Setting Up a New MacBook the Right Way
Apple makes setup look effortless, but a few choices in the first 30 minutes determine your next three years.
Quick answer
To set up a new MacBook properly: decide between Migration Assistant and a clean start, sign in to a secured Apple ID with two-factor authentication, turn on FileVault, configure a Time Machine backup on day one, and prune notifications and login items before habits form.
Before you click anything, decide whether you want to migrate from the old Mac or start fresh. Migration brings everything — including the cruft. A fresh start is faster long-term but requires you to reinstall apps deliberately.
Use a strong, unique Apple ID password and turn on two-factor authentication immediately. Skip iCloud Keychain only if you have a dedicated password manager. Otherwise, embrace it.
Configure FileVault during setup. It's full-disk encryption and it costs you nothing in performance. If your Mac is ever stolen, your data stays private.
Set Time Machine on day one, not after the first crisis. Install only the apps you actually use. And take five minutes in System Settings to turn off the dozen notifications you don't need. A quiet Mac is a productive Mac.
If this all sounds like a lot, it's exactly the kind of house call I do. New MacBook arrives, I come over, two hours later you're up and running with everything moved over and explained.
Frequently asked
Should I migrate from my old Mac or start fresh?
Migrate if your old Mac was healthy and you rely on its apps and settings. Start fresh if it was slow, unstable, or many years old — a clean install avoids carrying the same problems forward.
Should I turn on FileVault?
Yes, on any laptop. FileVault encrypts the drive so a lost or stolen MacBook doesn't hand over your files. Store the recovery key somewhere safe and off the machine.
What should I do first on a new MacBook?
Run software update, sign in to iCloud, enable FileVault, and set up a backup. Everything else can wait until those four are done.
Need a hand?
Local, on-site Apple help in the foothills.
If reading this guide didn't fully solve it, I come to you. Grass Valley, Nevada City, and surrounding areas.