💻 new macbook setup

I recently got a new M3 MacBook Pro, and I wanted to document exactly how I set it up. Not only do I want to share this with you, but I also want to use it as a reference for myself in the future.

Before setting up a new computer, I always backup all of my previous settings.

🔺 install updates

Check for system updates
Check for app store updates

🗑️ uninstall applications

GarageBand
Keynote
Pages

🎛️ adjust settings

icloud

sound

Set Output to Elgato XLR Dock
Set Input to Wave Link Stream

general

Language & Region
- Change First day of week to Monday
Autofill & Passwords
- Check Delete after use

control center

Select Show in Menu Bar for Bluetooth
Select Always Show in Menu Bar for Focus
Select Don't Show in Menu Bar for Spotlight
Select Don't Show in Menu Bar for Siri

apple intelligence & siri

Select "Siri" or "Hey Siri" for Listen for

desktop & dock

Remove all applications from the dock
Enable Automatically hide and show the Dock
Disable Show suggested and recent apps in Dock
Set Click wallpaper to reveal desktop to Only in Stage Manager
Disable Tiled windows have margins
Setup Mission Control hot corners

Mission Control Mission Control
Desktop Desktop


Mission Control	Mission Control
Desktop	Desktop

wallpaper

Select Dynamic wallpaper
Enable Show as screen saver

notifications

Disable Summarize notifications

touch id & password

Add fingerprint
Enable Touch ID
Allow unlocking with Apple Watch

internet accounts

Add bradgarropy@gmail.com account
- Select Mail and Calendar

keyboard

Keyboard Shortcuts > Modifier Keys
- Swap the Control and Command keys on the CTRL Keyboard

mouse

Uncheck Natural scrolling
Increase Scrolling speed

printers & scanners

Go through the Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... flow

applications

Photos > View > Show
- Uncheck Shared with You
Photos > View
- Check Show Hidden Photo Album
Mail > Settings > Viewing
- Uncheck Summarize Message Previews
Mail > Settings > Composing
- Uncheck Quote the text of the original message
Mail > Settings > Signatures
- Move signatures to appropriate accounts
Messages > Settings > General
- Check Share Name and Photo
- Uncheck Summarize messages
- Increase Text size
Messages > Settings > iMessage
- Check Enable Messages in iCloud
Notes > Settings
- Increase Default text size
Safari > View
- Select Show Status Bar
Safari > Settings > Advanced
- Check Show full website address
- Check Show features for web developers
Podcasts > Settings > General
- Uncheck Download When Saving
- Select Off for Automatically Download
Podcasts > Settings > Playback
- Select Stop when an episode ends
Finder > Settings> General
- Set New Finder windows show to Desktop
Finder > Settings > Tags
- Delete all tags
Finder > Settings > Sidebar
- Enable only the following options
  - Applications
  - Desktop
  - Downloads
  - bradgarropy
  - iCloud Drive
  - Shared
  - Hard Disks
  - External Disks
- Disable everything else
Elgato Control Center > Preferences > General
- Check Link accessory controls
- Check Automatically switch off accessories
Elgato Control Center > Preferences > Startup
- Check Open automatically on Log In
Elgato Stream Deck > Preferences > Plugins
Elgato Wave Link > Configure Wave Link
- Add Elgato XLR Dock as audio input
- Install DeeGate
- Set noise gate to 36db

📥 install applications

Google Chrome
- Sign in
Raycast
- Replace Spotlight
Discord
Elgato Camera Hub
Elgato Control Center
Elgato Stream Deck
Elgato Wave Link
OBS
vscode
- Update
- Sign in with GitHub
- Install shell command
iMovie
Postgres.app

🖋️ fonts

Cascadia Code

📦 development packages

# brew
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
brew install git
brew install gh
 
# node
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/HEAD/install.sh | bash
nvm install stable
npm install --global netlify-cli
npm install --global vercel
npm install --global @vcode/vsce