Setting Up Your Mac Just Got Easier

Setting up a new Mac isn’t hard but it just got a lot easier after the latest updates from Apple. All you need to do is place your iPhone or iPad near your new Mac and you”ll initiate a wireless setup.

Mac Setup Assistant will transfer numerous settings for functions like Wi-Fi, Appearance and Accessibility. It also uses your device’s iCloud settings to automatically bring over files, photos, passwords, and other content stored in iCloud.

You need to make sure you’re running the latest Operating System on all devices.

System requirements

• A Mac using macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later that starts up to the Mac Setup Assistant.
• A nearby iPhone using iOS 18.4 or later, or iPad using iPadOS 18.4 or later, that has already been set up.
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on in settings on both devices.

Setting Up

1. When you first start up your new Mac, Setup Assistant asks for details such as your language and country or region. When it asks whether to transfer your data to this Mac, select “Set up with iPhone or iPad,” then click Continue.
2. When your Mac says that it is looking for nearby devices, unlock your iPhone or iPad and bring it near your Mac.
3. If your device is signed in to your Apple Account, it uses that account to help set up your Mac. Tap Continue to proceed. You may then be asked to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.
4. Your Mac shows a pattern. Hold your iPhone or iPad up to your Mac and position the pattern in the circle to authenticate.
5. Your Mac asks whether to customize any accessibility settings. Click Not Now to make no changes, or click an accessibility category to review the settings in that category before continuing.
6. Follow the onscreen instructions. When asked to create a Mac user account, you can keep or modify the names shown, which are based on the name used by your Apple Account. Type a unique password that you will use when logging in to your Mac, then click Continue.
7. If your device is signed in to your Apple Account, your Mac begins setting up that account on your Mac. Based on the account’s iCloud settings on your device, your Mac will automatically retrieve the content stored in iCloud by Apple apps such as Photos, Messages, Notes, Calendar, Passwords, and Contacts.
8. When your device says that the transfer is complete, tap Done, then complete the remaining setup steps on your Mac.