My new Mac checklist: the apps I install first, where the Dock goes, and how I set up Finder so every day is easier. Works on an old Mac too.
Summary: Time spent setting up a new Mac on day one makes every day after easier, because the Dock, browser and Finder end up built around how you work. I install the non-Apple apps and extensions, move the Dock to the left, and set up Finder so new windows open where my files are. There's a three-minute video of me doing it.
The cheat sheet
Setting up a new computer is not something I do often, so I made myself a cheat sheet of what to tidy up first. It’s based on spending time up front so every day after is easier. That time gets skipped when you want to get on with things, but the Dock, your browser extensions and the Finder sidebar are things you use every day. An hour spent tailoring them to how you work pays off each time you open the laptop.
Install the apps you'd miss first
Download any non-Apple programs, like Chrome, Spotify, Dropbox, 1Password and SizeUp
Install any browser extensions, like Awesome Screenshot, 1Password, Momentum and the Pinterest helper
Psst… if you use this referral link to sign up for Dropbox, we'll both get extra storage: 500 MB for Basic users and 1 GB for Plus.
Put the Dock where it suits you
Apple's default puts the Dock along the bottom. I like mine to the left. Open System Settings, go to Desktop & Dock and change 'Position on screen'. In my finished desktop below I've hidden it completely with 'Automatically hide and show the Dock'.
Make Finder open where you work
Start with the sidebar. In Finder > Settings > Sidebar, untick the shortcuts you never use, then drag in the folders you do. Then go to Finder > Settings > General and set 'New Finder windows show' to a folder you choose. New windows open on Recents by default. Mine opens at the top of my Dropbox folder, so every new window starts where my files are.
Here's the video (3min) of me working through all of it:
And here's the result!
The (almost) finished product, with a tidy dock over to the left
The actual finished product, complete with hidden dock and a photo I took as the wallpaper
FAQ
Why not transfer everything from my old Mac instead?
You can, with Apple's Migration Assistant, and it's quicker. I prefer a fresh start, because I get to choose what goes on the machine and how it's set up. If you want that control too, this checklist is for you.
Can I do this on a Mac I already use?
Yes. Nothing here needs a fresh install, and the Dock and Finder changes take a few minutes.
Does changing the Finder window affect my files?
No. It only changes which folder a new window opens on.
Laptop sorted? Now prepare the work that lives on it
Your Mac now suits how you work. The next job is deciding where your projects and tasks live once you sit down.
Want the idea behind this?
Preparation is one of five steps in the SPACE framework in The Most Organised Person I Know, which shows you how to design systems that reduce mental load, from daily tasks to long-term projects.
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