On-device gaze direction
Uses the Mac camera and Apple's Vision framework to estimate head and eye direction locally, without recording or transmitting camera frames.
Glance Switch
Glance Switch is a macOS menu bar utility that uses the Mac’s camera to move keyboard focus toward the screen, window, or supported split pane you are facing. It is intended for multi-monitor, terminal, coding, and single-screen window-switching workflows.
Focus follows your gaze
Glance Switch is a macOS menu bar app that moves keyboard focus based on the screen, window, or split pane you are facing. It is designed for workflows where people alternate between displays or read one pane while typing in another, removing the need to click before entering text.
The app uses a built-in or external camera with Apple's Vision framework to estimate head and eye direction on the Mac. After calibration, it brings the relevant screen's last-used window forward, can focus windows or supported split panes on the same display, and keeps camera processing in memory rather than sending frames to servers.
Key features
Multi-screen calibration
A guided nine-point calibration maps where you sit to the position of each display, with compensation when you move closer or farther away.
Screen-aware focus
Brings forward the last window used on the screen you face and moves the pointer to that display, supporting side-by-side, stacked, and laptop-plus-monitor arrangements.
Window and split-pane focus
Can switch focus between windows on one display and between panes in supported terminals and code editors. Other applications are handled as whole windows.
Controlled switching
Uses delays, boundary settings, typing protection, and mouse-priority behavior to reduce accidental switching. It can also ignore viewing directions that do not correspond to a screen.
Adaptive calibration controls
Learns from clicks by default, can detect when accuracy has declined, and provides pause, recalibration, and gaze-dot controls from the menu bar or settings.
Use cases
Working across multiple monitors
Look toward a monitor running an editor and begin typing without first clicking that display. The app restores the last window used there and can move the pointer along with focus.
Terminal and development workflows
Read one pane in a terminal or code editor, then turn toward another pane to continue entering commands or code. The source specifically lists iTerm2, Ghostty, Warp, kitty, WezTerm, Hyper, VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VSCodium, Zed, Sublime Text, Xcode, JetBrains IDEs, and Android Studio.
Single-screen window switching
On a single display, use gaze direction to move between application windows or supported split panes instead of clicking each target, while browsers, chat, and documents remain whole-window targets.
Testing and controlled use
Use the pause shortcut or menu bar controls when you do not want gaze-based switching, and enable the gaze dot while checking calibration or tuning delay and boundary settings.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Reduces mouse or trackpad clicks when moving keyboard focus between screens.
- Supports multiple display layouts as well as single-display window and split-pane workflows.
- Provides configurable delays and typing protection to limit accidental focus changes.
- Processes camera frames locally and states that frames are not recorded or sent to cloud servers.
- Can improve its screen mapping through everyday clicks and flag when recalibration may be needed.
Cons
- Requires macOS 14 or later and a camera positioned to face the user.
- Initial calibration is required for screen-aware behavior, and recalibration may be needed if displays or seating positions move.
- Support is described specifically for terminals and code editors at the split-pane level; other applications are treated as whole windows.
FAQ
How does Glance Switch work?
Glance Switch is a macOS menu bar app that uses your Mac's camera and Apple's Vision framework to detect which direction you are facing. A one-time calibration maps your viewing position to each screen; after that, the app can move focus when you turn toward a screen, window, or supported split pane.
What platform and camera setup does it support?
The source lists macOS 14 or later and support for both Apple silicon and Intel Macs. It can use a built-in or external camera, provided it faces you directly.
How does Glance Switch avoid unwanted focus changes?
Quick glances are ignored by default. The app waits about 300 ms before switching, avoids moving focus while you type, and keeps the mouse or trackpad in control while in use and for 1.5 seconds afterward. These behaviors can be adjusted through settings where supported.
Does it require calibration?
The app offers a calibration flow that samples nine positions on a screen and takes about 20 seconds per screen. It can also learn from clicks by default and can notify you when recalibration may be needed after your screens or seating position move.
What happens to camera data?
Camera frames are processed on the Mac in memory with Apple's Vision framework. The site says frames are not recorded, written to disk, or sent to cloud servers, and that the camera stops when the Mac locks or sleeps.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Productivity utility
- Platform
- macOS 14 or later
- Processor support
- Apple silicon and Intel
- Interface
- Menu bar app
- Camera
- Built-in or external camera facing the user
- Primary workflow
- Keyboard focus switching across screens, windows, and supported split panes
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