It is ridiculous that Apple nonetheless would not supply a strategy to disguise menu bar icons in macOS. Home windows has had this choices because the launch of Home windows Vista 17 years in the past, however Mac customers who do not wish to see each icon cluttering up the highest of their display screen have to both disguise the menu bar fully or set up a 3rd celebration app that may deal with the job.
Till lately, the appliance of alternative for menu bar upkeep was Bartender, a $22 paid utility that was usually nicely regarded. However final week, a change of possession raised questions in regards to the app’s privateness. These considerations aren’t fully unwarranted: The handover occurred quietly and the appliance in query requires accessibility entry to the working system in an effort to perform. Solely time will inform if the issue is legit—however I’m grateful that the questions from customers have introduced Ice some extra consideration.
Ice is a free and open supply different to Bartender that works completely nicely at hiding icons—similar to Bartender, you possibly can drag icons whereas holding CMD to cover them. Any icon dragged to the left of the arrow icon can be hidden (more often than not).
Credit score: Justin Pot
In a couple of moments, you will get your menu bar trying a lot tidier.
Credit score: Justin Pot
Ice works rather well. There’s even a second arrow you possibly can drag icons previous, at which level you will not even see them n the expanded view, permitting you to maintain that tidy, too. It is nice.
Ice additionally gives a couple of aesthetic tweaks value mentioning. You’ll be able to convey again drop shadows, for instance, or add a border to your menu bar. You can too optionally “cut up” the bar, which I discover gimmicky, nevertheless it does help you see extra of your wallpaper.
I am a longtime Bartender consumer, however after every week with Ice, I barely discover the distinction. Sure, there are a couple of lacking options—you possibly can’t select to indicate sure icons solely below sure situations, which is an choice with Bartender. (I used that function to solely see the Time Machine icon whereas backups had been actively working and solely present the battery after I wasn’t related to energy—good choices, however not important. And it is value noting {that a} related function is listed as a purpose for Ice, which is an open-source challenge, so possibly we’ll have it quickly.
General, Ice is a superb little app, particularly contemplating it is free. Test it out in case you are looking for a Bartender different, or should you’ve by no means used Bartender and simply wish to neaten up your menu bar icons.