A brand-new PC or Mac feels fast and clean on day one. What it doesn't come with is the essential software that makes it genuinely useful, secure, and reliable. Windows 11 includes some basics, and macOS ships with its own suite, but neither covers everything you actually need. Here's a practical list of what to install first, and why each one earns its place.
A modern browser you actually control
Both Windows and macOS come with a default browser: Edge on Windows, Safari on Mac. Neither is a bad choice, but neither gives you the cross-platform flexibility that most people now expect. Google Chrome and Firefox are the two most widely used alternatives. Chrome syncs your bookmarks, passwords, and extensions across every device tied to your Google account. Firefox does the same with a Mozilla account and has stronger privacy defaults out of the box.
Pick one and stick with it. Using three browsers and remembering where you saved what is its own kind of problem.
Antivirus and security software
Windows 11 ships with Microsoft Defender, which is genuinely decent. It runs quietly in the background and updates automatically. For most home users, Defender is enough, provided you keep Windows updated. Mac users are in a similar position: macOS includes XProtect and Gatekeeper, which catch most threats without you doing anything.
That said, Defender and XProtect don't cover everything. A dedicated security layer, such as Malwarebytes or Bitdefender, adds real-time web protection, ransomware shields, and phishing detection that the built-in tools miss. If you use your machine for work or store sensitive files, add one. If you want to know what to look for in a paid product, our guide to the best antivirus software for Windows and Mac covers the key features and what actually matters.
A password manager
Reusing passwords is the single most common reason accounts get compromised. A password manager generates a strong, unique password for every site and remembers all of them. You remember one master password. That's the whole deal.
Bitwarden is free, open-source, and works across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. 1Password costs around $4 USD per month and adds a polished interface and travel mode. Both are far better than a sticky note or a Notes app. Install one before you start logging in to anything.
Cloud storage and file sync
Local storage fails. Drives fail, laptops get stolen, and files get accidentally deleted. Cloud storage gives you a live copy of your most important files stored off the machine, accessible from any device.
The 3 main options are Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. OneDrive is built into Windows 11 and comes with 5 GB free, with 100 GB for around $3 AUD per month. Google Drive gives you 15 GB free and integrates tightly with Gmail and Google Docs. Dropbox is the most polished cross-platform option but the free tier is now only 2 GB. If you're on a Mac and already pay for iCloud+, iCloud Drive does the same job.
Cloud sync is not the same as a full backup. For a proper backup strategy that covers everything, the 3-2-1 backup strategy is a good place to start.
An office suite
New computers don't include Microsoft Office by default. They include a trial, or a prompt to subscribe. Microsoft 365 Personal costs around $109 AUD per year and gives you Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 1 TB of OneDrive storage. For many users that's the right call, especially if you need to collaborate on documents with colleagues who use Office formats.
If you don't want a subscription, LibreOffice is free and handles most Office formats reliably. Google Docs is free, browser-based, and excellent for shared documents. The honest answer is that most people who write documents, build spreadsheets, or make presentations need something here. Free options have improved enough that the subscription is no longer automatic.
A PDF reader and editor
macOS reads PDFs natively in Preview, which also handles basic annotation and form-filling. Windows opens PDFs in Edge. Both work for reading. Neither handles more complex tasks like merging files, adding signatures, or editing text in a PDF.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is the industry standard and free for basic use. For editing, Adobe Acrobat Pro is a subscription, but tools like PDF24 (free, Windows) and PDFpen (Mac) cover most editing tasks without the monthly fee.
A video calling app
If you use your computer for work, you need at least one video calling app installed before your first meeting. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet are the 3 dominant platforms. Most workplaces settle on one, so install what your colleagues or clients use. All 3 are free for basic personal use. Teams is included with Microsoft 365.
A system cleaner and maintenance tool
New machines don't need cleaning. But within 6 months, Windows PCs in particular accumulate temp files, duplicate downloads, and browser junk that slow things down. BleachBit (free, Windows) and CleanMyMac X (Mac) are two well-regarded options. Neither is essential on day one, but knowing they exist before your machine starts crawling is useful.
If your computer does slow down despite keeping software lean, the causes are usually specific and fixable. A technician can diagnose the problem remotely without needing your machine. If you're unsure what that involves, what is remote IT support and how does it work explains the process clearly.
A quick note on bloatware
New PCs, particularly from consumer-focused brands, often ship with trial software that slows boot times and clutters the start menu: antivirus trials, music streaming apps, game launchers, browser toolbars. Remove them. On Windows 11, go to Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps, and uninstall anything you didn't choose. A cleaner machine runs faster from the start.
Macs ship with less junk, but Apple's own suite (GarageBand, iMovie, Pages) takes up space if you'll never use it. Delete what you don't need.
Start right, not just fast
The temptation on a new machine is to open a browser and start working immediately. Taking 30 minutes to install a password manager, set up cloud sync, add a security layer, and clear out the bloat saves hours later. Most problems that bring people to a repair technician or a support call trace back to something that was never configured properly at the start.