Every so often I rebuild my Mac's operating from scratch, usually when it (1) seems to be getting slow or (2) I suspect I installed some really poisonous software that doesn't completely uninstall. I also do it if there is a big OS change or underlying motherboard change from Apple, as in the case with a computer upgrade.
Since I do this fairly regularly and have been burned a few times by forgetting things (e.g. my @#$! keychain certs), I use a checklist to remind me what I should do. It's never exactly complete because my work processes change from time, but it saves a LOT of time trying to remember where to find stuff.
Here's a lightly-edited version of my current checklist, last used to migrate from a 2013 Macbook Pro 15 to a 2021 Macbook Pro 16" M1 Max. I also keep tech notes about problems I encountered so I remember how I solved them the next time around. I keep the checklist in a special "IT Department" directory in my Dropbox folder so I remember where to find it.
Example Last Updated June 6 2021
0. PRE-PURCHASE
note: don't reuse your current Time Machine drive...you might need it to dig up files later!
[ ] - dedicated drive for new Time Machine backup
1. BACKUP DATA
Check system locations
[ ] - check Documents
[ ] - check Downloads
[ ] - check Desktop RAW SOURCE NO BACKUP and OTHER BACKUPS
[ ] - check Desktop other stuff to copy over
[ ] - copy ~/.bash_profile, .ssh, directories
[ ] - copy ~/.vs_code directories
[ ] - copy ~/dev in entirety
[ ] - copy ~/web in entirety
Confirm coverage of other backed-up sources
[ ] - CODE - ~/dev is on GitHub/Bitbucket
[ ] - CODE - ~/web is not necessarily on Github
[ ] - DSCOM - Excel Timesheets (in DROPBOX/TIMESHEETS)
[ ] - DSCOM - 1Password (in DROPBOX/IT DEPARTMENT)
[ ] - NOTES - Quiver (in DROPBOX/WORKING NOTES)
[ ] - NOTES - Word Journals (in DROPBOX/WORKING NOTES)
[ ] - NOTES - Scrivener (in DROPBOX/WORKING NOTES)
[ ] - NOTES - Unclutter (in DROPBOX/WORKING NOTES)
[ ] - NOTES - RocketBook (in DROPBOX/WORKING NOTES)
[ ] - PHOTOS - Camera Uploads (in Media3T)
[ ] - PHOTOS - DSLR (in Media3T)
[ ] - PHOTOS - iPhone is syncing to iCloud so it's OK
Export data from programs to OVERFLOW_WORKING_DRIVE
note: if you still have the old hardware you can just yoink it from that.You could mount the old Time Machine backup and browse it like a regular hard drive to find some of these things (e.g. ~/.ssh) if you know where to look, but it's easier to do it from the various apps
[ ] - export Alfred Prefs and Workflows
[ ] - export ssh keys for github, gitlab + config (~/.ssh)
[ ] - export bashrc, zshrc, etc
[ ] - export Keychains with Keychain Access App
note: developer IDs are tied to hardware so you need to regen...I think?
[ ] - export Visual Studio Code themes, setup
[ ] - export VSC extensions (~/Library/AppSupport/code/user/globalstorage)
[ ] - export Audio Hijack sessions
[ ] - export Streamdeck profile info
[ ] - export Transmit settings
[ ] - export Photoshop library symbols
[ ] - export Illustrator Library symbols
[ ] - export MAMP server settings
[ ] - export 1Password Vault
[ ] - export Lightroom Catalogs (in ~/Pictures)
[ ] - export OBS Scene Collection, Profiles
[ ] - export all iTunes and MP3 files ( ~/Music)
[ ] - write-down favorites from Default Folder X
[ ] - write-down Unclutter path to Dropbox
[ ] - save custom icons from Finder
[ ] - export fonts from ~/Library/Fonts
[ ] - write down lists of installed extensions
Information to jot down
note: a lot of this is in 1Password, which won't be re-installed right away, but you can use the universal clipboard with another apple device to make it easier on copying pasting
[ ] - WiFi password
[ ] - Dropbox password
[ ] - AppleID
[ ] - Microsoft Live ID
[ ] - AdobeID
[ ] - sshkey for github, key password, site password
[ ] - sshkey for account@domain.com
[ ] - VPNSOFTWARE password
[ ] - web browser extensions that aren't cloud synced
[ ] - everything in the menubar in case I missed something?
[ ] - everything in login items?
[ ] - scan Activity Monitor processes for unseen utilities/drivers?
Deauthorizations
[ ] - deauthorize REASON (CodeMeter, only if not using Internet signon)
[ ] - deauthorize iTUNES
[ ] - deauthorize CREATIVE CLOUD
2. SET UP BASE OS
Restore Preferred Defaults
[ ] - install CursorSense NO ACCEL SENSITIVITY 1700
- require install of Logitech GHub to add driver, but then delete
it by removing app and other files according to online docs
[ ] - system pref keyboard[text] uncheck EVERYTHING
[ ] - system pref trackpad NATURAL SCROLLING OFF
[ ] - TextPad pref autocorrections OFF
3. SET UP ESSENTIALS
note: These are always installed in this order to minimize frustration
Install APPS - ESSENTIAL
[ ] - Chrome - extensions synced via Google Account
[ ] - CursorSense - LIC in email
[ ] - 1Password - master passwords/certs in safe
[ ] - Alfred - Powerpack lic in email
[ ] - Direct Folder X - LIC in email
[ ] - Transmit - lic in email
[ ] - VPNSOFTWARE - signin
[ ] - Dropbox (selective sync business) - password
[ ] - Discord - download from site
4. INSTALL WHAT I NEED RIGHT NOW
note: I don't need to install everything right away. This list is usually a bit out of date as apps drop in and out of favor, so this usually gets updated
Install APPS - PRODUCTIVITY
[ ] - Creative Cloud - login to adobe.com
[ ] - Affinity Suite - lic in email
[ ] - Microsoft Office - download from MS, install from key
[ ] - Typora - lic in email
[ ] - Unclutter - appstore
[ ] - Notion - download
[ ] - Magnet - mac app store
Install APPS - DEV
[ ] - Visual Studio Code - vscode website
[ ] - Kaleidoscope - dl, then click activation link in email
[ ] - Sourcetree - atlassian account sign-in
[ ] - Github git requires use of Personal Access Token instead of password,
For SourceTree, let it create it for you
[ ] - Gitlab git requires SSH key access for private repos (?), requires
.ssh/config to set the host correctly
[ ] - MAMP Pro - lic in email
Install APPS - AUDIO/VIDEO PRODUCTION
[ ] - Reason - site account / Media3T
[ ] - Elgato control software - site
[ ] - ID3 Editor - lic in email, may need update submission
[ ] - Loopback - lic in email
[ ] - Sound Source - lic in email
[ ] - Audio Hijack - lic in email
[ ] - Airfoil - lic in email
[ ] - Logitech Gaming Software (for cam control, but recent versions
do not see both C920s
[ ] - Open Broadcaster Studio - site
Install APPS - GRAPHICS PRODUCTION
[ ] - font: Iosevka (Media3T/Resources)
[ ] - font: Proxima Nova Families (Media3T/Resources)
[ ] - font: Charcuterie Families (Media3T/Resources)
[ ] - font: Essential Pragmata Pro (Media3T/Resources)
[ ] - font: Helvetica Neue Collection 2 (Media3T/Resources)
[ ] - font: Bitstream Vera Sans Mono (Media3T/Resources)
[ ] - EOS UTILITY - canon site
OPTIONAL APPS / NOT CURRENTLY USED
[ ] - Scrivener - lic in email
[ ] - Max/MSP - Media3T/Resources
[ ] - Modo - lic on site / Media3T
[ ] - Screenflow - lic in email / Media3T
[ ] - CopyQueue
[ ] - Querious - lic in email
[ ] - SublimeText 3 - lic in email
[ ] - CodeKit - lic in email
[ ] - QuiverApp - appstore