Fresh Mac OSX Install 2026

This document describes the actions I take when configuring a new Mac OSX Installation. This Macbook Pro is a multi-functional device for media and dev.

First change is to enable touch to click and drag lock in the Accessibility settings >> Trackpad Options >> Use trackpad for dragging With Drag Lock. Next change Caps Lock to Escape as a custom action by going to Settings >> Keyboard >> Keyboard Shortcuts >> Modifier Keys.

First install Homebrew in order to efficiently install other apps.

• Install apps
• Run preferences update
• Follow the guide below for updating manual preferences and activating apps

This app allows for command line installation of Mac applications.

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Git ships with Xcode Command Line Tools (which Homebrew installs automatically on first run), so this step is only needed if you want Homebrew's more current git instead of Apple's:

brew install git

• https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh
• https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/wiki/Installing-ZSH
• https://blog.larsbehrenberg.com/how-to-install-custom-plugins-and-themes-with-oh-my-zsh#where-to-find-your-plugins-and-themes
• https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/wiki/Plugins

macOS has shipped zsh as the default shell since Catalina, so brew install zsh is only needed if you want a newer version than Apple's.

Install oh-my-zsh (official installer — this also installs zsh via Homebrew if needed):

sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

Install zsh-autosuggestions (run after oh-my-zsh is installed):

git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions

zsh plugins

plugins=(
  git
  bundler
  dotenv
  macos
  rake
  zsh-autosuggestions
  last-working-dir
  web-search
  history
)

Clone the repo.

git clone https://github.com/philcodex/Fresh-Mac-Install-2026.git

Make file executable:

chmod u+x appsinstall2026.sh macprefs2026.sh

Run appsinstall2026.sh shell script.

./appsinstall2026.sh

Run macprefs2026.sh shell script

./macprefs2026.sh

• General > Uncheck all.
• New Finder windows show $Home
• Open folders in tabs

Tags

• Uncheck all

Sidebar

Uncheck all but:

• Applications
• Desktop
• Documents
• Downloads
• Pictures
• $Home
• iCloud Drive
• Shared
• External Disks
• Bonjour Computers

Advanced

Uncheck all but

• Show warning before removing from iCloud Drive
• Show warning before emptying the Bin
• Keep folders on top:
• In windows when sorting by name

When performing a search: 'Search the current folder'

Stack by None Sort by Snap to Grid Icon size 44 x 44 Grid spacing Max Text size 12 Label position Right x Show item info ✔️ Show icon preview

• Enable firewall.
• Enable stealth mode

• Alert Sound - Boop
• Play sound on startup x
• Play user interface sound effects x
• Play feedback when volume is changed

• Appearance: Dark
• Colour: Accent Colour
• Show scroll bars - Always
• Click in the scroll bar to - Jump to the spot that's clicked

Pointer Control Double-click speed 80% Spring-loading Off

Trackpad Options... Use trackpad for dragging On Dragging style With Drag Lock

Zoom

• Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom ✔️
• Use trackpad gesture to zoom ✔️
• Use scroll gestiure with modifier keys to zoom ✔️
• Modifier key ^ Control
• Zoom style - Full Screen
• Advanced >> Continuously with Pointer

Keyboard

• Key repeat rate - Fast
• Delay until repeat - short
• Adjust keyboard brightness in low light off
• Keyboard brightness max
• Turn keyboard backlight off after inactivity - Never
• Press fn key to Do Nothing

Launchpad & Doc

• Uncheck both

Display

• Uncheck both

Mission Control

• Uncheck all except Mission Control, Application windows, Mission Control > Move Left a space | > Move right a space
• ✔️ Show Notification Centre Set shortcut: ⌘⌥k

Keyboard - leave all checked (this may be updated in the future)

Screenshots - Uncheck all in favour of CleanShot X (install CleanShot X via the apps script before this step)

Services - Ignore all (May be updated in future)

Spotlight Uncheck both

Uncheck all except Zoom

Function Keys Disabled

Modifier Keys Caps Lock >> Escape

Dictation - Off

Microphone Source Macbook

Siri - Off

Point & Click Tracking Speed - Fastest Click - Medium Force Click & haptic feedback ✔️ Look up & data detectors Off Secondary click Click or Tap w/ Two Fingers Tap to click ✔️

Scroll & Zoom (Defaults) Natural Scrolling ✔️ Zoom in or out ✔️ Smart zoom ✔️ Rotate ✔️

More Gestures Swipe between pages Off Notification Centre Off Mission Control Swipe Up w/ Three Fingers App Exposé Swipe Down w/ Three Fingers Launchpad Off Show Desktop On

Nothing set atm

Siri Off

Dock Size 10%

Magnification 10%

Position Left Minimise windows using Scale Effect Double-click a window's title bar to Do Nothing Minimuse windows into application icon Off Automatically hide and show Dock On Animate opening applications Off

Desktop & Stage Manager Show Items >> x x Click Wallpaper to reveal desktop Only on Stage Manager

Stage Manager x Show Widgets x x Use iPhone widgets x Default web browser x

Hot Corners Top Right Application Windows Top Left Mission Control Bottom Right Desktop Bottom Left -

Lock Screen Settings Start Screen Saver when inactive 10 mins Turn discplay off on battery when inactive 2 mins Turn display off on power adapter 30mins Require password after 1 min Show username and photo x Show password hints x

Use Touch ID - Enable fingerprint

Install Bypass Paywalls Chrome extension https://github.com/iamadamdev/bypass-paywalls-chrome

• Unzip file
• Open chrome://extensions
• Check Developer Mode
• Select Load Unpacked