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To set up a new MacBook, connect it to the internet, choose whether to transfer data, create a Mac user account, sign in to your Apple Account if you wish, and follow the remaining Setup Assistant prompts. You can start fresh and use Migration Assistant later, so you do not have to decide about transferring everything before you can use the Mac.
Before you begin
- Have your Wi-Fi password ready. Some parts of Setup Assistant require an internet connection, and macOS may need an update during initial setup.
- Connect the included power adapter if you want to charge the MacBook fully or expect a long transfer. Apple says a new MacBook Air has enough charge to begin setup.
- If you plan to migrate from another Mac, update both computers where possible. For wireless transfer, keep them near each other and on the same network. Apple says a direct Thunderbolt or Ethernet connection is often faster; a large transfer can take hours.
- If transferring from a Windows PC, check Apple’s instructions for the Windows Migration Assistant version that matches the macOS on your new Mac.
Apple’s MacBook Air setup guide covers the initial process. Exact screens and available options can vary by macOS version, Mac model, region, and language.
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1. Start the MacBook and choose a language and region
Open the lid to turn on the MacBook. Follow the prompts to select a language and country or region. Region settings affect formats such as dates, currency, and temperature, and you can change these preferences later.
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Select a Wi-Fi network and enter its password. If you are using Ethernet, follow the network options shown on screen. An internet connection is needed for some Setup Assistant steps, and an update may be required before setup is complete. If you cannot connect, use Apple’s current setup guidance rather than trying an unverified workaround.
#1 Best Overall
- AN AMAZING MAC AT A SURPRISING PRICE — With an incredibly portable and durable aluminum design, up to 16 hours of battery life,* and the A18 Pro chip, MacBook Neo is ready to go wherever school takes you.
- FOUR STUNNING COLORS. ONE DURABLE DESIGN — Choose from four beautiful colors — Silver, Blush, Citrus, or Indigo — each with a color-coordinated keyboard. And MacBook Neo is made with a durable recycled aluminum enclosure that helps it reach 60 percent recycled content by weight — the most ever in any Apple product.*
- FLY THROUGH EVERYDAY ASSIGNMENTS — Whether you’re cramming for finals, using Apple Intelligence* to summarize class notes, creating presentations, or even playing the latest Apple Arcade game,* MacBook Neo delivers the performance and AI capabilities you need to get things done.
- UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Neo delivers all day battery life, so you can power through from early morning classes to late night study sessions without worrying about plugging in.
- A VIBRANT 13-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Neo supports 1 billion colors, so photos and videos pop and text is crisp for easy reading.
3. Choose whether to transfer information
Setup Assistant offers ways to bring information from another device or backup, or to begin without transferring data. Choose according to what you want on the new Mac:
| Setup path | What to expect | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| Set up as new | Begins without automatically bringing over data from an old device. | You want a clean start or want to decide what to move later. |
| Another Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk | Uses Migration Assistant to transfer eligible documents, apps, user accounts, and settings. | You have a Mac or backup source available. |
| Windows PC | Uses Windows Migration Assistant; the version should match the macOS on the new Mac. | You are moving from a Windows computer. |
| Nearby iPhone or iPad | Can bring over settings and, depending on iCloud settings, retrieve content such as Photos, Messages, Notes, Calendar, Passwords, and Contacts. | Your devices meet Apple’s software and connectivity requirements. |
To use nearby-device setup, the Mac must be running macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later and be at Setup Assistant. The nearby iPhone must already be set up and run iOS 18.4 or later, or the iPad must already be set up and run iPadOS 18.4 or later. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be on for both devices. See Apple’s iPhone or iPad setup instructions for Mac for current details.
Rank #2
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
If you choose to start fresh, you have not closed off migration. You can open Migration Assistant later from Applications > Utilities and follow its prompts. Apple says it transfers documents, apps, user accounts, and settings; it does not erase information from the old Mac or replace macOS on the new one. Not every app, network setting, password, or service is guaranteed to transfer unchanged, and some email accounts may need to be set up again.
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Rank #3
- AN AMAZING MAC AT A SURPRISING PRICE — With an incredibly portable and durable aluminum design, up to 16 hours of battery life,* and the A18 Pro chip, MacBook Neo is ready to go wherever school takes you.
- FOUR STUNNING COLORS. ONE DURABLE DESIGN — Choose from four beautiful colors — Silver, Blush, Citrus, or Indigo — each with a color-coordinated keyboard. And MacBook Neo is made with a durable recycled aluminum enclosure that helps it reach 60 percent recycled content by weight — the most ever in any Apple product.*
- FLY THROUGH EVERYDAY ASSIGNMENTS — Whether you’re cramming for finals, using Apple Intelligence* to summarize class notes, creating presentations, or even playing the latest Apple Arcade game,* MacBook Neo delivers the performance and AI capabilities you need to get things done.
- UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Neo delivers all day battery life, so you can power through from early morning classes to late night study sessions without worrying about plugging in.
- A VIBRANT 13-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Neo supports 1 billion colors, so photos and videos pop and text is crisp for easy reading.
4. Choose accessibility options
Set up any accessibility features you need now, or skip this step and revisit the options later in System Settings. Setup Assistant groups options for vision, hearing, mobility, speech, and cognition.
5. Create the Mac user account
Enter a name for your Mac account and create its password. This local account is used to unlock the Mac and approve certain actions. Choose a strong, unique password. You can add additional users after setup.
Rank #4
- AN AMAZING MAC AT A SURPRISING PRICE — With an incredibly portable and durable aluminum design, up to 16 hours of battery life,* and the A18 Pro chip, MacBook Neo is ready to go wherever school takes you.
- FOUR STUNNING COLORS. ONE DURABLE DESIGN — Choose from four beautiful colors — Silver, Blush, Citrus, or Indigo — each with a color-coordinated keyboard. And MacBook Neo is made with a durable recycled aluminum enclosure that helps it reach 60 percent recycled content by weight — the most ever in any Apple product.*
- FLY THROUGH EVERYDAY ASSIGNMENTS — Whether you’re cramming for finals, using Apple Intelligence* to summarize class notes, creating presentations, or even playing the latest Apple Arcade game,* MacBook Neo delivers the performance and AI capabilities you need to get things done.
- UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Neo delivers all day battery life, so you can power through from early morning classes to late night study sessions without worrying about plugging in.
- A VIBRANT 13-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Neo supports 1 billion colors, so photos and videos pop and text is crisp for easy reading.
6. Sign in to your Apple Account
You can sign in with the email address or phone number and password associated with an existing Apple Account, or create one if you do not have one. This is separate from the local Mac user account: do not assume that the Apple Account password and Mac login password are the same.
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Continue through the prompts for settings such as Location Services, Screen Time, Siri, Touch ID, and Apple Intelligence where offered. Features and choices depend on the Mac model, macOS version, language, and region. Follow the options displayed on your Mac; Apple’s setup guide is the reference for its current screens and availability.
Best Value
- FAST RUNS IN THE FAMILY — The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. With all-day battery life, double the starting storage,* and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display, it’s pro in every way.*
- BUCKLE UP — Along with a next-generation CPU, faster unified memory, and up to 2x faster SSD storage,* M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance and on-device training capabilities. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR AI — Apple silicon, and every major component that powers it, is designed to run demanding on-device AI workloads like LLM inference and training. And Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly with groundbreaking privacy protections at every step.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.*
- MACOS RUNS APPS FAST — All your go-to apps run lightning fast in macOS, including built-in apps like FaceTime and Messages. Plus, built-in virus protection and free software updates help keep your Mac running smoothly and securely.
8. Finish setup and check for updates
Wait for Setup Assistant to finish and for the desktop to appear. Then open System Settings and check Software Update. Install available updates by following the prompts, keeping the Mac connected to power and the internet as appropriate.
9. Check your files and finish configuring the Mac
- Open essential apps and install anything you need from trusted sources.
- If you migrated or use iCloud, check that important files, photos, and other content are present or still syncing before relying on them.
- Set up a backup routine that suits your data and storage needs. Time Machine is one supported source for migration, but the setup information does not make a particular drive, capacity, or accessory necessary for every user.
Which setup path should you choose?
Choose migration during initial setup if you have a suitable source and want its accounts, apps, files, and settings brought over. Start fresh if you prefer to configure the Mac yourself or are unsure what to transfer; Migration Assistant remains available afterward. For a wireless Mac-to-Mac move, proximity and network conditions matter, while a direct Thunderbolt or Ethernet connection is often faster according to Apple. There is no reliable universal transfer-time estimate: large transfers may take hours.
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