NightOwl For Mac

Since the introduction of the Dark UI mode in the macOS Mojave beta, people have been looking for ways to improve it. One popular enhancement is the addition of an easier way to switch it on or off, but many users are also looking for ways to select which apps go dark and which do not.

NightOwl is a tiny menu bar app that offers both of these features. It lets you switch between Dark/Light mode with a single click or hotkey, as well as on a fixed or sunrise/sunset-based schedule. What's more, it makes it possible to disable Dark mode for specific applications regardless of the global setting.

The simplest way to switch between the two interface modes is to right-click the menu bar icon. The app will change to the other mode instantly, and it will also play an oddly endearing "hoot" sound, which can be disabled if you prefer. A global hotkey can also be used, and the app gives you three key combinations to choose from.

Alternatively, you can let the application make the switch between Dark and Light mode automatically based on the local sunrise and sunset times. You'll never have to bring up the UI again, but the sound notification may give you a small heart attack when it triggers.

Lastly, you can just set up your own schedule to have the app switch between interface modes at an exact time every day.

While most popular applications now offer support for the macOS Dark mode, not all implementations are equally impressive. You may just prefer a certain app's classic look without disabling Dark mode altogether.

NightOwl comes with a very simple solution. After launching an app for the first time, it will be added to a list in the NightOwl UI, and you can specify if it should be run in Light mode from now on. Even if Dark mode is enabled at the time, all selected apps will retain their brighter UI themes.

NightOwl really does seem to have all the bases covered. It offers pretty much every feature I can think of that would improve the Mojave Dark mode, and it is incredibly easy to use. It makes switching between the two UI modes a breeze, and it even allows you to specify which applications should not go dark. And to top it off, it comes with an adorable, if sometimes startling notification sound.