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Clean Installing macOS in 2025
As I did in my previous two work MacBook Air upgrades in 2024 and 2023, documenting my critical apps with a clean setup.
This time around I’m upgrading to a Silver MacBook Air M4 with 32Gb of Ram and 1TB from a Midnight M2 model with 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Here’s an updated (or commented) list my must-have apps:
Apps
- Core:
- 1Password 8: used to love it, now need it for work. Keeping an eye on Passwords for personal stuff.
- Arc: While development has slowed down, still my browser of choice.
- Drafts: still scratch-pad, since forever. But has become less important in my flow.
- Ivory: I’m using web-based Elk a lot more. But Ivory is still the preferred app.
- Obsidian: Still a fundamental app, but less the start/end for everything.
- Raycast : App launcher, clipboard viewer, screenshot search, snippet expander, etc. Have not managed to migrate my AI workflows to it.
- Soulver 3: the only way to calculate anything.
- Sublime Text 4: Photoshop for Text.
- Tembo: find a needle in your haystack.
- Things: old faithful task manager.
- Work
- Microsoft 365: oh how much I hate thee.
- Microsoft Teams for Mac: see above and multiply by π.
- Modern CSV: Using it less, but still my go-to for clean table data viewing.
- Screegle: best way to share screen on Teams.
- Superhuman: my right hand. Can’t imagine working without it.
- Superintendent.app: Being using it less also (but bought it for team). Keeping an eye on TextQuery
- Writage: Markdown plugin for Microsoft Word.
- Vimcal: If you need to find time among many every day.
- AI
- Chorus: OpenAI, Claude, Gemeni API wrapper. Replaced BoltAI for me.
- superwhisper: amazing dictation/transcription solution. Also been using WhisperType since it feels faster for shorter transcriptions.
- Granola: Amazing bot-less meeting notetaker. Won out over Shadow for me. But both are transformational.
- Tools
- Acorn: best image editor.
- Bartender Back to it after using Ice. The SetApp version gave me peace of mind.
- Calibre: ePubs happen.
- Supercharge: hundreds? of features. Another Sindre Sorhus masterpiece that I both own direct, and subscribe through Setapp.
- WhatsApp for Mac: main messaging app for all that’s not work.
- Utilities
- Actions: lots ofextra actions for the Shortcuts app.
- Actions For Obsidian: 50+ shortcuts actions.
- Applite: Install many apps outside the AppStore cleanly.
- Badgeify: Add Teams, iMessage, etc to the Menu Bar. So I don’t miss anything from
- BetterDisplay : suffer less without a Studio Display at the office.
- Bunch: Automated changing work/personal/weekend setups.
- Dato, the latest default of over Itsycal & Calendr : going back and forward. Purchased it direct, and also have it under SetApp.
- Mac Mouse Fix: can’t use a 3rd party mouse without this. Love this app.
- Moves: move windows with modifier keys.
- Karabiner-Elements: hyperkey superpower.
- OpenAudible: liberate audiobooks.
- OpenIn 4: default apps for filetypes. Use it for
.mdand.csvmostly. - Spotify: hate the UI, but it’s the streaming service app that works for my family.
- Shottr: screenshot app I like. Just works for me.
- Velja: default browser with rules and easy switching.
- WindowKeys: Allows 3rd party keyboards work with default window-tiling shortcuts.
- Yoink: too many windows open, where are you going to place that file punk?
- Other good apps that were replaced: good apps that I replaced since last time for other reasons.
- Moom & Rectangle & Wins : Replaced with native mac functionality, WindowKeys, Moves and a little Raycast.
- KeepingYouAwake: now use Raycast extension.
- Maestral : Blot now supports iCloud, so don’t need Dropbox client anymore.
Application Settings and Others
- Karabiner:
- Raycast
- Velja, Supercharge, Shortcutie, Dato, Shorcuts Action
- Bartender:
- Sublime Text 4
~/Library/Application Support/Sublime Text/
- Finder Settings:
- When performing a search:
Search the Current Folder - Keep folders on top:
In windows when sorting by name
- When performing a search:
- Font Book
- My Fonts, File > Export
- System Library:
- Remove beep sounds for
^⌘↓commands on Obsidian/Electron.
- Remove beep sounds for
- Arc
- Migrate Profiles:
- Backup to
/Users/rm_psmt/Library/Application Support/Arc/User Data/- Look for
DefaultandProfiles 1…n
- Look for
- Backup to
- Settings
- View the Full URL at the Top of the Page
- Disable Password savings
- Extensions:
- Migrate Profiles:
System Settings
| System Setting | Value |
|---|---|
Storeage / Store in iCloud |
Toggle On |
Show window title icons |
Toggle On |
Reduce transparency |
Toggle On |
Spelling and prediction / Correct spelling automatically |
Toggle Off |
Spelling and prediction / Capitalize words automatically |
Toggle Off |
Spelling and prediction / Show inline predictive text |
Toggle Off |
Spelling and prediction / Add period with double-space |
Toggle Off |
Hot Corner Shortcuts |
remove Quick Note |
Sound volume /Play feedback when volume is changed |
Toggle On |
Trackpad / Point & Click / Force Click and haptic feedback |
Toggle Off |
Trackpad / Scroll & Zoom / Smart zoom |
Toggle Off |
Trackpad / Scroll & Zoom / Rotate |
Toggle Off |
Trackpad / More Gestures / Launchpad |
Toggle Off |
Trackpad / More Gestures / App Exposé |
Swipe Down with Three Fingers |
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard / Keyboard Shortcuts… /
/ Modifier Keys
Caps Lock key | ^Control
/ Spotlight Show Spotlight | ⌥⌘Space Show Finder search window | Unchecked
App Shortcuts
| Application | Command | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers | Excel… | ⌘⇧E |
| Notes | Note List Search… | ⌘⇧F |
| Things | Show Sidebar | ⌥⌘S |
| Things | Hide Sidebar | ⌥⌘S |
| Microsoft Excel | AutoFit Selection | ⌃⌥→ |
| Microsoft Excel | New Comment | ⌥⌘M |
| Microsoft Excel | Insert Sheet | ⌃⌥N |
| Microsoft Word | Comment | ⌥⌘M |
| Finder | Merge All Windows | ⌃⌘W |
Wallpapers:
- BasicAppleGuy macOS Tiger
- Hector Simpson Aqueux and Wavēy
- Downlink: when hurricane starts, fun way to keep an eye on the world.