macOS Clamper — The app that "clamps" your precious menu bar
Problem: macOS offers no way to adjust the spacing between menu bar icons, so crowded menu bars waste space or feel cramped.
Compare: Menu Bar Spacing does not handle the padding properly, and TighterMenubar does not show the actual pixel values while changing the padding and spacing. That's why I created my solution there.
Core features:
Adjust icon spacing and selection padding
Live preview strip showing changes in real-time
One-click restore to system defaults
Haptic feedback on slider adjustments
Screenshot:
https://preview.redd.it/asurvg7cxgmg1.png?width=1324&format=png&auto=webp&s=4357dc5e9dbacce3812b0be294de802f70d9d338
Changelog: https://github.com/validatedev/Clamper/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md
Pricing: Free and open-source (MIT License)
AI Disclaimer: Human Validated
Link: https://github.com/validatedev/Clamper
https://redd.it/1ri35c9
@macappsbackup
Problem: macOS offers no way to adjust the spacing between menu bar icons, so crowded menu bars waste space or feel cramped.
Compare: Menu Bar Spacing does not handle the padding properly, and TighterMenubar does not show the actual pixel values while changing the padding and spacing. That's why I created my solution there.
Core features:
Adjust icon spacing and selection padding
Live preview strip showing changes in real-time
One-click restore to system defaults
Haptic feedback on slider adjustments
Screenshot:
https://preview.redd.it/asurvg7cxgmg1.png?width=1324&format=png&auto=webp&s=4357dc5e9dbacce3812b0be294de802f70d9d338
Changelog: https://github.com/validatedev/Clamper/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md
Pricing: Free and open-source (MIT License)
AI Disclaimer: Human Validated
Link: https://github.com/validatedev/Clamper
https://redd.it/1ri35c9
@macappsbackup
Sindresorhus
Menu Bar Spacing
Customize the gap between menu bar items
Mac Menu Bar Chaos
Not My laptop
# Where We Are… And Why
macOS 26 (Tahoe) is now months into its lifespan. The UI chaos it caused for menu bar management apps has calmed down a bit, but the situation is still far from stable.
A combination of API limitations, OS-level redesigns, and tighter security controls broke many of the assumptions apps like Bartender, Ice, and Barbee relied on. As a result, behavior that used to be predictable is now anything but.
Common symptoms include:
icons disappearing and reappearing randomly
the OS overriding the order of icons
management apps losing track of icon positions
items reindexing themselves
settings resetting
hidden items suddenly reappearing
Even something as basic as determining whether a menu bar icon is visible has become unreliable. For example,
The new OS-level menu bar controls are also incomplete. Tahoe will quietly hide items when the bar gets crowded, and apps receive no notification when that happens. From a developer’s perspective, the OS is moving the furniture around without telling anyone.
To work around this, some menu bar managers now request:
Screen Recording permission
Accessibility access
Event monitoring
That understandably makes some users uneasy. Worse, Tahoe’s restrictions on these permissions sometimes cause side effects such as ghost clicks, cursor interference, or other input glitches across the system.
None of this is malicious; it’s just what happens when an ecosystem built on clever workarounds collides with a new security model.
# What the Future Probably Looks Like
Long term, the situation likely resolves in one of three ways:
1. Apple ships a real menu bar overflow manager
2. Apple exposes proper status-item APIs for developers
3. The category slowly fades as launchers replace menu bar workflows
The third possibility is already happening.
Launchers are increasingly taking over tasks that used to live in the menu bar. The bar itself is drifting toward a status display, not an interaction surface. You glance at it to see whether something is syncing or connected. When you actually want to do something, you open a launcher.
# Accepting a Partial Solution
Over the past few months I’ve tested most of the menu bar managers currently available. Like many power users, I ended up choosing the option that annoys me the least. That is not the same thing as finding a solution that makes me happy.
Different setups behave differently. The manager that works well for Power User A might be completely unusable for Power User B depending on hardware, display configuration, and which menu bar apps are installed.
Here’s where things landed for me:
Hidden Bar
Too minimal and largely unmaintained.
Ice / Thaw
Interesting ideas; still plagued by the usual Tahoe bugs.
Barbee
Visually polished but inconsistent in day-to-day use.
Sanebar
Promising; currently suffers from the same underlying instability.
Bartender
Still buggy, but actively maintained and responsive to user feedback.
For now, Bartender still wins in my setup because nothing else matches its feature set:
The Bartender Bar, which shows active but hidden apps
Three icon states: Menu Bar, Bartender Bar, and Hidden
Adjustable menu bar spacing
Icons that appear only when an app changes state (great for cloud sync indicators)
Presets for different icon layouts
Automations triggered by conditions; for example, hiding the battery icon unless charge drops below 50%
To keep things stable, I avoid several features that add extra system hooks:
Not My laptop
# Where We Are… And Why
macOS 26 (Tahoe) is now months into its lifespan. The UI chaos it caused for menu bar management apps has calmed down a bit, but the situation is still far from stable.
A combination of API limitations, OS-level redesigns, and tighter security controls broke many of the assumptions apps like Bartender, Ice, and Barbee relied on. As a result, behavior that used to be predictable is now anything but.
Common symptoms include:
icons disappearing and reappearing randomly
the OS overriding the order of icons
management apps losing track of icon positions
items reindexing themselves
settings resetting
hidden items suddenly reappearing
Even something as basic as determining whether a menu bar icon is visible has become unreliable. For example,
NSStatusItem.isVisible can return true even when the icon is hidden behind the notch or pushed offscreen by menu titles.The new OS-level menu bar controls are also incomplete. Tahoe will quietly hide items when the bar gets crowded, and apps receive no notification when that happens. From a developer’s perspective, the OS is moving the furniture around without telling anyone.
To work around this, some menu bar managers now request:
Screen Recording permission
Accessibility access
Event monitoring
That understandably makes some users uneasy. Worse, Tahoe’s restrictions on these permissions sometimes cause side effects such as ghost clicks, cursor interference, or other input glitches across the system.
None of this is malicious; it’s just what happens when an ecosystem built on clever workarounds collides with a new security model.
# What the Future Probably Looks Like
Long term, the situation likely resolves in one of three ways:
1. Apple ships a real menu bar overflow manager
2. Apple exposes proper status-item APIs for developers
3. The category slowly fades as launchers replace menu bar workflows
The third possibility is already happening.
Launchers are increasingly taking over tasks that used to live in the menu bar. The bar itself is drifting toward a status display, not an interaction surface. You glance at it to see whether something is syncing or connected. When you actually want to do something, you open a launcher.
# Accepting a Partial Solution
Over the past few months I’ve tested most of the menu bar managers currently available. Like many power users, I ended up choosing the option that annoys me the least. That is not the same thing as finding a solution that makes me happy.
Different setups behave differently. The manager that works well for Power User A might be completely unusable for Power User B depending on hardware, display configuration, and which menu bar apps are installed.
Here’s where things landed for me:
Hidden Bar
Too minimal and largely unmaintained.
Ice / Thaw
Interesting ideas; still plagued by the usual Tahoe bugs.
Barbee
Visually polished but inconsistent in day-to-day use.
Sanebar
Promising; currently suffers from the same underlying instability.
Bartender
Still buggy, but actively maintained and responsive to user feedback.
For now, Bartender still wins in my setup because nothing else matches its feature set:
The Bartender Bar, which shows active but hidden apps
Three icon states: Menu Bar, Bartender Bar, and Hidden
Adjustable menu bar spacing
Icons that appear only when an app changes state (great for cloud sync indicators)
Presets for different icon layouts
Automations triggered by conditions; for example, hiding the battery icon unless charge drops below 50%
To keep things stable, I avoid several features that add extra system hooks:
Mac Menu Bar Chaos
[Not My laptop](https://preview.redd.it/ldvyedtbtung1.png?width=1536&format=png&auto=webp&s=af60325a50b8f0a6c82da94f86c98e2f6c3fdd93)
# Where We Are… And Why
macOS 26 (Tahoe) is now months into its lifespan. The UI chaos it caused for menu bar management apps has calmed down a bit, but the situation is still far from stable.
A combination of **API limitations, OS-level redesigns, and tighter security controls** broke many of the assumptions apps like Bartender, Ice, and Barbee relied on. As a result, behavior that used to be predictable is now anything but.
Common symptoms include:
* icons disappearing and reappearing randomly
* the OS overriding the order of icons
* management apps losing track of icon positions
* items reindexing themselves
* settings resetting
* hidden items suddenly reappearing
Even something as basic as determining whether a menu bar icon is visible has become unreliable. For example, `NSStatusItem.isVisible` can return `true` even when the icon is hidden behind the notch or pushed offscreen by menu titles.
The new OS-level menu bar controls are also incomplete. Tahoe will quietly hide items when the bar gets crowded, and apps receive **no notification** when that happens. From a developer’s perspective, the OS is moving the furniture around without telling anyone.
To work around this, some menu bar managers now request:
* Screen Recording permission
* Accessibility access
* Event monitoring
That understandably makes some users uneasy. Worse, Tahoe’s restrictions on these permissions sometimes cause side effects such as ghost clicks, cursor interference, or other input glitches across the system.
None of this is malicious; it’s just what happens when an ecosystem built on clever workarounds collides with a new security model.
# What the Future Probably Looks Like
Long term, the situation likely resolves in one of three ways:
1. Apple ships a real menu bar overflow manager
2. Apple exposes proper status-item APIs for developers
3. The category slowly fades as launchers replace menu bar workflows
The third possibility is already happening.
Launchers are increasingly taking over tasks that used to live in the menu bar. The bar itself is drifting toward a **status display**, not an interaction surface. You glance at it to see whether something is syncing or connected. When you actually want to *do* something, you open a launcher.
# Accepting a Partial Solution
Over the past few months I’ve tested most of the menu bar managers currently available. Like many power users, I ended up choosing the option that annoys me the least. That is not the same thing as finding a solution that makes me happy.
Different setups behave differently. The manager that works well for Power User A might be completely unusable for Power User B depending on hardware, display configuration, and which menu bar apps are installed.
Here’s where things landed for me:
* [Hidden Bar](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hidden-bar/id1452453066?mt=12)
* Too minimal and largely unmaintained.
* [Ice / Thaw](https://macmenubar.com/thaw/)
* Interesting ideas; still plagued by the usual Tahoe bugs.
* [Barbee](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/barbee-hide-menu-bar-items/id1548711022?mt=12)
* Visually polished but inconsistent in day-to-day use.
* [Sanebar](https://sanebar.com)
* Promising; currently suffers from the same underlying instability.
* [Bartender](https://www.macbartender.com)
* Still buggy, but actively maintained and responsive to user feedback.
For now, **Bartender still wins** in my setup because nothing else matches its feature set:
* The **Bartender Bar**, which shows active but hidden apps
* Three icon states: *Menu Bar*, *Bartender Bar*, and *Hidden*
* Adjustable menu bar spacing
* Icons that appear only when an app changes state (great for cloud sync indicators)
* Presets for different icon layouts
* Automations triggered by conditions; for example, hiding the battery icon unless charge drops below 50%
To keep things stable, I avoid several features that add extra system hooks:
*
[Not My laptop](https://preview.redd.it/ldvyedtbtung1.png?width=1536&format=png&auto=webp&s=af60325a50b8f0a6c82da94f86c98e2f6c3fdd93)
# Where We Are… And Why
macOS 26 (Tahoe) is now months into its lifespan. The UI chaos it caused for menu bar management apps has calmed down a bit, but the situation is still far from stable.
A combination of **API limitations, OS-level redesigns, and tighter security controls** broke many of the assumptions apps like Bartender, Ice, and Barbee relied on. As a result, behavior that used to be predictable is now anything but.
Common symptoms include:
* icons disappearing and reappearing randomly
* the OS overriding the order of icons
* management apps losing track of icon positions
* items reindexing themselves
* settings resetting
* hidden items suddenly reappearing
Even something as basic as determining whether a menu bar icon is visible has become unreliable. For example, `NSStatusItem.isVisible` can return `true` even when the icon is hidden behind the notch or pushed offscreen by menu titles.
The new OS-level menu bar controls are also incomplete. Tahoe will quietly hide items when the bar gets crowded, and apps receive **no notification** when that happens. From a developer’s perspective, the OS is moving the furniture around without telling anyone.
To work around this, some menu bar managers now request:
* Screen Recording permission
* Accessibility access
* Event monitoring
That understandably makes some users uneasy. Worse, Tahoe’s restrictions on these permissions sometimes cause side effects such as ghost clicks, cursor interference, or other input glitches across the system.
None of this is malicious; it’s just what happens when an ecosystem built on clever workarounds collides with a new security model.
# What the Future Probably Looks Like
Long term, the situation likely resolves in one of three ways:
1. Apple ships a real menu bar overflow manager
2. Apple exposes proper status-item APIs for developers
3. The category slowly fades as launchers replace menu bar workflows
The third possibility is already happening.
Launchers are increasingly taking over tasks that used to live in the menu bar. The bar itself is drifting toward a **status display**, not an interaction surface. You glance at it to see whether something is syncing or connected. When you actually want to *do* something, you open a launcher.
# Accepting a Partial Solution
Over the past few months I’ve tested most of the menu bar managers currently available. Like many power users, I ended up choosing the option that annoys me the least. That is not the same thing as finding a solution that makes me happy.
Different setups behave differently. The manager that works well for Power User A might be completely unusable for Power User B depending on hardware, display configuration, and which menu bar apps are installed.
Here’s where things landed for me:
* [Hidden Bar](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hidden-bar/id1452453066?mt=12)
* Too minimal and largely unmaintained.
* [Ice / Thaw](https://macmenubar.com/thaw/)
* Interesting ideas; still plagued by the usual Tahoe bugs.
* [Barbee](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/barbee-hide-menu-bar-items/id1548711022?mt=12)
* Visually polished but inconsistent in day-to-day use.
* [Sanebar](https://sanebar.com)
* Promising; currently suffers from the same underlying instability.
* [Bartender](https://www.macbartender.com)
* Still buggy, but actively maintained and responsive to user feedback.
For now, **Bartender still wins** in my setup because nothing else matches its feature set:
* The **Bartender Bar**, which shows active but hidden apps
* Three icon states: *Menu Bar*, *Bartender Bar*, and *Hidden*
* Adjustable menu bar spacing
* Icons that appear only when an app changes state (great for cloud sync indicators)
* Presets for different icon layouts
* Automations triggered by conditions; for example, hiding the battery icon unless charge drops below 50%
To keep things stable, I avoid several features that add extra system hooks:
*
Appearance customization
* Menu bar search (Raycast handles that better anyway)
* Automatic icon reordering
* Complex trigger rules
# Changing the Workflow
One tactic that has helped a lot is simply **reducing my reliance on menu bar interfaces altogether**.
Many tasks I used to perform through menu bar icons now live elsewhere:
* **Raycast** for launching and quick actions
* **ExtraBar** for custom shortcuts
* **BetterTouchTool** triggers
* **Apple Shortcuts** automations
In some cases I just disable icons entirely using the menu bar controls in System Settings. A few functions have migrated to Control Center as well.
The result is a much quieter menu bar.
Back in August 2024 [I wrote a post about everything living in my menu bar at the time:](https://appaddict.app/post/what-s-in-your-menu-bar)
I had **43 icons**.
Today I have six:
* Alter
* ExtraBar
* Dato
* Bartender
* MountMate
* Ollama
And honestly, that feels about right.
https://redd.it/1roab5t
@macappsbackup
* Menu bar search (Raycast handles that better anyway)
* Automatic icon reordering
* Complex trigger rules
# Changing the Workflow
One tactic that has helped a lot is simply **reducing my reliance on menu bar interfaces altogether**.
Many tasks I used to perform through menu bar icons now live elsewhere:
* **Raycast** for launching and quick actions
* **ExtraBar** for custom shortcuts
* **BetterTouchTool** triggers
* **Apple Shortcuts** automations
In some cases I just disable icons entirely using the menu bar controls in System Settings. A few functions have migrated to Control Center as well.
The result is a much quieter menu bar.
Back in August 2024 [I wrote a post about everything living in my menu bar at the time:](https://appaddict.app/post/what-s-in-your-menu-bar)
I had **43 icons**.
Today I have six:
* Alter
* ExtraBar
* Dato
* Bartender
* MountMate
* Ollama
And honestly, that feels about right.
https://redd.it/1roab5t
@macappsbackup
appaddict.app
What's In Your Menu Bar
What is in your menu bar?
At Macworld 2014, Mac Developer Brett Terpstra turned heads when he revealed what he had running in his menu bar while sharing his screen. In all, he had 42 menu bar icons and people were amazed because he was on a MacBook Air with…
At Macworld 2014, Mac Developer Brett Terpstra turned heads when he revealed what he had running in his menu bar while sharing his screen. In all, he had 42 menu bar icons and people were amazed because he was on a MacBook Air with…
Pandemojo – The Reason for This Subreddit’s Success
The owner of this community, Pandemojo, has recently decided to move off Reddit. This came as a shock to me and the other moderators. Out of respect for his personal privacy, we didn’t want to bother him with questions or try to figure out what’s going on. Here was his final message to the moderators
>"Guys, I have decided to leave Reddit. You lot made the experience here better and I thank you for that. The communities are lucky to have you running it. Really. I wish you the best. Goodbye o/"
Who is u/Pandemojo?
Pandemojo was the owner of this subreddit for over a decade, actively moderating it the entire time and growing it to have hundreds of thousands of weekly visitors. To me, he is a mentor, someone I’ve always looked up to, and always a very genuine guy. I sincerely wish him all the best wherever his life takes him next, and I hope he finds happiness.
I’m leaving this post open to anyone who would like to share their experiences with Pandemojo or any final messages. I sent him this post, and he’ll be following it. If I receive any other messages from him, I’ll append them to this post.
https://redd.it/1rmq6em
@macappsbackup
The owner of this community, Pandemojo, has recently decided to move off Reddit. This came as a shock to me and the other moderators. Out of respect for his personal privacy, we didn’t want to bother him with questions or try to figure out what’s going on. Here was his final message to the moderators
>"Guys, I have decided to leave Reddit. You lot made the experience here better and I thank you for that. The communities are lucky to have you running it. Really. I wish you the best. Goodbye o/"
Who is u/Pandemojo?
Pandemojo was the owner of this subreddit for over a decade, actively moderating it the entire time and growing it to have hundreds of thousands of weekly visitors. To me, he is a mentor, someone I’ve always looked up to, and always a very genuine guy. I sincerely wish him all the best wherever his life takes him next, and I hope he finds happiness.
I’m leaving this post open to anyone who would like to share their experiences with Pandemojo or any final messages. I sent him this post, and he’ll be following it. If I receive any other messages from him, I’ll append them to this post.
https://redd.it/1rmq6em
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
What is your list of mac apps that was worth every penny
As the name suggests, what is your list?
EDIT: This blew up. Thank you so much for sharing your favourites everyone. It helps bring forward useful apps and you guys are really showing it.
https://redd.it/1rog48x
@macappsbackup
As the name suggests, what is your list?
EDIT: This blew up. Thank you so much for sharing your favourites everyone. It helps bring forward useful apps and you guys are really showing it.
https://redd.it/1rog48x
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
I built the most complete directory of macOS window managers out there (and also tools that fit in the ecosystem like scripting and menu bars). It's free. Did I miss any?
https://macoswm.com/
https://redd.it/1roe38m
@macappsbackup
https://macoswm.com/
https://redd.it/1roe38m
@macappsbackup
macOS WM
macOS WM — Window Managers for macOS
A curated directory of window managers for macOS. From automatic tiling to gesture controls, find the perfect tool for your workflow.
Spotifly - A lightweight Spotify player for macOS (SwiftUI)
https://github.com/ralph/Spotifly
https://redd.it/1rokl5k
@macappsbackup
https://github.com/ralph/Spotifly
https://redd.it/1rokl5k
@macappsbackup
GitHub
GitHub - ralph/Spotifly: Native Spotify client
Native Spotify client. Contribute to ralph/Spotifly development by creating an account on GitHub.
[OS]ClipSync update – your Mac now auto-copies OTPs the moment they hit your Android
https://redd.it/1ro5tpb
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1ro5tpb
@macappsbackup
Rulebook: automatic file organization (looking for TestFlight testers)
https://redd.it/1rneyso
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1rneyso
@macappsbackup
MOapp experiences
Hi all. Last Tuesday, I purchased a license for Write 2 by MOapp. Now, almost a week later, I have still not received my registration information. I am therefore taking steps to get a refund. I am however curious if anybody else have had similar experiences with this company (sales are handled by FastSpring). I used to have an accounting app from them years ago, and it was frictionless back then. So, the question is, am I the only one with a bad experience with MOapp, or do others have similar experiences?
https://redd.it/1roup4a
@macappsbackup
Hi all. Last Tuesday, I purchased a license for Write 2 by MOapp. Now, almost a week later, I have still not received my registration information. I am therefore taking steps to get a refund. I am however curious if anybody else have had similar experiences with this company (sales are handled by FastSpring). I used to have an accounting app from them years ago, and it was frictionless back then. So, the question is, am I the only one with a bad experience with MOapp, or do others have similar experiences?
https://redd.it/1roup4a
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
Just found TablePro, a free and open-source SQL/database client for Mac!
https://tablepro.app/
While running brew update, this popped up in the new casks list. The UI looks super clean and modern..Anyone else already tried it?
https://redd.it/1rp2si7
@macappsbackup
https://tablepro.app/
While running brew update, this popped up in the new casks list. The UI looks super clean and modern..Anyone else already tried it?
https://redd.it/1rp2si7
@macappsbackup
TablePro
TablePro - Fast, native database client for Mac
Fast, native macOS database client for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MongoDB, Redis, and 13 more. Built-in AI assistant. Free and open-source.
Blocked my Stream Deck from the internet… turns out it’s still incredibly useful
https://preview.redd.it/qr3kjiyh61og1.png?width=2796&format=png&auto=webp&s=a5a9e9fdd78e7692ebca600497708c285fd3d41b
I get a lot of use out of my [Elgato Stream Deck](https://www.elgato.com/us/en/s/stream-deck-app). It's one of the best hardware purchases I've made in a long time.
It didn't start that way.
Shortly after I bought it, I discovered that the device falls under the privacy policy of its parent company, Corsair. The policy reads like it was written by lawyers trying to cover every possible future use case.
According to the policy, potential data categories include:
* identity information (name, account ID, email)
* device identifiers and serial numbers
* IP address and network data
* usage data and clickstream behavior
* crash diagnostics and performance metrics
* location information
* audio/visual content uploaded through services
* inferred behavioral profiles based on collected data
That's a lot of potential data collection for what is essentially a programmable USB button panel.
The Stream Deck itself doesn't need the internet to do its core job. At its heart, it's a USB device that sends keyboard shortcuts, launches apps, and runs scripts. None of that requires a network connection.
However, the official Elgato software integrates a plugin marketplace and update system. Plugins can call APIs, communicate with remote servers, and run Node.js components. That's where the network traffic starts.
# The Practical Privacy Fix
The simplest solution is to block the Stream Deck software from accessing the internet.
A Mac firewall utility like [Radio Silence, Lulu or Little Snitch](https://appaddict.app/post/mac-firewall-apps) can block outbound connections for:
* `Stream Deck.app`
* `com.elgato.StreamDeck`
Once that's done, the device works exactly the same for local automation.
Two additional precautions:
* Avoid marketplace plugins
* Consider replacing the official software with [**BetterTouchTool**](https://appaddict.app/post/better-touch-tool-favorite), which can control the Stream Deck directly
With that out of the way, you can focus on what the hardware is actually good at: triggering useful automation.
Here are the ways I use mine.
# How I Actually Use My Stream Deck
# Buttons that create new things
One press creates a new working object in the app where I need it:
* email message
* text message
* [Things](https://appaddict.app/post/things-3-maybe-the-pinnacle-in-app-design) task
* calendar appointment
* [BBEdit](https://appaddict.app/post/bbedit-it-doesn-t-suck) document
* [Drafts](https://appaddict.app/post/drafts-pro-50-off-for-new-users) note
* [Obsidian](https://obsidian.amerpie.lol/) note
* [Dropover](https://appaddict.app/post/dropover-best-in-class) shelf
* Apple [Shortcuts](https://appaddict.app/post/enhance-apple-shortcuts-with-these-apps)
* [Keyboard Maestro](https://appaddict.app/post/keyboard-maestro-the-app-that-makes-everything-better-tips-for-the-for-the-automation-curious) macros
* new Finder window
This removes the friction of navigating menus or remembering shortcuts.
# Window layouts
One tap moves the current window to a specific layout:
* left half
* right half
* top half
* bottom half
* full screen
* quadrant layouts
It's faster than dragging windows or remembering a dozen keyboard shortcuts.
# Morning checklist
One page of buttons is dedicated to my daily startup routine.
Each button jumps directly to the next task:
* email
* messages
* social feeds
* backups
* updates
* Obsidian daily note
It sounds simple, but it prevents the usual morning "where should I start?" drift.
# System and shell scripts
The Stream Deck is also a convenient launcher for scripts I run regularly:
* [Topgrade](https://appaddict.app/post/topgrade-upgrade-all-the-things) updates
* SSH into machines in my home lab
* [Homebrew backup](https://appaddict.app/post/automate-your-homebrew-backups-and-easily-reinstall-your-mac-apps)
* restart Finder
* mount network drives
* move downloaded media to backup
https://preview.redd.it/qr3kjiyh61og1.png?width=2796&format=png&auto=webp&s=a5a9e9fdd78e7692ebca600497708c285fd3d41b
I get a lot of use out of my [Elgato Stream Deck](https://www.elgato.com/us/en/s/stream-deck-app). It's one of the best hardware purchases I've made in a long time.
It didn't start that way.
Shortly after I bought it, I discovered that the device falls under the privacy policy of its parent company, Corsair. The policy reads like it was written by lawyers trying to cover every possible future use case.
According to the policy, potential data categories include:
* identity information (name, account ID, email)
* device identifiers and serial numbers
* IP address and network data
* usage data and clickstream behavior
* crash diagnostics and performance metrics
* location information
* audio/visual content uploaded through services
* inferred behavioral profiles based on collected data
That's a lot of potential data collection for what is essentially a programmable USB button panel.
The Stream Deck itself doesn't need the internet to do its core job. At its heart, it's a USB device that sends keyboard shortcuts, launches apps, and runs scripts. None of that requires a network connection.
However, the official Elgato software integrates a plugin marketplace and update system. Plugins can call APIs, communicate with remote servers, and run Node.js components. That's where the network traffic starts.
# The Practical Privacy Fix
The simplest solution is to block the Stream Deck software from accessing the internet.
A Mac firewall utility like [Radio Silence, Lulu or Little Snitch](https://appaddict.app/post/mac-firewall-apps) can block outbound connections for:
* `Stream Deck.app`
* `com.elgato.StreamDeck`
Once that's done, the device works exactly the same for local automation.
Two additional precautions:
* Avoid marketplace plugins
* Consider replacing the official software with [**BetterTouchTool**](https://appaddict.app/post/better-touch-tool-favorite), which can control the Stream Deck directly
With that out of the way, you can focus on what the hardware is actually good at: triggering useful automation.
Here are the ways I use mine.
# How I Actually Use My Stream Deck
# Buttons that create new things
One press creates a new working object in the app where I need it:
* email message
* text message
* [Things](https://appaddict.app/post/things-3-maybe-the-pinnacle-in-app-design) task
* calendar appointment
* [BBEdit](https://appaddict.app/post/bbedit-it-doesn-t-suck) document
* [Drafts](https://appaddict.app/post/drafts-pro-50-off-for-new-users) note
* [Obsidian](https://obsidian.amerpie.lol/) note
* [Dropover](https://appaddict.app/post/dropover-best-in-class) shelf
* Apple [Shortcuts](https://appaddict.app/post/enhance-apple-shortcuts-with-these-apps)
* [Keyboard Maestro](https://appaddict.app/post/keyboard-maestro-the-app-that-makes-everything-better-tips-for-the-for-the-automation-curious) macros
* new Finder window
This removes the friction of navigating menus or remembering shortcuts.
# Window layouts
One tap moves the current window to a specific layout:
* left half
* right half
* top half
* bottom half
* full screen
* quadrant layouts
It's faster than dragging windows or remembering a dozen keyboard shortcuts.
# Morning checklist
One page of buttons is dedicated to my daily startup routine.
Each button jumps directly to the next task:
* messages
* social feeds
* backups
* updates
* Obsidian daily note
It sounds simple, but it prevents the usual morning "where should I start?" drift.
# System and shell scripts
The Stream Deck is also a convenient launcher for scripts I run regularly:
* [Topgrade](https://appaddict.app/post/topgrade-upgrade-all-the-things) updates
* SSH into machines in my home lab
* [Homebrew backup](https://appaddict.app/post/automate-your-homebrew-backups-and-easily-reinstall-your-mac-apps)
* restart Finder
* mount network drives
* move downloaded media to backup
locations
For repetitive maintenance tasks, a physical button beats digging around in Terminal history.
# Clipboard tools
Several buttons interact with the clipboard:
* convert text to title case
* lower case
* upper case
* open Raycast clipboard history
* display clipboard contents onscreen
* create a Markdown link from the current URL
These are tiny actions that happen constantly during writing.
# Quick links
I keep a page of buttons for frequently visited sites and tools.
Another page opens my favorite YouTube channels directly in the external viewer I use instead of the browser.
# Screenshot tools
The Stream Deck is also a control surface for [**CleanShot X**](https://appaddict.app/post/cleanshot-x):
* region capture
* window capture
* OCR
* scrolling capture
* screen recording
* open screenshot history
This turns screenshot workflows into one-tap actions.
# Spaces navigation
Dedicated buttons jump directly to specific macOS Spaces.
That's faster than swiping or using Mission Control when switching between focused workspaces.
# System control panel
One page acts as a control menu for system actions:
* quit all apps
* Mission Control
* toggle desktop widgets
* screen share to other Macs on my network
* [Raycast](https://appaddict.app/post/how-to-get-the-most-from-raycast) "Kill Extension"
* log out
* restart
Think of it as a customizable hardware control panel for macOS.
# The iOS Companion
I also use the [Stream Deck iOS app.](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/elgato-stream-deck-mobile/id1440014184)
It's subscription-based, but it gives me a second Stream Deck surface on an iPhone or iPad. That's useful when the physical device is already full or when I want a secondary control panel on another screen. You have to own a physical Stream Deck in order to use it.
For something that started out looking like an overengineered YouTuber gadget, the Stream Deck has quietly become one of the most practical automation tools on my desk.
https://redd.it/1rp1xwk
@macappsbackup
For repetitive maintenance tasks, a physical button beats digging around in Terminal history.
# Clipboard tools
Several buttons interact with the clipboard:
* convert text to title case
* lower case
* upper case
* open Raycast clipboard history
* display clipboard contents onscreen
* create a Markdown link from the current URL
These are tiny actions that happen constantly during writing.
# Quick links
I keep a page of buttons for frequently visited sites and tools.
Another page opens my favorite YouTube channels directly in the external viewer I use instead of the browser.
# Screenshot tools
The Stream Deck is also a control surface for [**CleanShot X**](https://appaddict.app/post/cleanshot-x):
* region capture
* window capture
* OCR
* scrolling capture
* screen recording
* open screenshot history
This turns screenshot workflows into one-tap actions.
# Spaces navigation
Dedicated buttons jump directly to specific macOS Spaces.
That's faster than swiping or using Mission Control when switching between focused workspaces.
# System control panel
One page acts as a control menu for system actions:
* quit all apps
* Mission Control
* toggle desktop widgets
* screen share to other Macs on my network
* [Raycast](https://appaddict.app/post/how-to-get-the-most-from-raycast) "Kill Extension"
* log out
* restart
Think of it as a customizable hardware control panel for macOS.
# The iOS Companion
I also use the [Stream Deck iOS app.](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/elgato-stream-deck-mobile/id1440014184)
It's subscription-based, but it gives me a second Stream Deck surface on an iPhone or iPad. That's useful when the physical device is already full or when I want a secondary control panel on another screen. You have to own a physical Stream Deck in order to use it.
For something that started out looking like an overengineered YouTuber gadget, the Stream Deck has quietly become one of the most practical automation tools on my desk.
https://redd.it/1rp1xwk
@macappsbackup
appaddict.app
CleanShot X
There are a lot of options for screenshot utilities on the Mac, from the built in ability to capture images that's built in to the OS, to the full featured freemium app Shottr by indie developer Electric Endeavors for still images to even more powerful still…