One Thing For Mac

Whenever I need to remember something, I sometimes just create a document on my desktop so that I can't possibly miss it when I'm using my Mac. Sure, there are countless to-do apps that can do things better, but when you're in a hurry, the simplest solution is what you'll often go for.

One Thing turns that concept into a tiny menu bar app. It allows you to add a single note to the menu bar, whatever it may be, with just a couple of clicks. It's just about the simplest way to create a reminder, and it's free and open-source.

This is a very straightforward app. Once it's running, click the newly-added menu bar text and use the editing window to write something down. You can add links and emojis, and Markdown formatting is supported.

After writing a message, it will appear in the menu bar. If it's too long, you can increase the maximum width from the app's preferences. From here, text size and color can also be adjusted.

When you've completed a task or no longer need a reminder, you can just click the menu bar item while holding down Shift (⇧) to clear the text. If you need a basic, no-frills to-do app, it works great.

While One Thing may be a simple app, it does offer some interesting integrations. You can use Shortcuts for automation, show items from Reminders or Things in the menu bar, change the text using Raycast, and much more. It can also be used from the command-line. Check the app's homepage for more info about what can be done.

Overall, One Thing doesn't try to do a whole lot, and that's probably a good thing. It lets you add a quick menu bar note without getting in your way, and it definitely beats cluttering your desktop with reminders.