This is a checklist for initial actions and setting on a new Mac.
See Setting Up a New Mac: Tools and Apps for apps and tools to install on a new Mac.
Last used for setting up macOS Ventura 13.4 on MacBook Pro (model A2779).
Install System Updates
Apple > System Settings…
Install App Updates
Apple > App Store…
Install Logitech Swiss German Keyboard Layout
See instructions here.
Enable Tap To Click
System Preferences > Trackpad > Tap to click
Enable Three-Finger Dragging Of Windows
System Preferences > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Trackpad Options… > Enable dragging > three finger drag
Swap Alt/Cmd and Ctrl/Caps Lock keys
System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts… > Modifier Keys…
Disable Globe Key Functionality
System Preferences > Keyboard > Press 🌐 key to > Do Nothing
The globe (🌐) key is hosted together with the fn key on newer models of macOS machines. The above setting disables the globe functionality and makes the key behave like a normal fn key.
Show/Hide Icons in Menu Bar
System Preferences > Control Centre
Show Percentage for Battery Icon in Menu Bar
System Preferences > Control Centre > Battery > Show Percentage
Enable Automatic Hiding of Dock
System Preferences > Desktop & Dock > Automatically hide and show the Dock
Remove Recent Applications from Dock
System Preferences > Desktop & Dock > Show recent applications in Dock
Add Applications Folder to Dock
Drag the /Applications
folder from Finder into the Dock.
Disable Auto Adjustment Of Screen Brightness
System Preferences > Displays > Automatically adjust brightness
Disable Automatic Rearrangement of Desktops
System Preferences > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control > Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use
Enable “Snap-To-Grid” For Desktop Icons
Right-Click on Desktop > Show View Options > Sort By > Snap to Grid
Disable Startup Sound
For macOS BigSur 11 and later:
System Settings > Sound > Play sound on startup
For older versions of macOS:
sudo defaults write com.apple.loginwindow LogoutHook "osascript -e 'set volume with output muted'"
sudo defaults write com.apple.loginwindow LoginHook "osascript -e 'set volume without output muted'"
The above mutes the system volume at logout, and restores the previous volume at login. In this way, the startup sound is never played.
Set Up eduroam
See instructions on Zoolz (TODO: move instructions here).
Set Sane Defaults for Finder
Customise Sidebar Items
Finder > Settings… > Sidebar
Open Desktop in New Finder Windows
Finder > Settings… > General > New Finder windows show > Desktop
Show All Filename Extensions
Finder > Settings… > Advanced > Show all filename extensions
Disable Warnings When Changing Filename Extensions
Finder > Settings… > Advanced > Show warning before changing an extension
Restrict Search on Current Folder
Finder > Settings… > Advanced > When performing a search > Search the Current Folder
Show Status Bar and Path Bar:
Finder > View > Show Status Bar\Show Path Bar
Show the ~/Library
Folder:
chflags nohidden ~/Library
Set Sane Defaults for TextEdit
Use Plain Text Mode
TextEdit > Settings… > Format > Plain Text
Set Width to 80 Characters
TextEdit > Settings… > Width > 80 Characters
Set Font to Menlo 12pt
TextEdit > Settings… > Plain text font > Menlo Regular 12
Disable All Options
TextEdit > Settings… > Options
Install the Command Line Developer Tools
Trigger a dialog prompting you install the command line developer tools by running a command that relies on them, for example:
gcc
Verify the installation with:
xcode-select -p