TopNotch For Mac

The notch added to the 2021 MacBook Pro was always going to be an issue for some. While you don't lose any screen real estate, since the display is larger, just having a black blob at the top of your screen is annoying for some. This is made worse by the fact that Apple still doesn't offer the option of a dark menu bar, which would be an easy way to hide the notch.

TopNotch deals with all of these shortcomings. It makes the menu bar black, which is great for MacBook Pro users and anyone else who prefers a dark menu bar, while also rounding wallpaper corners for a cleaner look.

It's something users have been asking for since Big Sur was launched, when Apple decided to make the menu bar translucent with no option to go back to the opaque one available previously.

This decision makes even less sense with the release of the notch-bearing 2021 MacBook Pro models. A black menu bar would hide the notch when viewing the desktop, essentially making it invisible at all times.

Here's how the app works: when enabled, it takes your current wallpaper and adds a black bar at the top, and this image is then set as your new background. It even works with dynamic wallpapers, processing them as they are replaced by the OS.

Even if you don't have a notched MacBook, you may prefer the dark menu bar over the standard translucent one. It would also be a good idea to enable rounded corners as well, as this will prevent the bright background from bleeding through the gap between window corners and the menu bar.

TopNotch does an amazing job, and you don't even have to pay anything for it. It's great for anyone who wants a dark menu bar, either to hide the notch or just for the sake of it.