1. FunNotch
  2. Install guide
INSTALL GUIDE

Install FunNotch on your Mac.

FunNotch is a free download for macOS 14 Sonoma or later. It runs on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, with or without a notch, and takes about a minute to set up.

Download FunNotch for Mac Version 1.3 · 6.2 MB DMG · Free and open source

Last updated October 9, 2026

What you need.

  • macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Earlier versions are missing APIs the notch panel depends on.
  • Any Mac that runs it. The app is universal, so it is native on both Apple Silicon and Intel.
  • A notch is optional. On an external display or a Mac without a notch, FunNotch draws a floating island in the same place.

Install it in four steps.

  1. Download the DMG. Get FunNotch.dmg from the official GitHub release. That is the only place the app is published.
  2. Move it to Applications. Open the DMG and drag FunNotch onto the Applications shortcut in the window.
  3. Open FunNotch. Launch it from Applications. macOS will stop the first launch; the next section explains why and how to allow it.
  4. Hover the notch. Move the pointer to the top of the screen and the panel opens. The gear in its top-right corner opens Settings.

Get past the first-launch warning.

FunNotch is signed ad-hoc and is not notarized by Apple, because notarization needs a paid Apple Developer certificate. macOS therefore refuses the first launch and may say the app is damaged or from an unidentified developer. That is what Gatekeeper says about any app it cannot check with Apple. You only need to allow it once.

On macOS 15 Sequoia or later

  1. Try to open FunNotch once and dismiss the warning.
  2. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security and scroll down to Security.
  3. Click Open Anyway next to the FunNotch message, then confirm.

On macOS 14 Sonoma

  1. Open Applications in Finder.
  2. Right-click (or Control-click) FunNotch and choose Open.
  3. Click Open in the dialog.

If neither offers an Open button

Remove the download quarantine flag in Terminal, then open the app normally:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/FunNotch.app

Only do this for software you trust. Download FunNotch from the official GitHub release, not a mirror. The full source code is public, so you can read it or build the app yourself.

Permissions it asks for.

Every permission is optional and switches on one feature. Decline any of them and the matching feature tells you so instead of pretending to work.

PermissionWhat it enables
AutomationReading what Apple Music, Spotify or your browser is playing, and controlling playback.
Calendars and RemindersThe agenda in the panel and the next-event widget.
LocationLocal weather and the Wi-Fi network name.
CameraThe camera mirror, and only if you turn it on.
BluetoothConnect and disconnect notices for devices such as AirPods.
AccessibilityOnly needed if you press “Turn on page access” for browser media.

Settings → Diagnostics lists exactly what FunNotch can and cannot currently see, and what to do about each gap.

Show artwork and progress for browser media.

Reading a tab’s title needs nothing extra. Reading its artist, artwork and playback position for YouTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp or Twitch needs the browser’s “Allow JavaScript from Apple Events” switch.

  • Chrome, Brave, Edge and Arc: View → Developer → Allow JavaScript from Apple Events.
  • Safari: Settings → Advanced → Show features for web developers, then Develop → Allow JavaScript from Apple Events.

Settings → Media in FunNotch has a button that flips the switch for you.

Keeping it updated.

FunNotch updates itself in the app. It checks GitHub for a new release, asks before downloading, and installs it when you agree. You can also choose Check for Updates in Settings at any time, or download the newest build from GitHub releases.

Updating from 1.1 or 1.2? Those versions report “The update is improperly signed” and cannot update in the app. Download 1.3 from this page once and replace the old copy. In-app updates work normally from 1.3 onward. See what’s new in FunNotch 1.3.

Uninstalling FunNotch.

  1. Open FunNotch’s Settings and choose Quit.
  2. Drag FunNotch from Applications to the Trash.

That removes the app. If you also want to clear what it stored, delete these: its preferences (~/Library/Preferences/com.funnotch.FunNotch.plist), its cache (~/Library/Caches/com.funnotch.FunNotch), its log (~/Library/Logs/FunNotch) and the notes backup (~/Library/Application Support/FunNotch). Your daily notes are plain text files in a notes folder on your Desktop and are yours to keep.

If something isn’t working.

  • macOS says the app is damaged. It isn’t. Follow the first-launch steps above; the Terminal command clears the flag that causes the message.
  • Nothing happens when you hover the notch. Check that FunNotch is running. It has no menu bar icon by default, so open it again from Applications.
  • Music isn’t showing. Allow Automation for Music, Spotify or your browser, then check Settings → Diagnostics.
  • The weather is empty. Allow Location, or weather cannot find your forecast.

Still stuck? Report it through GitHub Issues and include what Settings → Diagnostics shows.

Where to go next.