Frequently asked questions
Top Notch for Mac · Mac App Store edition
What is a notch app?
A notch app uses the space around the camera notch at the top of a MacBook screen. Move your pointer up to the notch and a panel opens with things like music controls or the weather, then tucks away again. The idea is close to Dynamic Island on iPhone. Top Notch is a notch app sold on the Mac App Store.
What does Top Notch do?
Top Notch turns the notch at the top of your MacBook screen into a panel you open by moving your pointer up. It holds music controls for Apple Music and Spotify, weather, a YouTube player with a floating window, a focus timer, today's calendar events, clipboard history, quick notes and battery status.
How much does it cost? Is it a subscription?
Top Notch is $9.99 in the US, paid once through the Mac App Store. There is no subscription and no in-app account. Optional AI summaries use your own Google Gemini API key, and Google may charge you for that API use.
Does it work on a Mac without a notch?
Yes. On a Mac without a notch, including Intel Macs, Top Notch opens from a notch-sized panel at the top center of the screen.
Is Top Notch the same as TopNotch?
No. Top Notch (two words) is a paid Mac App Store app that puts music, YouTube, weather and a focus timer in your MacBook's notch. TopNotch from topnotch.app is a free app by a different team that hides the notch by turning the menu bar black. The two apps are not connected.
Does Top Notch hide the notch?
No. Top Notch puts the notch to use rather than hiding it.
Does it work with Spotify?
Yes. Top Notch shows artwork and playback controls for Spotify and Apple Music. macOS asks once for permission to let Top Notch control each player; you can change that later in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation.
Can I watch YouTube in the notch?
Yes. Paste a YouTube link and it plays inside the notch, or pop it out into a small floating window that stays above your other apps. Some private, age-restricted or embedding-disabled videos need to open in your browser instead.
What data leaves my Mac?
Only what a feature needs, when you use it. The city you type goes to the weather service. With lyrics on, the song title, artist and length go to LRCLIB. Track details are used to fetch artwork from Apple. Video requests go to YouTube. With AI summaries on, the text you choose goes to Google Gemini. There is no account and no analytics.
Is clipboard history on by default?
No. In the Mac App Store edition, clipboard history and YouTube link detection start switched off. When you turn history on, it keeps your last 20 copied text items on your Mac. Settings → Privacy → Clear All Data removes it.
What permissions does it need?
macOS asks once for permission to let Top Notch control Apple Music and Spotify, and for calendar access if you use the calendar. Top Notch never asks for Accessibility, Screen Recording, the camera or the microphone. It runs in Apple's App Store sandbox.
Is there a free trial? Can I get a refund?
There's no free trial, because Top Notch is a paid-upfront Mac App Store app. Refunds go through Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com, and Apple decides them.
Does it have a file shelf or AirDrop?
No. Top Notch doesn't have a file shelf or AirDrop drop zone. If that's the main thing you want, the comparison page lists notch apps that do.
Does it replace the volume and brightness pop-ups?
Not in the Mac App Store edition. Apple's sandbox doesn't allow replacing the system volume and brightness overlays or adding global keyboard shortcuts, so this version leaves both alone.
Which versions of macOS does it support?
macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. The app is available in English and 30 other languages.
Does it start at login?
Only if you ask it to. Launch at Login is off until you switch it on in Settings, and you can review it in System Settings → General → Login Items.
How do I uninstall it?
Quit Top Notch from its menu bar icon, then delete it from the Applications folder or Launchpad like any App Store app. To remove its saved data first, use Settings → Privacy → Clear All Data.
How do I get help?
Email contact@startupstartup.app with your macOS version, your Top Notch version and the steps that cause the problem. Please leave out API keys and anything private from your clipboard or calendar.
Something not covered here? The support page has setup steps for each feature, and the privacy policy lists every service Top Notch talks to.