Find essential apps and settings to make your MacBook or Mac more productive and easy to use.
These recommendations work best on the latest macOS versions and Apple Silicon devices. My setup:
- MacBook Pro M3 Pro
- macOS Sonoma & Sequoia
Note: Always check for the latest app versions to ensure compatibility
- Rectangle
- TopNotch
- Stats
- XApp
- MOS ⭐️
- AlDente ⭐️
- Shottr
- Clipy
- AltTab
- BetterDisplay
- Amazon Q ⭐️
- Ice ⭐️
- System Settings
⭐️ Apps highly recommended
Here are the applications I use most. Each serves a specific purpose, which I'll outline, and offers functionality that complements the default macOS utilities.
Free and Open source app that allows to move and resize windows like in Windows, using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas.
Note: this feature has been added to the newest macOS Sequoia system. So, it's more recommended to those who are still using older OS versions, like me.
Rectangle - configuration 1
Rectangle - configuration 2
allows you to hide or reveal the notch on the new MacBooks as desired.
Top Notch - disabled
Top Notch - enabled
Displays real-time stats about the Mac in the menu bar. It allows you monitor power usage, fan speed, CPU, RAM, etc.
Stats - menu bar
Stats - monitors available
I mainly use the power, fan, CPU, and RAM features, but there are many more for you to explore.
Stats - cpu usage
Stats - cpu configuration 1
Stats - cpu configuration 2
Stats - cpu configuration 3
Stats - ram usage
Stats - ram configuration 1
Stats - ram configuration 2
Stats - ram configuration 3
Stats - fans usage (bottom) in RPM
Stats - fans configuration 1
Stats - fans configuration 2
Stats - fans usage (top)
Stats - power configuration 1
Stats - power configuration 2
A powerful cleaner that helps you uninstall apps completely by removing caches and all related files.
XApp - Interface
For users who are frustrated with the default mouse scrolling direction on Mac, MOS allows them to reverse the scrolling direction and make the mouse usage in Mac natural.
MOS - configuration
If you, like me, often keep your MacBook connected to the charger for extended periods, you might be concerned about the health of your battery. Continuous charging at 100% can potentially cause chemical and irreversible damage to the battery.
You may have also heard about the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries, typically around 1000 charge cycles. When your MacBook is constantly plugged in, the system may draw power from the battery even while it's charging, further accelerating its degradation.
Aldente helps protect battery health by limiting the maximum charge, ensuring the MacBook draws power primarily from the adapter rather than the battery.
Aldente - menu bar
Aldente - system battery not charging
Aldente - premium functionalities 1
Aldente - premium functionalities 2
Aldente - premium functionalities 3
Aldente - premium functionalities 4
A multifunctional screenshot tool that offers a range of features to enhance your screenshot-taking experience. All the screenshots in this document were captured using Shottr.
Shottr - configuration
Allows you to store and access previously copied content.
Clipy - interface
It brings the power of Windows’s alt-tab window switcher to macOS or customize as you desired.
Alt Tab - feature
Alt Tab - configuration
Unlock your displays on your Mac!
Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more!
Control your display by yourself.
BetterDisplay - some features
Amazon Q (previously known as CodeWhisperer) is an AI tool designed for enhancing shell command line interactions. It offers a range of functionalities including personalized code completions, inline documentation, and translation of natural language into code.
Currently, it is exclusively available for macOS, so enjoy it :)
Code Whisperer - IDE-style completions
Code Whisperer - Natural language-to-bash translation
Enables you to group icons occupying space into a fixed folder directly on your menu bar.
Ice - icon in menu bar
Occasionally, the Mac dock occupies space on our desktop. You can use the key combination ⌥⌘D to hide/show the dock. However, the animation for the dock to reappear is too slow.
- To make the Dock instantly leap back into view when it’s needed, rather than slide, type the following in your terminal:
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -int 0; killall Dock- If you’d like the animation for the dock to reappear to last for a split-second, try the following:
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.15; killall DockTo explain, changing "0.15" with any number can let you tailor things as it represents the time in seconds taken for the dock to reappear fully.
- To revert back to the default sliding effect, type the following:
defaults delete com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier; killall DockI will keep an eye on this repository and make updates as needed.