OS X 10.10 Settings

Introduction

Here are some of my OS X 10.10 Yosemite settings and preferences. See also: Operating Systems, BIOS Settings, Device Settings, System Info, Installation Order.

OS X 10.10 Yosemite Settings

System Preferences

General

Appearance: [Blue]

[ ] Use dark menu bar and Dock (works with Adobe Flash Professional and Steam)

Highlight color: [Blue]

Sidebar icon size: [Medium]

Show scroll bars: (*) Automatically based on mouse or trackpad

Click in the scroll bar to: (*) Jump to the next page

Default web browser: [Google Chrome.app]

[x] Ask to keep changes when closing documents

[x] Close windows when quitting an app

Recent items: [10] Documents, Apps, and Servers

[x] Use LCD font smoothing when available

Desktop & Screen Saver

Desktop

Apple: Desktop Pictures: Galaxy (Finder Sidebar looks better with "Galaxy" than with "Aurora", because I don't like a violet Finder Sidebar)

~~Apple: Nature: Aurora~~ ~~(this default desktop background for Snow Leopard makes the Finder Sidebar look violet, which I don't like)~~

Apple: Solid Colors: "Solid Mint" or "Solid Gray Light"

Screen Saver

Screen Savers: Message

[Screen Saver Options...]

Message: [Mac]

Start after: Never (setting "1 Hour" is too soon)

[ ] Show with clock

[Hot Corners...]

Top Left Corner: [Start Screen Saver]

Dock

Size: 4/10

[ ] Magnification: approximately 8/10

Position on screen: (*) Left

Minimize windows using: [Scale effect]

[ ] Double-click a window's title bar to minimize

[ ] Minimize windows into application icon

[x] Animate opening applications

[x] Automatically hide and show the Dock

[x] Show indicators for open applications

Mission Control

[x] Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use

[x] When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application

[x] Group windows by application

[x] Displays have separate Spaces

Dashboard: [Off]

Language & Region

Preferred languages

Comments: to change the operating system interface language, drag preferred language to the top (for example English or Suomi).

English

Suomi

Svenska

Deutsch

Region: [Finland (Custom)]

First day of week: [Monday]

Calendar: [Gregorian]

Time Format: [x] 24-Hour Time

List sort order: [Universal]

Advanced...

General

Format language: [English]

Number separators: Grouping: [ ] Decimal [,]

Currency: [Euro (€)]

Grouping: [ ] Decimal [,]

Measurement units: Metric

Dates

Short: 14 01 14

Medium: 14 Jan 2014 (Jan instead of January)

Long: 14 Jan 2014

Full: Tuesday 14 January 2014

Times

Short: 23 : 55

Medium: 23 : 55 (seconds removed)

Long: 23 : 55 : 55 GMT+2

Full: 23 h 55 min 55 s GMT+02:00

Security & Privacy

General

[x] Require password [5 seconds] after sleep or screen saver begings

[x] Disable automatic login

Allow applications downloaded from:

(*) Anywhere

FileVault

Turned on

Firewall

Firewall: On

[Firewall Options...]

(Applications)

x means "Allow incoming connections", otherwise it's "Block incoming connections".

[x] Adium.app

[x] FaceTime.app

[ ] Final Cut Pro.app

[ ] Finder.app

[x] GoogleTalkPlugin.app

[x] GrowlHelperApp.app

[ ] iTunes (I don't share my music or videos on LAN)

[ ] Pinball HD.app (strange)

[ ] Safari (I shouldn't need to enable Safari, because other browsers are not listed here either)

[x] Spotify.app

[x] Steam.app

[ ] VLC.app

[x] Automatically allow signed software to receive incoming connections

[x] Enable stealth mode ("Don't respond to or acknowledge attempts to access this computer from the network by test applications using ICMP, such as Ping.")

Privacy

Location Services

[x] Enable Location Services

[x] Safari.app

Contacts

[ ] Color.app

[ ] SeaMonkey.app

[ ] Thunderbird.app

Diagnostics & Usage

[x] Send diagnostic & usage data to Apple

[x] Share crash data with app developers

Spotlight

Search Results

[x] Spotlight Suggestions

[x] Documents

[x] Folders

[x] PDF Documents

[x] Spreadsheets

[x] Presentations

[x] Images

[x] Music

[x] Movies

[x] Applications

[x] Other

[x] Developer

[ ] Conversion

[ ] Calculator

[ ] Definition

[ ] Mail & Messages

[ ] Contacts

[ ] Events & Reminders

[ ] System Preferences (unnecessary)

[ ] Fonts

[ ] Bing Web Searches

Privacy

Prevent Spotlight from searching these locations

(Comment: this will speed up computer, when it doesn't need load to temporary file info to memory at startup and update index all the time.)

Macintosh HD/Library/Caches

Macintosh HD/System/Library/Frameworks

Macintosh HD/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks

Users/tomihasa/Library/Caches

Users/tomihasa/Library/Logs

Users/tomihasa/Library/Preferences

Comment: make Library directory visible, so you can select it: chflags nohidden ~/Library/

Users/tomihasa/Pictures/iPod Photo Cache

Disc 2/Torrent Complete

Disc 2/Torrent Incomplete

Disc 2/Torrent Index

Notifications

Do Not Disturb

[ ] From 23:00 to: 07:00

[x] When mirroring to TVs and projectors

[x] Calendar

Alert style: Alerts (Alerts won't disappear, Banners will)

[ ] Show notifications on lock screen

[x] Show in Notification Center: [5 Recent Items]

[x] Badge app icon

[x] Play sound for notifications

[x] Messages

[x] Reminders

[x] FaceTime (in case I get contacted with this app)

[x] Adium (in case I get contacted with this app)

[x] Firefox (Firefox has working RSS feeds)

[x] Google Chrome (a website may try to send a notification, but the browser has the final say)

[x] Skype (instant messaging)

[ ] Colloquy (IRC)

[ ] Creative Cloud (Adobe Flash Professional, etc.)

[ ] Game Center

[ ] Mail

[ ] iTunes

[ ] Cyberduck

[ ] TextWrangler

[ ] Safari

CDs & DVDs

When you insert a blank CD: [Ask what to do]

When you insert a blank DVD: [Ask what to do]

When you insert a music CD: [Ignore]

When you insert a picture CD: [Ignore]

When you insert a video DVD: [Open DVD Player]

Displays

HP ZR24w

Resolution: (*) Best for display (1920 x 1200)

MacBook Pro 15.4" Antiglare

Resolutions: 1680 x 1050

Brightness: approx. 4/10

[ ] Automatically adjust brightness

Energy Saver

Battery (MacBook Pro)

Computer sleep: 1 h 30 minutes

Display sleep: 1 hour

[x] Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible

[ ] Slightly dim the display when using this power source

[x] Automatically reduce brightness before display goes to sleep

[ ] Restart automatically if the computer freezes

[x] Show battery status in the menu bar

Power Adapter

Computer sleep: Never

Display sleep: 1 hour

[ ] Put the hard disks to sleep when possible (disable for Mac Pro, Enable for MacBook Pro)

[ ] Wake for Ethernet access (Mac Pro once turned on when waking was on)

[x] Allow power button to put the computer to sleep (Mac Pro)

[ ] Start up automatically after a power failure (Mac Pro)

Keyboard

Key Repeat Rate: 5/7

Delay Until Repeat: 4/6

[ ] Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys

[x] Adjust keyboard brightness in low light (MacBook Pro)

Text

[ ] Correct spelling automatically

Spelling: [Suomi (Voikko)] (or: Automatic by Language)

[ ] Use smart quotes and dashes

for Double Quotes: ["abc"]

for Single Quotes: ['abc']

Shortcuts

Screen Shots

[x] Save picture of screen as a file

[x] Copy picture of screen to the clipboard

[x] Save picture of selected area as a file

[x] Copy picture of selected area to the clipboard

Mouse (Logitech Notebook Optical Mouse Plus+)

[ ] Move content in the direction of finger movement when scrolling or navigating

Tracking Speed: approx. 8/10

Scrolling Speed: 8/8 (Mac Pro: 8/8, MacBook Pro: 6/8)

Double-Click Speed: 9/11

Primary mouse button: (*) Left

Trackpad

(not in use)

Printers & Scanners

[ ] Share this printer on the network

Default printer: [EPSON AL-CX11]

Default paper size: [A4]

Sound

Sound Effects

Play sound effects through: [Digital Out] (MacBook Pro: Internal Speakers)

Alert volume: 0/4

[ ] Play user interface sound effects

[ ] Play feedback when volume is changed

[x] Show volume in menu bar

Output

Digital Out (Mac Pro)

Internal Speakers (MacBook Pro)

Input

Line In (Mac Pro)

Internal microphone (MacBook Pro)

[x] Use ambient noise reduction (MacBook Pro)

iCloud

[ ] Photos (This might be enabled! See all the options here! The minus sign "-" in the box [-] before "Photos" may lead you to thinking your photos are not in the iCloud, but they might be!)

[ ] Keychain (why would I want to save my passwords on a remote server?)

[x] Find My Mac (MacBook Pro, WiFi required)

Internet Accounts

iCloud

Gmail

Network

Mac Pro: Static IP Address (with ASUS DSL-N55U, 6/2014)

Configure IPv4: [Using DHCP] Comment: ASUS DSL-N55U manual recommends DHCP setting instead of a manual address.

Comment: this was changed to "Using DHCP" maybe because I switched from ZyXEL to ASUS.

IP Address: [192.168.1.46]

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Router: 192.168.1.1

DNS Server: 109.204.194.2, 109.204.194.3

Comment: DNS server was changed to "198.168.1.1" maybe because I switched from ZyXEL to ASUS.

Bluetooth

Comment: you need to enable "Bluetooth Sharing" also for download/upload between devices. You do not need to enable "File Sharing".

Mac Pro and MacBook Pro: sending file does not work, but browsing Public folder (from Bluetooth menu) does work.

Does not work with: iPod Touch 3rd gen. with iOS 5 (additional app needed: try Intuitive Commander using WiFi) (11/2012), HTC HD7 with Windows Phone 7.5 (11/2012).

Works with: Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini, both ways, from Xperia's Album app to Mac Pro: about 100 - 200 KB/s (12/2012), Nokia Asha 300 (11/2012).

Tip: See also Sharing settings: Bluetooth Sharing.

Tip: Use "+" only on one Mac computer to start discovering a Bluetooth device.

Tip: Use cogwheel icon: "Show More Info".

[x] On (Mac may wake up from sleep if this is turned on)

[x] Discoverable (disabled after I have setup my Bluetooth devices)

[x] Show Bluetooth status in the menu bar (there you can see "Send File" and "Browse Device")

Advanced...

[ ] Open Bluetooth Setup Assistant at startup when no input device is present (enabled for Mac Mini)

[ ] Open Bluetooth Setup Assistant at startup if no mouse or trackpad is detected (enabled for Mac Mini)

[ ] Allow Bluetooth devices to wake this computer (enabled for Mac Mini)

[ ] Reject incoming audio requests

Sharing

[ ] DVD or CD Sharing

Note: this is for local network.

[ ] Screen Sharing

Note: this is for VNC.

[ ] File Sharing (not necessary for Bluetooth sharing)

Note: this is for local network.

Finder: Preferences: Connected servers.

Works with ZyXEL P-2812HNU-F1 when Mac Pro is on LAN on MacBook Pro is on WLAN (4/2013).

[ ] Printer Sharing

Note: this is for local network.

[ ] Remote Login

Note: using SSH.

[ ] Remote Management

Note: using Apple Remote Desktop.

[ ] Remote Apple Events

[ ] Internet Sharing

Note: share your Internet connection with other computers.

[x] Bluetooth Sharing (you can leave this on, because you only turn on Bluetooth when in use and may not remember to turn on "Bluetooth Sharing" every time Bluetooth is enabled)

When receiving items: [Accept and Save] (saves time when you don't need to response to each file individually with a trusted device)

[x] Require pairing

Folder for accepted items: [Downloads]

When other devices browse: [Ask What to Do]

[x] Require pairing

Folder others can browse: [Public]

Users & Groups

User

Password

[Change Password...]

Contacts Card: [Open...]

[ ] Allow user to reset password using Apple ID

[x] Allow user to administer this computer

[ ] Enable parental controls [Open Parental Controls...]

(Do not only uncheck everything here, also remove every item here.)

Guest User

(not in use)

Automatic login: [Off]

Display login window as: (*) List of users

[x] Show the Sleep, Restart, and Shut Down buttons

[ ] Show Input menu in login window

[ ] Show password hints

[ ] Show fast user switching menu as [Full Name]

[ ] Use VoiceOver in the login window

Network Account Server: [Join...]

Parental Controls

(not in use)

App Store

[x] Automatically check for updates

Comment: disable for MacBook Pro, because I often use it with mobile connection (I share my mobile phone's internet connection with MacBook Pro).

[ ] Download newly available updates in the background (not with mobile connection, because updates can take over 1 Mbps of bandwidth and accessing even email can be laggy)

[x] Install system data files and security updates

[Check Now]

Date & Time

[x] Set date and time automatically: [Apple Europe (time.euro.apple.com)]

Time Zone

Time Zone: Eastern European Summer Time

Closest City: [Tampere - Finland]

Clock

[x] Show date and time in menu bar

Time options:

(*) Digital

[x] Use a 24-hour clock

Date options:

[x] Show the day of the week

[x] Show date

Accessibility

Display

[x] Reduce transparency (Depends. Try using this setting with a solid color Desktop background. People have noticed less GPU usage with this disabled.)

Finder

View

Customize Toolbar

Back/Forward, Path (all I ever use is these two "button groups", this way I get more space for Spotlight search box on MacBook Pro)

Preferences

General

Show these items on the desktop:

[ ] Hard disks

[x] External disks

[x] CDs, DVDs, and iPods

[ ] Connected servers

New Finder windows show:

[Desktop] ("All My Files" is like a Spotlight search, which is slower)

[ ] Open folders in tabs instead of new windows

[x] Spring-loaded folders and windows

Sidebar

[ ] All My Files

[ ] iCloud Drive

[ ] Applications (I use the Applications shortcut instead)

[x] Desktop

[ ] Documents (I use the Documents shortcut instead)

[x] Downloads (I use the Downloads shortcut instead)

[ ] Movies (I don't watch local movies)

[ ] Music (I use iTunes to play/search for music)

[ ] Pictures (I visit my image folders instead)

[ ] tomihasa

[ ] Back to My Mac

[ ] Connected servers

[ ] Bonjour computers

[ ] Tomi's Mac Pro

[x] Hard disks

[x] External disks

[x] CDs, DVDs, and iPods

Launchpad

See Launchpad Settings

Dock: reduce transparency

See System Preferences, Accessibility, Display (Reduce transparency)

Show Network Utility on Dock

See Networking Application Settings

Show hidden files

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

killall Finder

Unhide a certain folder

chflags nohidden ~/Library/

Last modified: September 11th, 2015

Author: Tomi Häsä (tomi.hasa@gmail.com)

URL: http://sites.google.com/site/tomihasa/os-x-10-10-settings