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macos-settings

My recommendations for the ultimate macOS Configuration :)

NOTE: This project can be found on both Codeberg, which will act as the main & preferred way to contribute, and GitHub.

Apple ID

Personal Information -> Communication Preferences -> Announcements -> ❌

Personal Information -> Communication Preferences -> Apps, music, TV and more -> ❌

Sign-In & Security -> Two-Factor Authentication -> ✅ (Use security keys if possible)

Media & Purchases -> Free Downloads -> Never require

Media & Purchases -> Purchases and In-App Purchases -> Always require

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi -> ❌ when not using

Ask to join hotspots -> ❌

Bluetooth

Bluetooth -> ❌ when not using

Network

Firewall -> ✅

Firewall -> Options -> Block all incoming connections -> ✅

Firewall -> Options -> Enable stealth mode -> ✅

Notifications

Show previews -> When Unlocked

Allow notifications when the display is sleeping -> ❌

Allow notifications when the screen is locked -> ❌

Allow notifications when mirroring or sharing the display -> ❌

Application Notifications -> Go through and disable notifications for any apps that don't need it

Focus

Share across devices -> ❌

Focus status -> Share Focus status -> ❌

Screen Time

Content & Privacy -> ✅

Content & Privacy:

Store, Web, Siri & Game Center Content:

  • Allow Web Search Content in Siri -> ❌

  • Allow Music & TV Shared Libraries -> ❌

  • Allow Adding Friends -> ❌

  • Allow Connect with Friends -> ❌

  • Allow Private Messaging -> ❌

  • Allow Multiplayer Games With -> No one (if you don't play any games online through Game Center)

  • Allow Nearby Multiplayer -> ❌

App & Feature Restrictions:

  • Allow Book Store -> ❌

  • Allow Siri & Dictation -> ❌

  • Allow SharePlay -> ❌

The following appear to only impact iOS, but I would still recommend setting them for defense in depth, just don't disable anything you actually use or need...

  • Allow Mail -> ❌

  • Allow Safari -> ❌

  • Allow FaceTime -> ❌

  • Allow Wallet -> ❌

  • Allow CarPlay -> ❌

  • Allow iTunes Store -> ❌

  • Allow Podcasts -> ❌

  • Allow AirDrop -> ❌

  • Allow Health -> ❌

  • Allow Activity -> ❌

  • Allow App Clips -> ❌

General

About -> Name -> Keep this generic, I recommend setting it to Device

Software Update -> Automatic Updates:

  • Check for updates -> ✅

  • Download new updates when available -> ✅

  • Install macOS updates -> ✅

  • Install application updates from the App Store -> ✅

  • Install Security Responses and system files -> ✅


AirDrop & Handoff:

  • Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices -> ❌

  • AirDrop -> No One

  • AirPlay Receiver -> ❌

  • Allow AirPlay for -> Current User

  • Login Items -> Go through and remove/disable anything from here you don't need


Language & Region -> Translation Languages... -> On-Device Mode -> ✅

Date & Time -> Set date and time automatically -> ✅ (Very important for security)

Date & Time -> Source -> Set... -> I would recommend setting this to the time server ran by GrapheneOS: time.grapheneos.org

Date & Time -> 24-hour time -> ❌

Date & Time -> Show 24-hour time on Lock Screen -> ❌

Sharing:

  • File Sharing -> ❌

  • Media Sharing -> ❌

  • Screen Sharing -> ❌

  • Content Caching -> ❌

  • Bluetooth Sharing -> ❌

  • Printer Sharing -> ❌

  • Internet Sharing -> ❌

  • Remote Management -> ❌

  • Remote Login -> ❌

  • Remote Application Scripting -> ❌

Appearance

Appearance -> Dark

Accessibility

The 3 options below are optional but recommended for lower-end or older devices to improve performance and battery:

Display -> Reduce motion -> ✅

Display -> Reduce transparency -> ✅

Display -> Auto-play animated images -> ❌

Voice Control -> ❌ (if you don't use/need it)

Keyboard -> Sticky Keys -> ❌ (Important for gaming)

Keyboard -> Slow Keys -> ❌ (Important for gaming)

Pointer Control -> Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present -> ✅

Pointer Control -> Trackpad Options... -> Scroll speed -> Make sure it's set so that it's 4 spaces away from the turtle on the left & 3 spaces away from the rabbit on the right (Should be default, important for gaming)

Pointer Control -> Mouse Options... -> Scroll speed -> Make sure it's set so that it's 4 spaces away from the turtle on the left & 3 spaces away from the rabbit on the right (Should be default, important for gaming)

Personal Voice -> Share across devices -> ❌

Personal Voice -> Allow applications to use your Personal Voice -> ❌

Siri -> Type to Siri -> ✅

Control Center

Wi-Fi -> Show in Menu Bar

Bluetooth -> Show in Menu Bar

AirDrop -> Don't Show in Menu Bar

Focus -> Show when active

Screen Mirroring -> Show when active

Accessibility shortcuts -> Show in Menu Bar -> ❌ (Unless you need/use this)

Accessibility shortcuts -> Show in Control Center -> ❌ (Unless you need/use this)

Battery -> Show in Menu Bar -> ✅

Battery -> Show in Control Center -> ✅

Battery -> Show Percentage -> ✅

Fast User Switching -> Show in Menu Bar -> Your choice, this is a great setting to take advantage of if you use multiple users, otherwise don't bother

Fast User Switching -> Show in Control Center -> ✅ (only if you use multiple users)

Menu Bar Only -> Clock Options... -> Date -> Show date -> When space allows

Menu Bar Only -> Clock Options... -> Date -> Show the day of the week -> ✅

Menu Bar Only -> Clock Options... -> Time -> Style -> Digital

Menu Bar Only -> Clock Options... -> Time -> Show AM/PM -> ✅

Menu Bar Only -> Clock Options... -> Time -> Display the time with seconds -> ✅

Menu Bar Only -> Clock Options... -> Time -> Announce the time -> ❌ (Should be default, lol)

Siri -> Don't Show in Menu Bar

Siri & Spotlight

Ask Siri -> ❌

Spotlight:

  • Contacts -> ❌

  • Siri Suggestions -> ❌

  • Tips -> ❌

  • Websites -> ❌

Privacy & Security

Location Services -> ❌ (if you don't use/need it)

Disable location access for any apps that don't need it here

System Services -> Details...:

  • Suggestions & Search -> ❌

  • System customization -> ❌

  • Significant locations -> ❌

  • Find My Mac -> ❌

  • HomeKit -> ❌

  • Mac Analytics -> ❌

  • Show location icon in Control Center when System Services request your location -> ✅


Go through all permissions under privacy and remove permissions for any apps that don't need them

Sensitive Content Warning -> ❌

Analytics & Improvements -> Share Mac Analytics -> ❌

Analytics & Improvements -> Improve Siri & Dictation -> ❌

Analytics & Improvements -> Share with app developers -> ❌

Apple Advertising -> Personalized Ads -> ❌

Allow applications downloaded from -> App Store and identified developers

Allow accesories to connect -> Ask Every Time

FileVault -> On ✅ (Don't save the recovery key to your iCloud account...)

Lockdown Mode -> On ✅

Extensions -> Added extensions -> Remove any extensions you don't need/use

Extensions -> Sharing:

  • Contact Suggestions -> ❌

  • AirDrop -> ❌

  • Mail -> ❌ (if you don't use/need it)

  • Messages -> ❌ (if you don't use/need it)

  • Save to Books -> ❌

  • Freeform -> ❌

  • Instruments -> ❌


Profiles -> Remove any profiles you don't need/use

Advanced... -> Require an administrator password to access system-wide settings -> ✅

Advanced... -> Log out automatically after inactivity -> ✅

Advanced... -> Log out after... -> Your choice, the lower the better, I leave mine at 60 minutes due to other options we set (Should investigate this further)

Desktop & Dock

Show suggested and recent apps in Dock -> ❌

Show Widgets -> On Desktop -> ❌

Show Widgets -> In Stage Manager -> ❌

Use iPhone widgets -> ❌

Default web browser -> Set to your browser of choice, I recommend Firefox.

Prefer tabs when opening documents -> Always

Ask to keep changes when closing documents -> ✅

Close windows when quitting an application -> ✅

Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use -> ❌

Displays

Automatically adjust brightness -> ❌ (Annoying and better for battery)

True Tone -> ✅

Preset -> Choose Apple XDR Display if you have the option, otherwise Apple Display (Should be default)

Refresh rate -> ProMotion if you have the option

Advanced...:

Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad -> ❌

Push through the edge of a display to connect a nearby Mac or iPad -> ❌

Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad -> ❌

Night Shift:

Schedule -> Custom: -> I usually set to From 9:00PM to 6:00AM

Color Temperature -> Set to the middle (Should be default)

Battery

Battery Health -> Optimized Battery Charging -> ✅ (Should be default)

Energy Mode -> On battery -> Automatic (Should be default) - You can also set this to Low Power if you need to conserve battery life

Energy Mode -> On power adapter -> Automatic (Should be default) - It might also be desirable to set this to High Power depending on your use case

Options...:

  • Slightly dim the display on battery -> ✅

  • Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off -> ❌

  • Wake for network access -> Only on Power Adapter

  • Optimize video streaming while on battery -> ❌ (Should be default) - You can enable if you need to conserve battery life

Lock Screen

Start Screen Saver when inactive -> Your choice, the lower the better, I usually set to For 2 minutes

Turn display off on battery when inactive -> Your choice, the lower the better, I usually set to For 2 minutes

Turn display off on power adapter when inactive -> Your choice, the lower the better, I usually set to For 5 minutes

Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off -> Your choice, the lower the better, I usually set to After 5 seconds

When switching users -> Show the Sleep, Restart, and Shut Down buttons -> ✅

Accessibility Options...:

  • VoiceOver -> ❌ (if you don't use/need it)

  • Sticky Keys -> ❌ (Important for gaming)

  • Slow Keys -> ❌ (Important for gaming)

Touch ID & Password

Make sure you set a strong password, I would recommend avoiding Touch ID and using it as little as possible:

Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac -> ❌

Use Touch ID for Apple Pay -> ❌

Use Touch ID for purchases in iTunes Store, App Store, and Apple Books -> ❌

Use Touch ID for autofilling passwords -> ❌

Use Touch ID for fast user switching -> ❌

Users & Groups

Delete any groups you don't need/use

Automatically log in as -> Off ❌

Passwords

Security Recommendations -> Detect leaked passwords -> ✅ (This is done locally on device through a list of passwords, Apple doesn't get sent your passwords)

Password Options -> Autofill Passwords and Passkeys -> ❌

Password Options -> Verification Codes -> Delete After Use -> ✅

Internet Accounts

Remove any accounts in here you don't need/use

Wallet & Apple Pay

Shipping Address -> No Shipping Address

Email -> No Email

Phone -> No Phone

Compatible cards -> ❌

Add Orders to Wallet -> ❌

Keyboard

Key repeat rate -> Fast (Drag all the way to the right, important for gaming)

Delay until repeat -> Short (Drag all the way to the right, important for gaming)

Press Globe key to -> Show Emoji & Symbols

Dictation -> ❌

Trackpad

Tracking speed -> Make sure it's set so that it's 4 spaces away from the left & 5 spaces away from the right (important for gaming)