Volume and brightness HUD
Volume, brightness, and keyboard backlight show in the notch and replace the macOS overlay.
100% free & open sourcev1.3
FunNotch: a Dynamic Island for your MacBook’s notch. A little space.
FunNotch: a Dynamic Island for your MacBook’s notch. A little space.
A lot more possibility.
Music controls, a file shelf, clipboard history and focus sessions.
Everything you need, right in your Mac’s notch.
macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon & Intel · GPL-3.0
The FunNotch playground
Hover over the notch to open it. Move away to close. Every tab is yours to try.
Try a system activity
Sample macOS events. Your device’s settings stay under your control.
Interactive browser preview with sample data. Actual app behavior may vary. Based on FunNotch 1.1 source · About this preview
MUSIC, FILES, CLIPBOARD AND FOCUS IN YOUR NOTCHA little less switching.
A little less switching.
A lot more doing.
FunNotch is a free, open-source app that turns your MacBook’s notch into a Dynamic Island for your Mac. Your next song, that file you just saved, a moment to focus: all a quick move to the top of your screen.
A good day
has a soundtrack.
Artwork, a scrubber, and every playback control for Apple Music, Spotify, and whatever is playing in your browser. Your music is always within reach.
How music controls work
Drop now.
Pick up anywhere.
Drag a file toward the notch and watch the shelf open. Keep screenshots, images, and text ready for their next stop, then AirDrop or share them straight from the shelf.
How the file shelf works
A little space
to get into it.
Choose a focus session or a Pomodoro cycle and keep its countdown in sight. The Mac app can block distracting apps and websites while you work.
How the focus timer works
That thing
you just copied.
It’s still here. Search your clipboard history for text and images, pin your favorites, and bring a useful snippet back with a click.
How clipboard history works
And the little things that make a big difference.
Calendar and reminders
Your week at a glance, a countdown to the next event, and join links pulled from meeting invites.
Claude Code and Codex status
The notch tells you when a coding session starts, finishes, or needs you.
Live pixel weather
The forecast as a small pixel-art landscape, with clouds, rain, snow, day, and night.
Breakout and Dino Run
Two small games for the notch, because the space was there.
Works without a notch
On an external display, FunNotch becomes a floating island at the top of the screen.
A FREE, OPEN-SOURCE ALTERNATIVE TO NOTCHNOOK AND ALCOVEMore tools.
$0.The full app.No upgrade required.More tools.
No price tag.
Your clipboard, focus sessions, daily notes, and music.
All together. Every feature included.
Compare FunNotch with
| Feature |  FunNotchFREE & OPEN SOURCE | BoringNotchFree & open source |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0All features included | $0Free to use |
| Open-source code | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Everyday essentials | Music, file shelf, calendar | Music, file shelf, calendar |
| Searchable clipboard history | Included | Not listed* |
| Focus with app & website blocking | Included | Not listed* |
| Make it yours | 13 closed-notch widgets | HUDs & notch sizing |
A fuller everyday toolkit. Still free.
BoringNotch covers music, files, and calendar for free too. Choose FunNotch for searchable clipboard history, focus with app and website blocking, daily notes, and image-to-text tools in the same app.
*“Not listed” means the feature is not advertised in the official pages reviewed; it does not establish that the app cannot do it. Prices are in USD, rechecked October 9, 2026. NotchNook’s official page was unavailable on that date, so its price is the last one listed. Promotions and checkout terms may vary.
BoringNotch is also free and open source, and inspired FunNotch. This comparison highlights the workflows FunNotch brings together.
PERSONAL MEANS PERSONALYour Mac.
Your Mac.
Your business.
Free to use. Open to inspect. The app has no accounts, no analytics, and no telemetry. Your shelf, clipboard history, and focus sessions stay on your Mac.
Weather requests go to Open-Meteo, album artwork comes from your media source, and the app checks GitHub for updates. Permissions are optional and enable the features that need them.
Read the full privacy statementDOWNLOAD FUNNOTCH FOR MAC. FREE AND OPEN SOURCE.Give your notch
something to do.
Every feature. No subscription. No account.
Ready for your Mac.
$0The complete app
Free and open source · GPL-3.0 · Provided without warranty where permitted by law.
Apple Silicon and Intel. With or without a notch.
A quick note for your first launch. The current build is signed ad-hoc and isn’t notarized by Apple. After moving it to Applications, macOS may require you to allow it in Privacy & Security. Read the installation guide
FUNNOTCH FAQA few little
A few little
questions.
What is FunNotch?
FunNotch is a free, open-source Mac app that turns the MacBook notch into an interactive panel, much like the Dynamic Island on an iPhone. Hover the notch to control your music, drop files on a shelf, search your clipboard history, start a focus session, or jot a note. When it is closed, thirteen widgets can sit beside the camera.
Is FunNotch really free?
Yes. FunNotch is a free app, with no subscription or account. Its source is available under GPL-3.0. You can read, modify, and share it under that license.
Will it work on my Mac?
You need macOS 14 Sonoma or later. The universal app supports Apple Silicon and Intel, including external displays and Macs without a physical notch. You can adjust its size and appearance to suit your screen.
Is FunNotch a Dynamic Island for Mac?
In spirit, yes. The Dynamic Island is an iPhone feature from Apple. FunNotch brings the same idea to the Mac’s notch, with live activities for music, charging, AirPods, volume, and brightness, plus tabs for files, clipboard history, focus, and notes. It is an independent project and is not made by Apple.
How does FunNotch compare with BoringNotch, NotchNook, and Alcove?
FunNotch and BoringNotch are free and open source. NotchNook and Alcove are paid apps. FunNotch adds searchable clipboard history, focus sessions that block apps and websites, and daily notes. See the four notch apps compared side by side.
Why does macOS show a warning?
The release is signed ad-hoc and has not been notarized by Apple. Only open it if you trust its source. Download from the project’s GitHub release, move the app to Applications, and follow the official first-launch guide. On macOS 15 and later, the guide uses System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway after an initial launch attempt.
Which music apps and browsers work?
The project documents Apple Music, Spotify, and browser media, including YouTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and Twitch. Some browser details and controls require Automation permission and “Allow JavaScript from Apple Events.” Check Settings → Media and Diagnostics in FunNotch for your setup.
What permissions does it need?
Permissions enable individual features. The project documents Accessibility, Automation, Calendar and Reminders, Camera, Location, and Bluetooth access for relevant controls and integrations. You can decline access; the corresponding feature will be limited. The Diagnostics screen helps explain what is available.
Does FunNotch work with Claude Code?
Yes. Since version 1.3, FunNotch reads Claude Code’s own session list and shows a status light in the notch. It announces when a coding session starts, finishes, or needs you, and it follows Codex sessions too.
How do I get updates or report a problem?
FunNotch updates itself in the app. It checks for new versions, and downloads and installation require your agreement. You can also choose “Check for Updates” in Settings, get the latest build from GitHub releases, and use GitHub Issues for bugs and requests. See what’s new in the latest version.
How do I uninstall FunNotch?
Quit FunNotch from its Settings, then drag it from Applications to the Trash. The install guide lists the few files it leaves behind if you want to remove those too.