You Need to Double Check What You Are Agreeing to When You Install the Software.
Whether you use Windows or macOS (or both), there’s definitely no shortage of high-quality programs you can install and use—and we’ve covered many of them . However, when you’re eager to get started with your new app, you shouldn’t rush through the installation process.
It is during this process that you will be asked some key questions about how you want the new application to behave on your system, and how much freedom you are going to give it. The decisions you make here will affect the program for as long as it’s on your computer, so we don’t recommend just clicking Next or OK repeatedly until you’re done.
Here’s how to be more careful when installing new software on Windows and macOS, and some of the most common options to watch out for.
How to access settings options
It’s quite simple: the options you need appear in the dialog boxes that appear when you start the installation process, which is usually done by running a file downloaded from the Internet or an app store.
Keep in mind, however, that important options may be hidden behind the Advanced or Advanced button. They won’t necessarily be visible, and some programs will let you choose between an “express” and “full” setting, so don’t choose the fastest route because it’s the most convenient.
We’ve also seen software installation dialogs with labels like “accept default settings” and it’s only when you uncheck that box that all available settings appear. Basically, you just need to be careful, take your time, and read everything that is displayed on the screen.
This is actually a separate issue, but we also recommend reading the terms and conditions that appear for new software in full: it will take a while, but you may be glad you did (and there are tools available to help you sort them out) .
Most common installation options
Obviously, the options you see when installing a program will vary depending on the application, but these are the ones you’ll see most often and what you need to consider before accepting them.
Installation Location: The location on the system where the application will be located. You won’t have to change this often, but it’s worth double-checking, especially if you have multiple drives on your computer and want to keep your software and operating system separate.
Set as default: Many apps will want to set themselves as the default program for web browsing, text editing, music playback, or anything else the program does—so be sure to disable this option if you want to keep the current setting as default. application in place.
For example, if you switch your default spreadsheet program, double-clicking Excel files may launch something other than Excel. You can always change these default program associations yourself at any time in Windows or macOS .
Adding shortcuts. Many programs will want to add shortcuts to their desktop, Start menu, or elsewhere. You might want to wait and see how useful you find the app before doing this – you can always do it yourself later if you need to.
System Integration: Similar to Shortcuts, but here we’re talking about adding options to the context menu on Windows or the menu bar on macOS. Some programs will want to embed their hooks deep into your operating system, so be careful when agreeing to this.
Launch options: Software developers certainly want you to spend a lot of time with their programs, and sometimes they ask if their app can be loaded into memory every time you start Windows or macOS—another installation option to be careful with . With.
Loading programs automatically at startup means they’re available instantly, but if too many apps do this, it can impact system performance. If you need to change this later, you can do so through Windows or macOS settings.
Installation of additional software. This can be a serious problem because some programs try to silently install an extra application or two during the installation process. Be very careful about agreeing to this unless you have researched a new app and are sure you need it.
You may also find that you are also offered trials of the software you install – for example, three months free of the paid tier of the program. If you simply click “Yes” without thinking, you may find that you receive an unexpected bill after completing your free trial.