Boring Notch Download for Mac: Install It the Right Way (2026)

Q: Why won’t Boring Notch open?

macOS blocks it because it’s unsigned. Use Open Anyway in Privacy & Security, or the xattr command above.

You want Boring Notch on your Mac. Here’s the short route, and the one snag you’ll hit on the first launch.

Short answer: download it from the project’s GitHub releases page, or install it with Homebrew. It’s free and needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later. The first time you open it, macOS will warn you the developer is unidentified, because the app isn’t signed. You allow it once in System Settings, and it opens normally after that.

Seam in island mode on a Mac without a notch, showing the compact now playing pill

Option 1: Download From GitHub

Open the releases page.
Download the latest DMG.
Open it and drag Boring Notch into your Applications folder.
Launch it. You’ll hit the warning below.

Use only this page. Copies of the app on other sites aren’t the project’s, and since the app is unsigned, nothing on your Mac can tell a real copy from a changed one.

Option 2: Homebrew

If you use Homebrew, one command does it:

brew install --cask TheBoredTeam/boring-notch/boring-notch

Note the full tap path. A shorter name like boring-notch on its own may not find the right package.

The First Launch Warning

macOS says it can’t verify Boring Notch is free of malware. That’s because the project has no Apple Developer account, so the app isn’t signed or notarized. We went through what the warning means in detail. To get past it:

Through System Settings:

Try to open the app, then dismiss the dialog.
Open System Settings, then Privacy & Security.
Scroll to the message about Boring Notch and click Open Anyway.
Confirm. It won’t ask again for that copy.

Through Terminal, which is the command the project’s README gives:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Boring Notch.app"

You may need to repeat this after an update, since a new download carries the flag again.

Does It Work on My Mac?

Boring Notch needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later. It’s built for the MacBook notch. On a Mac without one, check the project’s page for what it does on your hardware before you spend an evening on it.

What You Get

It’s free and open source (GPL-3.0). It puts a now-playing widget with album art, media controls, device battery, a file shelf and a few HUDs in the notch. It doesn’t have voice typing, a focus timer or a calendar view.

If the Warning Is a Dealbreaker

Some people don’t want to bypass Gatekeeper, and that’s a fair call. Seam downloads, drags to Applications and opens with no warning, because it’s signed and notarized. It runs as a floating island on Macs without a notch, and adds offline voice typing, a Flow timer and calendar. It’s $29 once, with a 48-hour trial and no credit card.

Seam: download from getseam.app
Boring Notch: the GitHub releases page above

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I download Boring Notch?

From the official GitHub releases page, or with Homebrew.

Is Boring Notch free?

Yes, free and open source under GPL-3.0.

What macOS version does Boring Notch need?

macOS 14 Sonoma or later.

Why won’t Boring Notch open?

macOS blocks it because it’s unsigned. Use Open Anyway in Privacy & Security, or the xattr command above.

What’s the Homebrew command for Boring Notch?

brew install --cask TheBoredTeam/boring-notch/boring-notch