How to hide menu bar icons on Mac with Dozer?

Install Dozer via Homebrew or manual download, then hold the command key to drag icons you want to hide to the left of the second Dozer icon. Left-click any Dozer icon to toggle their visibility for easy access.

Is Dozer better than Bartender for managing menu bar icons?

Dozer is free and open-source, offering basic group-based hiding for minimalist users, while Bartender is a paid app with features like individual icon control and automation. Choose Dozer for simplicity and cost savings, or Bartender for advanced customization.

Can Dozer hide specific app icons individually?

No, Dozer hides icons in groups based on their position relative to Dozer icons, so you cannot toggle individual app icons without affecting others in the same group. This is a key limitation for precise control.

Is Dozer safe to install on macOS?

Yes, Dozer is open-source, allowing code review for transparency, and it's available via Homebrew Cask, a trusted package manager. Always download from the official GitHub releases to avoid security risks.

How to uninstall Dozer from a Mac?

If installed via Homebrew, use 'brew uninstall --cask dozer' in the terminal. For manual installation, drag the Dozer app from the Applications folder to Trash and delete any related preferences in ~/Library/Preferences/.

Does Dozer work with macOS Sonoma or later?

Dozer requires macOS 10.13 or higher, so it should be compatible with recent versions like Sonoma, but check the GitHub releases for updates or issues specific to newer macOS builds for reliability.

Open-Awesome

Dozer

MPL-2.0Swiftv4.0.0

A macOS utility to hide menu bar icons, giving your Mac a cleaner look.

GitHub

8.7k stars299 forks0 contributors

What is Dozer?

Dozer is a macOS utility designed to hide menu bar icons, allowing users to declutter their desktop for a cleaner look. It solves the problem of a crowded menu bar by letting users tuck away less frequently used icons while keeping them accessible with a simple click. The tool is especially useful for macOS users who accumulate many menu bar apps over time.

Target Audience

macOS users who want to reduce visual clutter in their menu bar, particularly those who run multiple background apps with menu bar icons.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Dozer for its simplicity, lightweight design, and open-source nature, offering a free alternative to commercial menu bar managers. Its dual hide groups and easy interaction model provide flexible control without overwhelming the user.

Overview

Hide menu bar icons on macOS

Use Cases

Best For

Decluttering a crowded macOS menu bar
Hiding infrequently used menu bar icons
Improving desktop aesthetics on Mac
Managing multiple background app icons
Creating a minimalist macOS workspace
Organizing menu bar icons into groups

Not Ideal For

Users needing per-icon toggle control rather than group-based hiding
Cross-platform environments requiring Windows or Linux compatibility
Enterprise setups with strict policies against unsigned or open-source software
Those seeking automated icon management based on usage or time triggers

Pros & Cons

Pros

Dual Hide Groups

Allows organizing icons into two separate groups for standard and option-click access, providing flexible visibility control as outlined in the README.

Intuitive Interaction

Uses simple left-clicks and option-clicks on Dozer icons to toggle hidden groups, with right-click for settings, making it user-friendly and straightforward.

Lightweight Installation

Can be installed via Homebrew Cask or manual download, ensuring a quick and hassle-free setup process without complex configurations.

Minimalist Design

Focuses on core functionality without unnecessary features, keeping the app lightweight and aligned with its philosophy of reducing visual noise.

Cons

Manual Icon Positioning

Requires holding the command key and dragging icons to reposition them relative to Dozer icons, which can be tedious and error-prone for frequent adjustments.

Position-Based Limitation

Hides icons solely based on their position left of Dozer icons, lacking the ability to hide individual icons or apps by name, which reduces granular control.

No Automation Features

Does not offer automatic hiding based on time, usage, or other triggers, requiring manual intervention for dynamic icon management compared to more advanced tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Stats

macOS system monitor in your menu bar

🖥 Control your display's brightness & volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display. Use Apple Keyboard keys or custom shortcuts. Shows the native macOS OSDs.

Stars33,813

Forks988

Last commit3 months ago

Ice

Powerful menu bar manager for macOS

Stars29,018

Forks827

Last commit10 months ago

xbar

Put the output from any script or program into your macOS Menu Bar (the BitBar reboot)

Stars18,054

Forks653

Last commit1 year ago

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

Found a gem we're missing?

Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.

Submit a project Star on GitHub