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Understanding What to Do When You Get a New Computer

Applies toWindows 11Windows 10Microsoft 365
8 min read Updated 17 Jun 2026

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

Sign in with your work account, connect to Wi-Fi, run Windows Update, install your apps from Company Portal, sign in to Outlook and Teams, set up OneDrive sync, configure your default browser, and restore your files from OneDrive or your old machine's backup.

Checked against Microsoft Learn - Windows release health, Microsoft Learn - end of support and retirement and between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

Summary ​

This article is your complete first-day checklist when you receive a new work computer. It walks through everything from your first sign-in to customizing your workspace — organized in the order to complete each step, with links to detailed guides along the way.

In this guide

Before You Start ​

  • A Microsoft 365 work or school account (your work email address and password).
  • Your new computer must be connected to the internet (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
  • If your organization uses Company Portal or Intune, you may need to complete device enrollment before apps will install. See Understanding Company Portal, Device Management, and Your Privacy.

Instructions ​

1. Sign In and Change Your Password ​

Your IT team provided a temporary password. Change it immediately.

  1. Turn on the computer and sign in with the credentials IT provided.
  2. If prompted to change your password on first sign-in, create a new password now. If not, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and click Change a password.
  3. Choose a strong password. For guidance, see How to Create and Use Strong Passwords — A Practical Guide.

If your computer is domain-joined and you need specific steps for changing a domain password, see How to Change Your Windows Password on a Domain-Joined Computer. For Microsoft 365 password changes, see How to Change Your Microsoft 365 Password.

2. Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) ​

MFA adds a second verification step to protect your account. Most organizations require it.

  1. Open your browser and go to aka.ms/setupsecurityinfo.
  2. Sign in with your work account.
  3. Follow the prompts to add the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone.
  4. For a detailed walkthrough, see How to Use the Microsoft Authenticator App.
  5. To understand why MFA matters and how to avoid lockouts, see How to Understand MFA and Prevent Account Lockouts.

3. Install Microsoft 365 Apps ​

Get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams on your new computer.

  1. Open your browser and go to portal.office.com.
  2. Sign in with your work account and complete MFA.
  3. Click Install apps > Microsoft 365 apps.
  4. Run the downloaded installer and wait for it to complete (10–20 minutes).
  5. For the full step-by-step, see How to Set Up Microsoft 365 on a New or Personal Device.

4. Set Up OneDrive and Folder Backup ​

OneDrive syncs your files to the cloud so they are backed up and accessible from any device.

  1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray (bottom-right, near the clock).
  2. Sign in with your work email.
  3. Enable folder backup for your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders.
  4. For details, see How to Share Files and Folders via OneDrive and How to Use OneDrive Files On-Demand.

To understand where your files live across OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams, see Understanding Where Your Files Live — OneDrive vs. SharePoint vs. Teams.

5. Configure Outlook for Email and Calendar ​

Connect your work email, calendar, and contacts.

  1. Open Outlook from the Start menu.
  2. The setup wizard launches automatically on first run. Enter your work email and click Connect.
  3. Complete MFA when prompted.
  4. Once connected, verify your email loads and your calendar shows upcoming meetings.
  5. If you need to add a shared mailbox, see How to Add a Shared Mailbox in Outlook.
  6. To personalize the new Outlook interface, see How to Customize the New Outlook for Windows.

6. Sign In to Microsoft Teams ​

Connect to your organization's Teams environment for chat, meetings, and collaboration.

  1. Open Microsoft Teams from the Start menu or taskbar.
  2. Sign in with your work email and complete MFA.
  3. Verify your chats, teams, and calendar appear.
  4. To control notifications, see How to Manage Teams Notifications.
  5. To understand Teams meetings, see Understanding Teams Meetings — Features, Roles, and Best Practices.

7. Set Your Default Printer ​

Set the printer you will use most often so it is always pre-selected when you print.

  1. Press Windows + I > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
  2. Turn off Let Windows manage my default printer.
  3. Click your preferred printer and click Set as default.
  4. For the full guide including duplex and color settings, see How to Manage Default Printers and Print Settings on Windows.

8. Set Your Default Browser and Home Page ​

Choose your preferred browser and set a useful home page.

  1. Follow the steps in How to Set Your Default Browser and Home Page.
  2. If you are choosing between Edge and Chrome, see Understanding Microsoft Edge vs. Google Chrome — A Side-by-Side Comparison.

9. Set Up Windows Hello (PIN or Biometric Sign-In) ​

Sign in faster and more securely with a PIN, fingerprint, or face scan.

  1. Press Windows + I > Accounts > Sign-in options.
  2. Set up a PIN at minimum — see How to Set Up a Windows Hello PIN.
  3. If your laptop has a fingerprint reader or IR camera, consider adding biometric sign-in:
  4. For an overview of all sign-in methods, see Understanding Windows Sign-In Methods — Passwords, PINs, and Biometrics.

10. Register for Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) ​

Set up backup methods so you can reset your own password without calling IT.

  1. Open your browser and go to aka.ms/setupsecurityinfo.
  2. Add at least two authentication methods (e.g., Authenticator app + phone number).
  3. For the full walkthrough, see How to Set Up Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR).

11. Personalize Your Workspace ​

Make the computer feel like yours. These are optional but improve daily comfort.

12. Set Up Your Phone (Optional) ​

Stay connected on the go by setting up your work apps on your phone.

Troubleshooting ​

INFO

On a new computer, most issues come from account setup or syncing. The steps below cover the most common first-day problems.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
"Install apps" button is missing at portal.office.comOrganization disabled self-service installsContact IT — they may need to push the install to your device.
OneDrive keeps asking to sign inToken conflict or account mismatchRight-click the OneDrive icon > Settings > Account > Unlink this PC, then sign in again.
Outlook says "We couldn't sign you in"Cached credentials from imagingOpen Credential Manager (search in Start), remove entries for MicrosoftOffice, and reopen Outlook.
Teams shows "We ran into a problem"Cached data from setupClear the Teams cache. See How to Clear the Microsoft Teams Cache.
MFA prompt not appearingAuthenticator not configuredSet up the Authenticator app first. See How to Use the Microsoft Authenticator App.
Printer is missing from the listPrinter not installed by ITContact IT to add the printer, or check if your organization uses a print server URL.
Computer feels slow out of the boxBackground setup tasks runningWindows and M365 installations run background tasks for the first hour. Wait, then restart. If still slow, see How to Fix Slow Performance on Windows 11.

Last updated:

Frequently asked questions

Why are my old desktop files missing from the new computer?
If you did not use OneDrive to sync your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders on your old computer, they will not automatically appear on the new one. You must manually transfer them.
Do I need to submit an IT ticket to install Office?
Usually, no. When you sign in with your company email, Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Teams) will either install automatically in the background, or you can download them from office.com.