Image: Forehead
At its ‘Unleashed’ special event last week, Apple unveiled its new 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro models with next-generation M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, a stunning high refresh rate screen, upgraded I/O, and, unfortunately, an unsightly notch on the display.
Seeking to remedy the MacBook Pro’s newfound notch problem, independent developer Jordi Bruin (u/ineedlesssleep on Reddit) has developed an app designed specifically to hide the notch on Apple’s latest ‘Pro’ notebooks — Forehead.
The curiously (but aptly) named app delivers some pretty simple, yet effective, functionality: it changes the background of your MacBook’s top menu bar to black, allowing the unruly notch to blend into it and not be as much of an eyesore.
What’s more, you can also use the app to give your MacBook rounded corners like the ones found on the latest Macs, and it’s compatible with all MacBook models (even ones that don’t have a notch to begin with). For some reason, the developer is even working on a feature that will let users add a notch to notch-less MacBook models, due out soon.
Here’s a complete list of features from the app’s Gumroad page:
Switch between your default wallpaper and a notchless one
Simulate a Notch on older Macs (coming in version 1.x)
Round the corners of your entire screen (similar to the rounded top corners on the new Macs
Choose to start the rounding below the menu bar
Works on
Big Sur andMonterey (not properly tested on Big Sur so let me know if you run into anything)
Even though the app hasn’t been tested on macOS Big Sur yet, it should work just fine on both it and macOS Monterey, which is now available for download.
The notch on the new MacBook Pro models has Apple’s userbase divided, and if you’re on the side that doesn’t like looking at it, Forehead (and apps like it) may be your best bet at getting rid of it for now.
When Apple added the display notch to the iPhone, developers started making apps and wallpapers that would hide it in a similar manner.
However, Apple quickly amended its developer guidelines to prevent developers from masking or hiding the notch in their apps — let’s just hope Apple doesn’t do something similar for MacBooks.
