Set up your Mac Studio
After you unbox your Mac Studio, follow these instructions to set it up.
Before you begin
Choose a hard, stable work surface that allows for adequate air circulation under and around it. For more information on safety and handling, see Important safety information for your Mac and Important handling information for your Mac.
All Mac Studio packaging is fully recyclable. Break down the boxes according to the instructions and place in your recycling bin.
Step 1: Connect your Mac to power
Use the power cable included with your Mac Studio to connect it to power. Connect one end of the power cable to the power port on your Mac Studio and the other end to a power outlet.
Step 2: Connect a display
Connecting a display to your Mac Studio is a two-step process: connecting the display to power and connecting the display to your Mac.
To connect your display to power: Use the power cable that came with your display to connect one end to the display and the other end to AC power. (If your display doesn’t need to be plugged in, you can skip this step.) You may also need to turn on your display by pressing a power button.
To connect your display to your Mac: Use the cable that came with your display to connect one end to your display and the other end to a Thunderbolt port or the HDMI port on the back of your Mac Studio.
Note: If the cable requires a port that your Mac doesn’t have, you may need to use an adapter with the video cable, or replace the video cable with one that doesn’t require an adapter. Consult the documentation that came with your display.
For more information on connecting a display, and to learn about the number of displays your Mac supports, see Connect displays to your Mac Studio.
Step 3: Connect a keyboard and mouse (or trackpad)
Use the cables that came with your keyboard and mouse (or trackpad) to connect them to the USB-C or Thunderbolt
Note: If the cable requires a port that your Mac doesn’t have, you may need to use an adapter. Consult the documentation that came with your keyboard and mouse or trackpad.
After you pair your keyboard and mouse (or trackpad) to your Mac, you may be able to use them wirelessly using Bluetooth®. For more information on connecting accessories using Bluetooth, see Connect accessories to your Mac.
Step 4: Turn on your Mac
Press the power button on the back of your Mac Studio.
Step 5: Follow the instructions in Setup Assistant
Setup Assistant gets you up and running quickly by guiding you through the first steps to using your Mac Studio, such as transferring your data, setting up accessibility features, connecting to your Wi-Fi network, and creating a user account.
To get started, select a language, then go to the next step. See below for more information about each step of Setup Assistant.
Tip: For more information on the different parts of Setup Assistant, press and hold the Command key while you click any of the links below to open them in a new tab in Safari.
Connect to a Wi-Fi network Choose your Wi-Fi network and enter the password, if necessary. If you’re using Ethernet, you can also click Other Network options and follow the onscreen instructions. | Choose how to set up your Mac Choose to set your Mac up as new, with an iPhone or iPad, or by transferring data from another Mac, Windows PC, Time Machine backup, or startup disk. |
Turn on Accessibility features View accessibility options for vision, hearing, mobility, speech, and cognition, or click Not Now to skip and set up later. | Create your computer account and password Use your username and password to unlock your Mac or approve other actions. To create one, enter your name, then create a password. If you want your Mac to have multiple users, you can add them later. |
Sign in to your Apple Account If you already have another Apple device, you likely have an Apple Account—simply sign in using the email address or phone number and password. If you don’t have an Apple Account, you can create one. | Finish setting up your Mac When your accounts are set up, follow the onscreen instructions to customize settings like Location Services, Appearance, Apple Intelligence, and Siri. Note: Apple Intelligence on macOS 27 or later is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.* |
Note: Setup Assistant is designed to help you easily set up your Mac on your own. However, if you need assistance during this process you can contact Apple Support to see what support options are available.
What’s next?
When Setup Assistant is done, a Welcome message informs you that your new Mac Studio is ready to use. Check out the links below for some ideas on what to do next:
Take a tour of Mac Studio to learn about the different ports and hardware features of your Mac Studio.
To continue to make your Mac your own, see Set up your accounts and Personalize your Mac Studio.
If you’re new to Mac and aren’t sure where to get started, see Are you new to Mac?and Switched from Windows to Mac.