How to Hide MacBook Pro Notch 1

How to Hide MacBook Pro Notch

It’s been a few months since Apple launched new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with iPhone-style notches. By now you should all have formed your opinion on whether you like the notch or not. Like it or not, the notch is permanent, and if you got yourself a shiny new MacBook Pro, you’re going to have to live with the notch. However, there are some clever solutions to make the notch less obvious. And in this post, we have listed the methods you can use to hide the notch on your new MacBook Pro.

Hide MacBook Pro Notch (2022)

We mentioned Apple’s official solution to hide the MacBook Pro notch and third-party apps that you can use to achieve similar results. It may surprise you, but we’ve also included a third-party app that turns the notched screen area into a handy Touch Bar. You can choose the application that suits your needs. Without further delay, let’s dive right in!

Scale and Use Apps in Full Screen Mode on MacBook Pro

Apple officially recommends using and scaling apps in full-screen mode to ensure uninterrupted access to your favorite Mac apps on the new MacBook Pro. However, it is not universal and works on a per-app basis. Also, scaling an application won’t hide the notch. Instead, it ensures that the menu bar and application windows appear below the notch on your Mac and are always visible. If this feature is enabled, none of the menu options will be clipped by the notch area. That said, let’s see how it works:

  • Use Apps in Full Screen on MacBook Pro

As Apple recommends, one of the most basic tips to avoid notch when using its built-in apps is to use them in full screen mode. Yes, it’s that easy. And to do this you can simply click on the green icon in the upper left corner from a window. Or you can also use the macOS keyboard shortcut “Control + Command + F” to maximize the window and fill the entire screen.

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  • Scale App Window and Menu Bars

1. Click “Apps” in the Finder sidebar and find the app you want to scale and notch. Now select the app, right click on it and “Obtain information” choice.

open get info from apps folder in finder on macbook pro

2. From the Application Information window that now appears, Select the “Scale to fit below the built-in camera” checkbox to activate.

How to Hide MacBook Pro Notch
Image courtesy: Apple

3. Close the Application Information pop-up window. Now open the app to see that it scales well to the MacBook Pro screen and that the menu items are not hidden behind the notch.

It’s worth noting that all apps that share the same workspace will appear under the camera until you exit the scaled app. If you’re not a big fan of this approach, you can check out third-party solutions to actually hide the notch in the next section.

Third-Party Apps to Hide Notch on New MacBook Pro

While Apple’s official method of hiding the MacBook Pro notch is sufficient for many, there are third-party solutions to hide or even embellish the notch. We have listed below some of the best apps you can use to hide the notch:

Forehead

get ft

Created by developer Jordi Bruin, Forehead replaces your current wallpaper by adding a black bar at the top. Also, the app brings rounded corners to your Mac’s screen with the option to customize the corner radius. Forehead is available for free, but you can choose to pay for the app from the downloads page to support the developer.

Get Download (free)

First class

first class ft

Another free app to hide the notch from your 14 or 16 inch MacBook Pro is TopNotch. The macOS screen capture tool Cleanshot is made by the team behind TopNotch macOS supports dynamic desktop wallpapers and also works well with multiple displays. You also get the option to add rounded corners to your wallpaper with this app.

Download TopNotch (free)

notcher

notch ft

Unlike other apps that try to hide the notch, Notchmeister embraces it. With this free app you can: add effects to your notch. Strange as it may sound, it’s a fun new way to make your MacBook Pro stand out from the crowd. There are five effects to choose from, and there’s even a ‘true replacement notch’ for those on previous-generation MacBooks to experience the notch lifespan.

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Download Notchmeister from the App Store (free)

Notch Remover

Notch Remover

To summarize the list of third-party hide notch apps, Notch Remover. According to the developer, De-Notch-ifier is a preconfigured version of the existing Boring Old Menu Bar application. It automatically detects the height of the notch on the screen pixels and offers separate settings for light and dark mode as well as support for dynamic wallpapers. Also included is rounded corners and support for multiple screens and areas. Note that De-Notch-ifier is a paid app, but you get a 14-day free trial before purchasing.

Download De-Notch-ifier (14 days trial, Starting at $14.95)

Convert MacBook Pro Notch to Touch Bar

Finally, if you want to make better use of the screen real estate around the notch on your new MacBook Pro, you can use this nifty third-party software called BetterTouchTool. This is a popular Mac utility tool that has been around for many years. Turn the notched area on MacBook Pro into a TouchBar-like area. You can add useful shortcuts and widgets to the Touch Bar-like area next to the notch. (check screenshot below).

convert macbook pro notch to touch bar

Now, for those who don’t know, Apple has removed the Touch Bar with the launch of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. However, if you are someone who relies heavily on this hardware utility, you can emulate it using the following. new Notch Bar feature In BetterTouchTool (requires at least macOS 12 Monterey).

So what can you add to this notch Touch Bar? You can add a weather widget, music player, volume and brightness widgets, shortcuts for specific folders and websites, and more. There is also an option to track clipboard history in the area next to the notch.

Download BetterTouchTool (45 days free trial, starts at $9.99 for two years)

Creative Ways to Hide the Notch on Your MacBook Pro

Thanks to the efforts of third-party developers, you now have more options for dealing with the notch on the latest MacBook Pro models. Do you like the notch? Give it a festive flair with Notchmeister. Not a big fan? Hide it with TopNotch. The choice is yours and we hope this article helped you get used to the notches on your MacBook Pro. In the meantime, you can go to our linked guide to learn how to share your screen on FaceTime on Mac using SharePlay.

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