Here is one way to register the "factory settings" for your user defaults (preferences / configurations). You will pick up these values automagically via bindings to the Shared Defaults.- (void) setDefaultPrefs { NSMutableDictionary *dictionary = [NSMutableDictionary dictionary]; [dictionary setObject: NSLocalizedString(@"BorkDown", nil) forKey: @"menuTitle"]; [dictionary setObject: NSLocalizedString(@"Time has run out.", nil) forKey: @"alertWindowText"]; // and any other preferences you might have [[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] registerDefaults: dictionary]; } // setDefaultPrefs