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fif7y/dimble

A native macOS menu bar manager that hides unneeded icons and reveals them on hover, click or shortcut, using macOS 27's built-in hiding.

Open-source alternative to:Bartender

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Last commit
5 hours ago

What is it?

Dimble hides the menu bar icons you don't need and brings them back on hover, a click on empty menu bar space, a double-click, or a keyboard shortcut. Icons are sorted into Visible, Hidden and Always Hidden sections, which you can arrange in a layout editor or by Command-dragging icons directly in the bar. Hidden icons can also open in a panel under the menu bar, and a built-in search finds any menu bar item by typing a few letters.

Hiding uses the menu bar hiding mechanism in macOS 27, which Dimble drives through a private Apple framework. The project resolves that API at runtime and reports hiding as unavailable if it stops working, rather than breaking the bar. Positioning, clicks and previews rely on public Accessibility and ScreenCaptureKit APIs. Requires macOS 27 or later; Accessibility permission is required and Screen Recording is optional.

The app is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with no account, analytics or server. Its only network connection is checking for its own updates, which are signed with Sparkle EdDSA signatures. It is built in Swift and SwiftUI and is available by DMG or Homebrew cask.

Key features

  • 01Hides icons into Hidden and Always Hidden sections, revealed by hover, click or shortcut.
  • 02Layout editor with app-icon previews and drag-and-drop ordering, applied in one pass.
  • 03Panel mode shows hidden icons as tiles that open their real menus.
  • 04Built-in search (⌥⌘K) opens any menu bar item's menu, hidden or not.
  • 05Per-display behavior, separators, app launchers and tighter icon spacing.

Use cases

  • Keeping a crowded MacBook menu bar tidy while still reaching occasional utilities.
  • Finding a specific menu bar item quickly by typing its name.
  • Hiding system icons such as Sound or Battery when they aren't needed.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install with Homebrew

    brew install --cask fif7y/tap/dimble
  2. 2

    Or download the latest DMG from the Releases page, drag Dimble to Applications, and launch it

  3. 3

    Grant Accessibility permission on first launch

Things to know

  • Requires macOS 27 or later; earlier macOS versions are not supported.
  • Relies on a private Apple framework that could change or break with a macOS update.
  • Requires Accessibility permission to function.

In collections

macOS menu bar appsOpen-source Mac apps

Topics

#macos#menu-bar#swift#swiftui#productivity#utility#bartender-alternative#ice-alternative#macos-app#menu-bar-manager

FAQ

What is dimble?
A native macOS menu bar manager that hides unneeded icons and reveals them on hover, click or shortcut, using macOS 27's built-in hiding. Dimble hides the menu bar icons you don't need and brings them back on hover, a click on empty menu bar space, a double-click, or a keyboard shortcut. Icons are sorted into Visible, Hidden and Always Hidden sections, which you can arrange in a layout editor or by Command-dragging icons directly in the bar. Hidden icons can also open in a panel under the menu bar, and a built-in search finds any menu bar item by typing a few letters.
Is dimble free to use? What license does it have?
dimble is open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is dimble still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to dimble was on Nov 7, 2026.
What can I use dimble for?
Keeping a crowded MacBook menu bar tidy while still reaching occasional utilities. Finding a specific menu bar item quickly by typing its name. Hiding system icons such as Sound or Battery when they aren't needed.
How do I install dimble?
Install with Homebrew: brew install --cask fif7y/tap/dimble Or download the latest DMG from the Releases page, drag Dimble to Applications, and launch it Grant Accessibility permission on first launch
Where can I get dimble?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/fif7y/dimble

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