# Boring Notch

Turns the MacBook notch into music controls, a file shelf and a calendar instead of dead pixels.

HTML: https://softbests.com/software/boring-notch
Markdown: https://softbests.com/software/boring-notch.md
Website: https://boringnotch.com

- Category: [Productivity](https://softbests.com/category/productivity)
- Pricing: Open source
- Platforms: macOS
- Underrated

## Best for

MacBook owners who want a useful notch without paying for a separate utility.

## Why it deserves attention

Boring Notch reclaims the notch area: hover it and it expands into music controls with album art, upcoming calendar events, a quick camera mirror, battery status, a drag-and-drop file shelf and redesigned HUD sliders for volume and brightness. It is GPLv3, completely free, has passed 50,000 downloads with about 2.5K GitHub stars, and installs in seconds — no account, no telemetry, no subscription. The caveats: it only makes sense on MacBooks that actually have a notch, deeper customisation is limited compared with paid notch apps, and as a community project it depends on volunteer maintenance for new macOS releases.

## Can replace

- NotchNook

## Related and alternatives

- [Ice](https://softbests.com/software/ice)
- [Stats](https://softbests.com/software/stats)