Mac Setup: Favorite Apps and Settings

Mosyle App Management

Recently, I had to reinstall everything on my Mac after IT installed Mosyle to manage our Macs at work. As a result, I had to start from scratch and install all of my preferred apps and customize my settings again. To make the process smoother in the future, I documented the steps I took, including the apps I installed and the customizations I made. In sharing my process, I hope it can help others who may also need to reinstall everything on their Mac.

Last Updated: Feb 18, 2023

Review Setup

If you can review your setup before wiping it clean, there are a few things to check:

• Check your downloads folder and any other local folders and move any needed files to the cloud
• Make a list of the Applications you have installed (Finder > Applications) 
• Take a screenshot of your doc bar so you can set it up the same way after 
• Back up ~/Library/Spelling/LocalDictionary for any words you’ve added to your custom dictionary. 

Apps to Install

Here are the apps I have installed, by source of install:

• Company's Mosyle App Store 
• Microsoft Office (includes Teams) 
• Dialpad 
• Chrome 
• Figma 
• Slack 
• Apple App Store 
• Dato - A calendar for your menu bar 
• Grammarly - Real-time spelling and writing suggestions
• Liner - Extension to highlight and save text on webpages
• Manual Download 
• Zoom
• Universal Presenter Remote - Control a PowerPoint presentation from a mobile device

Settings/Preferences 

Here are the settings and customizations that I have made

System Preferences

• Add AppleID Screen share permission (after these have been installed) 
• Teams 
• Zoom 
• Dialpad 
• Chrome 
• Conectwisecontrol 
• Display - Reorder external monitors 
• Dock & menu bar 
• Dock - Make smaller 
• Battery - Show Percentage 
• Clock - Display the time with seconds 
• Spotlight - remove from menu bar 
• Notifications 
• Teams - Turn on Allow Notifications - Banners 
• Slack - Turn on Allow Notifications - Banners 
• Games Center - Turned off Allow Notifications 
• Internet accounts 
• Add accounts (Gmail & work) 
• Apple Pay 
• Add Cards 
• Touch ID - Add finger 
• Security & Privacy - Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac 
• Mouse - Uncheck Scroll Direction: Natural 
• Sharing 
• Update Computer Name 
• Printers & Scanners 
• Add Printer 
• Keyboard 
• Shortcuts 
• App Shortcuts 
• Tile Right 
• Application: All Applications 
• Menu Title: Tile Window to Right of Screen 
• Keyboard Shortcut: Control + Option + Cmd + Right Arrow 
• Tile Left 
• Application: All Applications 
• Menu Title: Tile Window to Left of Screen 
• Keyboard Shortcut: Control + Option + Cmd + Left Arrow

Notification Center Widgets

• Added Calendar at top 

Initial Setup / Login Required

• Teams 
• Outlook 
• Word 
• Excel 
• PowerPoint 
• OneNote 
• Open additional Notebooks 
• OneDrive 
• Slack 
• Dato 
• Launch Dato at Startup 
• Show Icon 
• Move Icon in Menu Bar (Hold Command Key and drag) 
• Preferences 
• Calendar > Week Numbers

Doc Bar

• Reorder based on screenshot from before 
• Teams 
• Options > Keep In Dock & Open at Login 
• Slack 
• Options > Keep In Dock & Open at Login 

App Preferences

• Outlook 
• General - Compact 
• Calendar 
• Add online meeting to all events: Teams 
• Show Second Timezone: PST 
• Signatures 
• Add/Customize Signatures
• Work
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• Safari 
• View > Show Favorites Bar 
• Preferences > Advanced 
• Show Full website Address 
• Show Develop menu in menu bar 
• Finder > Preferences 
• General > Hard Disks 
• Sidebar > username (Add user location to favorites) 

Restore/Edit Files

• Custom Dictionary: ~/Library/Spelling/LocalDictionary

I hope these instructions and settings can save you time!