Macnu

Search, open, and run macOS menu bar actions from the keyboard.

Macnu is a fast macOS menu bar manager and keyboard launcher for crowded menu bars. Search menu bar icons by name, open their original menus and popovers, run standard menu commands without reaching for the mouse, and reach items hidden behind a MacBook notch. Macnu works on the display you are using, including multi-monitor Mac setups.

Features

• Search menu bar apps and system status items from one palette.
• Open each item's original menu or popover without moving icons.
• Press Tab or Right Arrow to search exposed standard menu actions without opening the native menu.
• Find hidden menu bar icons behind the MacBook notch or crowded app menus.
• Launch Macnu on the active display with a customizable keyboard shortcut.
• Pin favorites and add local aliases to menu bar items Macnu can identify reliably.
• Assign direct global shortcuts when an app exposes a durable menu bar item identifier.
• Use Smart ordering to bring frequently and recently opened items forward on each display.
• Switch between Smart, menu bar, and alphabetical ordering or reset local usage history at any time.
• Cache discovered items and refresh the menu bar catalog in the background.
• Match macOS light mode, dark mode, or the current system appearance.
• Start Macnu at login and keep the launcher available from the menu bar.

Macnu supports macOS 14 Sonoma or newer on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

Download and licenses

Download the latest signed and notarized Macnu DMG from GitHub Releases.

Macnu offers two license options:

• Personal License for personal, noncommercial use on up to two Macs.
• Business License for work or company use on up to two Macs per seat.

Using Macnu

Click the Macnu menu bar icon or press Command + Semicolon.

1. Type to filter menu bar items.
2. Use the arrow keys to select a result.
3. Press Enter to open its menu or popover.
4. Press Tab or Right Arrow to browse that item's standard menu actions.
5. Press Enter to run an action, or Left Arrow to return to menu bar icons.
6. Press Command + E on a supported result to customize its name, favorite state, or direct shortcut.
7. Press Escape, use the shortcut again, or click elsewhere to close Macnu.

Macnu never clicks a status item merely to discover its actions. Apps that build commands only after a click, including custom popovers, use the original menu fallback instead.

Settings lets you change the launcher shortcut and appearance, choose how results are ordered, control per-display personalization, enable Start at Login, manage your license, and check for updates.

Permissions and privacy

Macnu needs Accessibility permission to discover menu bar items by name and open the item you select. Screen Recording permission is optional. It lets Macnu capture menu bar artwork; without it, Macnu uses application icons or a neutral fallback.

When you open Actions, Macnu briefly inspects only the selected status item. It caches action names and descriptive menu paths for a short time, never raw Accessibility objects. Before running a command, Macnu resolves the current menu again and refuses ambiguous or missing matches.

Macnu processes the menu bar catalog and captured artwork on your Mac. The official app contacts the licensing service when you activate a license and periodically validates it. It checks GitHub for updates automatically and when you request a manual check.

Aliases, favorites, direct shortcuts, and Smart ordering history (usage counts and last-used times) stay in Macnu's local app data. You can clear Smart ordering history from Settings without removing the other customizations.

Build from source

You need macOS 14 or newer, Node.js, Rust, Cargo, and Xcode Command Line Tools.

Install dependencies and start the development build:

npm install
npm run tauri dev

Build a local source bundle:

npm run build:app

Macnu writes the app bundle under src-tauri/target/release/bundle/macos. Source builds use a local ad hoc signature, do not require a paid license, and cannot use the official update channel. Do not distribute a source build as an official Macnu release.

Run the main verification commands:

npm run build
npm run test:ui
npm run test:rust:source
swift test --package-path src-tauri/native
npm --prefix services/lemon-webhook run check

Official releases

GitHub Releases hosts the official universal macOS downloads. Macnu’s developer signs each customer build with Developer ID, and Apple notarizes it. Macnu verifies the updater archive signature, downloaded archive, bundle identity, version, architectures, and Apple notarization before it installs an update.

The maintainer keeps signing credentials and private publication instructions outside this repository.

License

The PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0 covers the Macnu source code. You may use, modify, and share the source for personal and other noncommercial purposes. Commercial use requires a separate license from the copyright holder.