The macOS menu bar offers a convenient space for accessing essential tools and features. With the right menu bar apps, you can enhance productivity, streamline tasks, and customize your workflow. From system utilities to quick access tools, here’s a list of the best menu bar apps for macOS users.
The macOS menu bar is one of the most useful utilities that allows users to access some important functions while working. Adding the right apps will provide more functionality on a macOS system, which equates to performing tasks with efficiency, managing system resources well, and increasing productivity. Here are some of the best menu bar apps for macOS and how each one can help make tasks easier.
Why Customize Your macOS Menu Bar?
The macOS menu bar is host to some essential shortcuts and general system information, but if you've ever used it for more than a handful of items, you know it can quickly get unwieldy. With some of the apps listed below, you'll be able to better organize your tools and functions, track system resources that could slow down your performance, and have a clean, distraction-free workspace focused on the task you are trying to accomplish. Here are some of the best applications to customize your macOS menu bar.
1. Bartender
Clean up Your Menu Bar Icons Bartender is an application you require if you would clean your icons in your menu bar. With Bartender, you can:
Hide the icons that are not of use to you.
Order your apps in a logical order you prefer.
Set auto triggers so that icons can appear when you require them.
How to Use Bartender
Download and install Bartender from Bartender's official website.
Launch the app, and it immediately recognizes all your icons in the menu bar.
You can drag an icon into the "Hidden" section to exclude it.
If you want an icon to popup automatically as it is required-for example Wi-Fi or sound-you will be able to create triggers in Bartender's settings.
Amphetamine is the solution if you want your Mac not to fall asleep while doing tasks like downloading big files or carrying out some processes.
Using Amphetamine:
Install Amphetamine from Mac App Store.
Once it’s installed, click on its icon in your menu bar so that you can set a period of time or condition (like “until a file downloads”) during which your Mac will remain awake.
In Dropzone, you can always make shortcuts of the files and folder management tasks like moving some files, opening specific apps, or uploading files to cloud services.
How to Use Dropzone:
Download Dropzone from the Mac App Store.
Drag a file to the menu bar icon of Dropzone, and then select the action you want to perform; whether you want to transfer the file, upload the file, etc.
Itsycal is a light calendar application that connects with the operating system's calendar and shows events in a simplified menu bar format.
How to Use Itsycal
Download Itsycal from Itsycal's official website.
Once you have launched the app, you will be able to find the next upcoming events or reminders from the app menu bar.
Personalize how you view your calendar by making some changes to it and synchronise it with your Calendar app by default.
Conclusion
Adding these apps to the menu bar of macOS, one can drive the management of the system by increasing productivity, yet without cluttering the desktop. Be it just to monitor the system performance or even about organizing the workspace, these tools have unique features that aid you well in your use of the mac.