DynamicNotch

What is DynamicNotch?

DynamicNotch is a native macOS app for MacBooks with a notch that turns that area into a live system surface. It displays contextual information and controls for features such as media playback, downloads, AirDrop, timers, screen recording, connectivity events, lock-screen transitions, and custom hardware HUDs.

The app is built with SwiftUI and AppKit, and it is designed to behave like part of macOS rather than a web-style overlay. It can also adapt to devices without a physical notch by rendering a floating Dynamic Island-style capsule, so the interface remains usable on non-notched displays.

Key Features

• Live activity surfaces for now playing, downloads, AirDrop, timers, screen recording, focus mode, personal hotspot, and lock-screen media states, so the notch can show context when something is actively happening.
• Dynamic Island-style floating capsule mode for non-notched Macs or external displays, letting the same interface adapt when there is no physical notch area.
• Temporary alert HUDs for battery charging, low/full battery, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VPN, and focus-off notifications, which surface short system events in the notch area.
• Native replacement HUDs for system volume, screen brightness, and keyboard backlight, using hardware-inspired overlays instead of default system popups.
• Gesture support for mouse drag, trackpad swipes, vertical swipe-to-dismiss or restore, and horizontal scroll-to-dismiss, making the notch interactive rather than static.
• Customization controls for base notch width and height, stroke and background styling, animation presets, display selection, and fullscreen space handling.
• A chained lyrics provider that combines LRCLIB karaoke lyrics with Lyrics.ovh fallback lookup for synchronized or static lyrics output.

How to Use DynamicNotch

Install the app from the release DMG, move it to Applications, and launch it. On first run, macOS may require you to allow it in Privacy & Security, and you should grant the feature-specific permissions you want to use.

After setup, DynamicNotch runs as a native notch surface that responds to system events. You can adjust its appearance and behavior in Settings, choose display and fullscreen handling options, and use gestures to dismiss or restore active surfaces.

Use Cases

• Watching music playback from the top of the screen: the app can show album artwork, playback state, and visualizer information in the notch area.
• Monitoring short-lived system events: users can surface battery, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VPN, or focus-related alerts without opening separate system panels.
• Showing progress for ongoing tasks: downloads, AirDrop transfers, timers, and screen recording status can appear as compact live activities.
• Using the app on non-notched displays: the interface can switch to a floating capsule so the same workflow still works on an external monitor, iMac, or Mac mini setup.
• Tuning the notch to match a workspace: users can change dimensions, styling, and animation presets to fit different displays or visual preferences.

FAQ

Does DynamicNotch only work on MacBooks with a physical notch? No. The app is designed for notched MacBooks, but it also supports non-notched displays by rendering a floating Dynamic Island-style capsule.

What macOS version is required? The source states macOS 14.6 or later.

Does it require special permissions? Yes, some features may require permissions such as Accessibility, Bluetooth, Screen Recording, or Media/Now Playing access depending on what you use.

Can it be customized? Yes. The settings include controls for notch size, stroke, background styling, animation presets, display selection, and fullscreen-space behavior.

Can it show lyrics? Yes, it includes a lyrics provider that uses LRCLIB and falls back to Lyrics.ovh when needed.

Alternatives

• Default macOS HUDs and system indicators: these provide the built-in volume, brightness, and status overlays, but they do not turn the notch into a persistent live surface.
• Other Dynamic Island-style macOS notch apps: similar tools focus on notch animations and live indicators, but workflows may differ in how native they feel, which events they support, and how much customization they expose.
• Standalone media or download widgets: these can surface specific activity types, but they usually do not combine system alerts, gesture controls, and display-adaptive notch behavior in one app.
• Menu bar utilities: these are often easier to access for quick status checks, but they live in the menu bar rather than using the notch area as the primary interaction surface.