Did you just buy your first new Mac? Here's how to set it up!
If you are new to Mac and are about to set up your new MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, or Mac Pro, you might want a little preparation before you begin. It is easy to set up your new Mac if you follow the on-screen instructions, but you may not understand what those instructions mean. I'm here to help walk you through each step so you don't worry that you might be doing something wrong.
How to set up your new Mac
- Press the Power button on your Mac to turn it on.
- Select a language.
- This is the language that your computer will be written in across the system.
Click Continue.
- Select a keyboard layout.
- This is how your keys will type out onto your computer, no matter what the physical keyboard looks like.
Click Continue.
- Select your Wi-Fi network.
- If you are connecting to the internet using Ethernet, select Other Network Options and select Ethernet.
- Enter your Wi-Fi password if you are using Wi-Fi.
Click Continue.
This may take a few minutes. You may see a spinning wheel and "Looking for networks". This is normal.
- If you are setting up your Mac as a new computer, select Don't transfer any information now.
- If you are transferring from another Mac, follow these instructions.
- If you are transferring from a PC, follow these instructions.
Click Continue.
- Tick the box for Enable Location Services on this Mac.
- This service is important for use with Siri, Maps, Spotlight suggestions, and more. If you don't want Apple to have access to your location, do not tick this box.
Click Continue.
- Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Use the same Apple ID you use with other iCloud services on your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and other Macs so you can sync services across devices.
- If you don't already have an Apple ID, you can create one on your Mac at a later time or sign up through your iPhone or iPad.
- If you have two-factor authentication turned on, you will be asked to verify your identity.
Click Continue.
- Click Agree to agree to the terms and conditions. You can read each section of the terms and conditions by clicking More.
Click Agree to confirm.
- Enter a Full name for your computer. If you signed in with your Apple ID, this will populate automatically.
Enter an Account name. If you signed in with your Apple ID, this will populate automatically.
- Enter a password to secure your Mac.
- This will be your administrator password, which is used to create new accounts and access system features across your Mac.
Enter a Hint to help you remember your password. This hint will appear on your Lock screen if you type in the wrong password on your Mac.
<img src="/sites/imore.com/files/styles/larger/public/field/image/2016/10/set-up-mac-screenshot-09.jpg?itok=62qbyKfs" width="1297" height="457" alt="Enter a password and a hint" class="image-xlarge aligncenter lightbox image-large" />- Tick the box to Allow my Apple ID to reset this password. This is a little less secure if someone else has access to your Apple ID and password, but is convenient if your forget your password.
Tick the box for Set time zone based on current location.
- This will only work if you enabled Location Services in step 11.
When enabled, your date and time will change when you visit new locations across time zones.
Click Continue. iCloud will begin syncing if you signed in. This may take a few minutes. You may see a spinning wheel and "Setting up account." This is normal.
<img src="/sites/imore.com/files/styles/larger/public/field/image/2016/10/set-up-mac-screenshot-011.jpg?itok=f0T1UAYL" width="1275" height="481" alt="Click continue, wait for iCloud to sync" class="image-xlarge aligncenter lightbox image-large" />- Tick the box for Turn on FileVault disk encryption. FileVault encrypts the contents of your Mac's hard drive.
- Tick the box for Allow my iCloud account to unlock my disk. Allowing iCloud to unlock your disk is the same thing as allowing iCloud to reset your Mac's password.
Click Continue.
- Tick the box for Store files from Documents and Desktop in iCloud to store everything on your desktop and your Documents folder.
- This is part of macOS's Optimized Storage feature.
- Only tick this box if you are sure you have enough iCloud storage to fit all of your Desktop and Documents folders to sync. {.update}
Click Continue.
- Tick the box to Enable Siri on this Mac. Siri on the Mac is your personal virtual assistant on your comptuer.
Click Continue.
At this point, your Mac will finalize all settings and iCloud syncing for setting up your Mac. This may take a while. You may see a spinning wheel and "Setting up." This is normal.
After your Mac has finished setting up, you may receive pop up notifications to sign into various mail and social networking accounts. Click Allow, Continue, or turn on for each notification to sign in.
Any questions?
Do you have any questions about the set up process on your new Mac? Let me know in the comments and I'll help you out.
Originally written January 2015. Updated October 2016 to reflect changes to macOS.
Peter Cohen contributed to an earlier version of this article.
Reader comments
How to set up your new Mac
Nice steps. Definitely the help.
Posted via the iMore App for Android
Peter I have a question. When you transfer files from a PC to the new Mac can you pick and choose which files get transfered? I would like to do just transfer pictures and Itunes from a PC in the near furture. Thanks
Yes. You have control over what gets imported.
Hey Peter, is it better to wait till the 2nd half of 2015 before buying a new MacBook? I read on your site there may be upgrades under the hood this year, and was wondering if those rumours have been firmed up yet.
Sent from the iMore App
No, nothing more than rumors. My standing advice is to buy a Mac when you need one, and just accept that it's going to be obsolete at some point in the future, and be happy with what you have. :)
How do you import Outlook Express email (".dbx") files into the Mac's Mail app? My friend had Apple one-on-one and they were suppose to do it for him, but all they did was the Contacts. I can't find anything on the web except buying expensive conversion software. Thanks!
Good luck getting Outlook Express files into Mail easily. You're most likely going to have to export all the mail, or buy a software application to move it to another app. Another thing you can try is having Outlook 2002/2003 import all the data from Outlook Express, and then migrate to the Mac via that PST file.
Outlook Express has been out of development/support since Windows Vista launched in 2006. There are probably a few people in the Apple Store that haven't even used it. Friend should have moved to Windows Live Mail over half a decade ago... Why were they still using Windows XP (no, seriously...)?
You can also try installing Windows Live Mail (if you can find a version that runs on Windows XP) and importing it there to see if you can export it into a format that is easily imported by Mac stock PIM apps, or look for a 3rd party mail client that can do that and see if you can somehow get the data onto the Mac.
This is very poor planning for platform migration, IMO. Even my mom, who is basically illiterate, knows to keep her OS up to date on her computers (that includes buying Windows upgrades, cause even Vista is better than XP - despite all the FUD you may have heard - and 7/8.1 certainly is.).
Migration Assistant only carries over the mailbox settings, not the actual data. I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with how to get .dbx files to the Mac. I'll check around and see what I can find out.
Till last year, I used to work on Mac Mini. Later on , I bought MacBook Pro (mid 2013, 4gB). I tried Migration Assistant feature to carry apps, data and others useful stuff; But, I don't know why few categories and font styles are missing (not visible to me) while working with my new MacBook Pro system.
For the price Apple charges, they should come to the house and set it all up. And ofcourse users will gladly pay for it.
When you buy the PC, if you go to an Apple Store or buy it there, they will gladly help you set up your iPad, iPhone, MacBook, etc. Maybe an iMac but not sure, Lol. Those are huge and the boxes are huge for them as well - can be a hassle getting it back in the box and taking it home...
How do I turn on auto download for my apps?
Auto update installs are a feature specific to Yosemite; if you're running Yosemite and you run Mac App Store to check for updates, it should prompt you to turn on Auto Updates the first time.
If you ignored or turned off that setting, you can reactivate it by going to System Preferences, clicking on the App Store icon, and checking "Automatically check for updates" and checking "Install app updates."
This is a timely, precious piece of article. I am about to get a MBP 13.3"(late 2013) next week. Honestly I am nervous and worry because I've been with Windows for more than 20 years.
Hope you can help me Peter. Here are some questions:-
1)Currently own an iPad. But I've two Apple IDs, one with my current country location another for US. On my iPad, I used the US ID most of the time(unless for local content which is not available in the US). So which ID should I use with my MBP? Can I interchange the Apple ID later in MBP(like what I did with my iPad)? I fear I would have problem connecting my MBP with iPad in the future.
2)Which one to use, wired or wireless? Is wireless taking up lots of battery power?
3)What is the advantage of using iCloud as my computer account? For your info, I do not use iCloud.
4)I intend to use my MBP with external screen. The 13.3" a bit too small for my liking(but I got an offer I can't refuse, 50% discount on a brand new, still in the box MBP). But I am very disappointed and shocked to know OS X does not have F4 to change screen like windows. The MBP screen cannot be turned off(unless using some terminal code and tricks). Clamshell is not the answer as long hours of use will generate lots of heat that could damage the MBP.
May I know if this feature will make a comeback in OS X? I read somewhere it was available previously. Why do you think Apple take this feature out(really mind boggling)?
Is Terminal Code my only option?
Hope you can soothe my worries with your answer.
If you want to be able to sync data between the computer and iPad or if you plan to use the computer to make purchases through the App Store that will be used on the iPad, you'll need to use the same Apple ID on both.
Wi-Fi is less electrically efficient, as a matter of power per megabytes transferred, than a wired connection. Wired connections can be faster machine to machine, but for many people, the bottleneck isn't Wi-Fi or ethernet, it's their connection to the Internet.
The advantage is having a single ID you use across devices; one less password to remember. Some folks forget their administrative password because they only infrequently update their computers, while they remember their Apple ID password since they use it more frequently.
Clamshell Mode (operating the MBP while the case is shut) is implicitly supported by Apple, as per this knowledgebase article, so that's the way to do it. If Apple were concerned about heat destroying the computer, they certainly wouldn't support this functionality, much less offer users instructions for how to use it. Obviously proper ventilation is key. I strongly recommend leaving enough space around the MBP that it has a flow of fresh cool air at all times. I put my MBP on a stand off my desk, both to raise the screen and to improve airflow underneath and to the sides.
1)Can I key-in the Apple ID later instead of during setup? Can the Apple ID be interchanged, like iPad/iOS? Say if I use id "abc" now, can I use id "def" later, vice versa?
2)if my wifi connection with iPad is good, can I assume it would be the same with MBP?
Is there any calculation available on how much saving in battery using wifi vs connection via Thuderbolt to Ethernet cable? If it's not significant, then I do not wish to waste money on buying the Thuderbolt to Ethernet cable.
3)As for clamshell mode, I am not able to use this method. I intent to use the MBP keyboard and trackpad. I am using the MBP at home 90% of the time in a year. What I've in mind is connect the MBP to an external monitor via HDMI, then tilted the MBP screen so I can view the external monitor clearly, while using the MBP keyboard and trackpad. I do not have budget for iMac, maybe Mac mini is ideal. But I got an offer for this MBP at 50% discount, the same price as Mac mini 2014 mid range. Just not sure if I can live with 13.3" monitor, currently using hp 14" laptop.
Apple ID can be changed, but any apps that you buy with the Apple ID either in the Mac App Store or in the (iOS) App Store using that ID will be associated with that ID.
I'm not aware of any calculator for what you're trying to do.\
Sounds like you need to get used to using the MBP as is, then. There's no way I'm familiar with short of messing with the command line to turn off the internal screen.
Ok, good to have you, I feel a little bit more assured now.
Last 2 questions(have to ask you since I can't find the right answer):-
1)Shut down or Sleep
For windows, I used to shut it down at least once a day, if not more. But I've heard for MBP, there is no need to shut down, sleep will do. What is the best practice? What about you? Is it a myth that frequent shut down will hurt the MBP?
2)Battery Care
The battery has 1000 cycle, so hope to maintain it for years. Many users said the battery should be charged when 50% to 75% left. Is this the right method? What is the best practice? What about you?
Should the electricity be shut off immediately when it's 100% charged to prevent unnecessary damage to battery?
I routinely leave my laptop in sleep mode unless I'm going to not touch it for a day or two.
Apple has some practical suggestions for how to take care of the batteries in Macs and iOS devices. Follow these guidelines and you should be in good shape.
Most Windows Laptops that I've used have a way to turn off the laptop screen when docked to an external monitor (usually a Function Key combo), the same way they can turn off the Touch Pad automatically when you connect an External Mouse via USB or BT.
Certainly Apple has something similar in OS X. It seems a bit basic, since this has existed in Windows Laptops since... at least a decade ago.
yup, shocking... you would assumed it must be there, but it isn't... apple ask you to use clamshell!
No instructions for Homebrew or MacPorts? Tmux? Zsh?
Useless!!
That's… not really for how to set up a new Mac, that's more advanced stuff, most users won't even touch the terminal app. But yes, an article for these things would be nice though it would be a separate article
Finally got my MBP. but halfway through the setup, the machine hang! Can't use the mouse, keyboard or trackpad. Waited a few minutes, nothing happened. So reboot and need to redo the setup.
After surfing the web for about 30 minutes, another freeze while reading an article in Apple.com. Then force to press power button and then it asked me for password. Nit able to enter password as the keyboard freeze. But after 5 minutes or so, the freeze went away and I am able to key-in my password.
I was thinking it has to do with ssd, check with drivedx, but my ssd is working perfectly(100%).
Peter, where is the problem lies, software or hardware? For your info, this is late 2013 MBP.
Secondly, if such freeze happened again, what should I do?
Finally, could it be the ssd? The MBP has been in the box for over 13 months(brand new). I am not sure how ssd function, using hdd all these years. Is the sdd performance gone sluggish after a year in sleep?
Please help, my transition to Mac after over 20 years with Windows does not seem to be smooth, really worry now as the MBP is over the warranty period and I am not able to purchase Apple Care.
I do not wish to be punished for believing in Mac.
What if iMessage is not on my Mac?
iMessage is available on all Macs, it's built into the OS. So long as you have an Apple account, the Messages app will provide you with iMessage
I'm going to help a friend to set up her first time Mac soon.
In these days I really have a strong feeling that something is missing.
If you are a long time Mac user and set up your first iPhone, you can connect it to your Mac and everything will transfer. That's the case since the very first iPhone in 2007.
But how often does this happen today? With quarters over quarters of growing Mac sales, there are probably way more first Macs to be set up from long time iPhone users.
Wouldn't it be great if you could set up your first Mac by connecting your iPhone?
These days you connect your iPhone to iCloud and it transfers everything from iCloud. The same happens with the Mac, so there's no need to have two devices connect to each other unless your internet is as slow as molasses