When setting up a new MacBook, there are a few steps you should take to get it up and running smoothly. In this article, we’ll explore a list of items you should consider toggling to optimize your MacBook experience.

Table Of Contents:

• Step 1: Update OS
• Step 2: Dock Customization
• Step 3: Log in to Existing Apple ID Account
• Step 4: Download Apps
  • From the AppStore
  • From the internet
    • Safari
    • iTerm2
    • SSH Keys
• Step 5: Configure Settings
  • System Settings
    • Notifications
    • Appearance
    • Control Center
    • Desktop and Dock
    • Keyboard
    • Trackpad
    • Display
    • Siri and Spotlight
  • Finder Settings
    • In your User folder:
• Additional Tips
• Conclusion

Step 1: Update OS

Before you start using your new MacBook, make sure to update the operating system to the latest version. This will ensure that your MacBook has the latest security updates and performance improvements.

Step 2: Dock Customization

By default, the dock is populated with several applications that you may not use frequently. To declutter your dock, remove the apps that you don’t use often. To do this, simply right-click on the app and select “Remove from Dock.”

Step 3: Log in to Existing Apple ID Account

To access Apple’s services and apps, you’ll need to log in to your existing Apple ID account. If you don’t have an Apple ID, you can create one during the setup process.

Step 4: Download Apps

Here’s a list of recommended Mac apps to download:

From the AppStore

• Xcode
• Slack
• Flycut
• Amphetamine

From the internet

• Notion
• iTerm2
• SourceTree
• Visual Studio Code
• Insomnia
• Proxyman
• ChatGPT

Safari

• Make default browser
• Log in to profiles (personal/work)
• Go to Settings/Websites:
  • Location: When visiting other websites: Deny
  • Downloads: When visiting other websites: Allow
  • Notifications: Turn off: Allow websites to ask permission to send notifications

iTerm2

• Download OhMyZsh
• Download Homebrew
• Copy your ~/.zshrc from a previous MacBook (aliases/configs/etc)

SSH Keys

If you are using SSH keys for your personal/work repositories:

1. Create a new SSH key: ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C “your_mail”
   • Use a password to encrypt it.
   • You need to provide a name for your key. (Example: personal)
2. Add the ssh key to your Github account.
   • Copy the contents of the .pub file.
     • cat ~/.ssh/name-of-your-key.pub | pbcopy
   • Add the new SSH key in Github’s configuration page.
3. Configure SSH Keys in your ~/.ssh/config file. It should look like this:

    Host personal
        HostName github.com
        User git
        IdentityFile /Users/manu/.ssh/personal
   

4. Add the key to your keychain: ssh-add --apple-use-keychain ~/.ssh/personal
   • Enter the encryption password.
5. Now you can use git clone git@personal:organization/repo.git to clone private repositories.

Note: If you are using SourceTree, be careful with the auto-generated keys, they will probably not work. If you keep getting Access Denied with those keys, try following the steps described above instead.

Step 5: Configure Settings

Here’s a list of recommended settings to customize:

System Settings

Notifications

1. Turn off almost every notification

Appearance

1. Change Accent Color

Control Center

1. Turn on Show Battery Percentage

Desktop and Dock

1. Turn Off Show Recent Applications on Dock
2. Hot Corners → Top Right → Show Desktop
3. Make Chrome the default browser
4. Turn Off Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use

Keyboard

1. Increase Key Repeat Rate to the maximum value.
2. Decrease Delay until repeat to the shortest value.
3. Shortcuts -> Screenshots -> Change the shortcut for Copy picture of selected area to the clipboard to ⌘ + Shift + S

Trackpad

1. Increase Tracking Speed to 8/10
2. Turn on Tap to click

Display

1. Turn off Automatically adjust brightness

Siri and Spotlight

1. Search Results: Uncheck every unwanted box for the Spotlight search.

Finder Settings

1. Order Sidebar + Remove every folder you don’t use from there.
2. New Finder windows shows: Desktop.
3. Advanced → Check off all the Show warning before… boxes.
4. Advanced → When Performing a Search: Search the Current Folder.
5. Customize the Toolbar (Right click on the toolbar): Add AirDrop, and Create New Folder action. Remove everything else.
6. View → Show Toolbar
7. View → Show Path Bar
8. View → Show Status Bar

In your User folder:

• View → Show View Options
  • Group by none, Sort by name
  • Uncheck everything except for Date Modified and Size.
  • Check use relative dates
  • Save as Defaults

Additional Tips

To stop workspaces from stealing focus:

defaults write com.apple.dock workspaces-auto-swoosh -bool false
osascript -e 'tell application "Dock" to quit'

Conclusion

In conclusion, setting up a new MacBook can be an exciting but daunting experience, especially for those who are new to the Mac ecosystem. However, by following the five steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your MacBook is up-to-date, decluttered, and customized to your needs. Updating the operating system, customizing the dock, logging in to your Apple ID account, downloading essential apps, and configuring settings will optimize your MacBook experience and make it more enjoyable to use.