privacy & Security > App Management > Ghostty/Terminal > On
   Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access > Ghostty/Terminal > On
   Privacy & Security > Device Control and Data Access > Ghostty/Terminal > On
   Privacy & Security > Input Monitoring > Deskflow > On
   Privacy & Security > Device Control and Data Access > Deskflow > On
   

9. Add online accounts. System Preferences, Internet Accounts, and add all your online accounts: Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

10. Speed up your keyboard. System Preferences, Keyboard. Move the slider for Key Repeat rate (how fast a key repeats when you hold it down) to Fast and Delay Until Repeat (how long you must hold down a key before it starts to repeat) to Short as fast as they will go.

11. Screenshots

    # Change where screenshots are saved
    mkdir ~/Pictures/Screenshots
    defaults write com.apple.screencapture "location" -string "~/Pictures/Screenshots"
    # Turn off the floating thumbnail that appears in the corner of the screen after each screenshot.
    defaults write com.apple.screencapture "show-thumbnail" -bool "false"
    

12. Configure your Wi-Fi: System Preferences, Wi-Fi.
    Turn Wi-Fi On/Off: Toggle the switch at the top of the window.
    Join a Network: Click on any visible network name under the “Other Networks” list and enter the password.

13. Change your login picture: System Preferences, Users & Groups. It is also normally a good idea to disable the guest account.

14. System Settings, Focus, Do not Disturb. By default, Do Not Disturb blocks all application and system notifications, banners, and alerts on your Mac. Allowed People/Apps: None allowed (Productivity).
    The Control Center is the fastest way to silence your Mac on the fly. Click the Control Center icon (two sliding toggle switches) in the top-right menu bar, Focus (the crescent moon icon), Do Not Disturb.

15. Sensible defaults:

      user@pc:~$ user@pc:~$ defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true # It shows hidden files and folders.
      defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/Dropbox # It changes the default location for screenshots.
      defaults write com.apple.screencapture type JPG # It changes the default file type of screenshots.
      defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true # It disables shadows for all window screenshots captured on your macOS.
      defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathbar -bool true # It shows the path bar.
      defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool true # It shows the status bar.
      defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowAllExtensions -bool true # Show filename extensions
      defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string "SCcf" # Search the current folder
      defaults write com.apple.finder _FXSortFoldersFirst -bool true # List folders first
      chflags nohidden ~/Library # It shows the Library folder.
      defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool true # It makes the dock only show apps that are currently running, so you can get rid of most apps that come bundle with your macOS out of the box.
      # Hide Widgets
      # System Settings > Desktop & Dock, scrolling down to the Show Widgets section, 
      # and unchecking On Desktop
      defaults write com.apple.WindowManager StandardHideWidgets -bool true
      # Hide All Files, Folders, and Screenshots
      defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool false
    
      killall Finder
      killall Dock  
      killall SystemUIServer
    

Security

1. System Preferences, Apple ID. Configure iCloud and turn on the Find my Mac feature. Disable automatic login and set a system password. Navigate through System Preferences, Security & Privacy, General tab, and click on Allow apps downloaded from: App Store and identified developers. Besides, enable Show a message when the screen is locked: myWebsite | my eMail | myPhone.

2. FireVault is macOS build-in disk encryption feature. It encrypts and decrypts files associated with your profile on the fly using a password that you set. Navigate through System Preferences, Security & Privacy, choose the FileVault tab. Click the lock at the left bottom, enter your password, and tap on Turn on FileVault… to enable this feature.

   Choose Allow my iCloud account to unlock my disk (it is a convenient way to protect your local files on your mac) or Create a recovery key and do not use my iCloud account (if there is very sensitive information on your Mac, this is your safest bet). Finally, save the recovery key in a secure location (e.g., KeePassXC).

3. Turn on the Firewall. Go to System Preferences, Security & Privacy, Firewall, and smash the Turn On Firewall button. macOS Firewall  Then, click Firewall Options to fine-tune the firewall settings, Enable Automatically allow built-in/downloaded signed software to receive incoming connections (it adds stock apps -iTunes, Mail, Messages- and downloaded apps that are signed by a valid certificate authority to the list of allowed apps) and stealth mode (it prevents your macOS from responding to probing requests or queries to reveal its existence from the network). macOS Firewall 

4. Back up your computer with Time Machine. System Preferences, Time Machine. Select Back up Automatically on the left pane. Click Select Disk… and chose the disk you want to use to store your backups.