Thaw

Thaw is an open-source cross-platform app that manages the macOS menu bar. It allows users to hide and show status icons to reduce clutter and organize the top bar of the screen. The application is available for installation via a manual zip download or through the Homebrew package manager, with specific versions available for stable and beta releases.

The tool focuses on providing a customizable interface for menu bar items. Users can define which icons remain visible and which are tucked away, using various triggers to reveal hidden elements. It is designed to work across different macOS versions, including specific support for devices with a screen notch that often obscures system icons.

Key features

• Hide and show menu bar items using hover, click, or swipe triggers
• Separate bar display for hidden items to accommodate the MacBook notch
• Drag and drop interface for arranging the order of menu bar items
• Search functionality to quickly find specific menu bar items
• Customization of menu bar tint, shadows, borders, and shapes
• Hotkeys to toggle menu bar sections and the search panel
• Profiles for saving and switching between different menu bar layouts
• Support for multiple languages via Crowdin translations

Thaw is a fork of the Ice project, maintained to ensure compatibility with current and upcoming macOS releases. It is built using Swift and SwiftUI, focusing on system utility and automation. The software includes an always-hidden section for items that should never be visible by default and provides the ability to hide application menus when they overlap with shown menu bar items. It is distributed under the GPL-3.0 license.

This utility serves as a customization layer for macOS users who require more control over their status bar visibility and appearance. It targets users who want to maintain a clean desktop environment without losing access to background application controls.