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Install guide

How to install Notchware on your Mac

It takes about a minute. The only extra step is allowing Notchware once in System Settings, because it isn't notarized by Apple yet.

Download NotchwareGet help
  1. 1

    Download Notchware

    Download Notchware-macOS.dmg and open it from your Downloads folder. Notchware needs macOS 14.6 Sonoma or later and runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

  2. 2

    Drag Notchware to Applications

    In the window that opens, drag Notchware onto the Applications folder. Then eject the disk image. You can delete the .dmg file afterwards.

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  3. 3

    Open it once, then click Done

    Open Notchware from Applications. Because Notchware isn't notarized by Apple yet, macOS stops it the first time. Click Done. Don't choose Move to Trash.

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  4. 4

    Choose Open Anyway in System Settings

    Open System Settings › Privacy & Security and scroll down to Security. Next to “Notchware was blocked to protect your Mac,” click Open Anyway, then confirm with your password or Touch ID. This button appears for about an hour after step 3.

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  5. 5

    Confirm, and you're done

    Click Open Anyway once more. macOS remembers your choice, so Notchware opens normally from now on. When you download a future version, you may need to allow it once more.

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Why does macOS ask?

Apple shows this for apps that aren't notarized, a paid Apple review program for developers. Notchware is code-signed, runs entirely on your Mac, and has no analytics or cloud backend. Notarization is on our roadmap and will remove this step.

Only allow apps you downloaded from a source you trust. Notchware's official downloads come from ballmac.com.

On macOS 14 Sonoma

In Applications, Control-click (or right-click) Notchware, choose Open, then click Open in the dialog. That's all you need; the System Settings step above is for macOS 15 and later.

Prefer Terminal?

After step 2, this removes the download quarantine flag from Notchware so it opens without prompts. It's also the fix if macOS says Notchware “is damaged and can't be opened.” Only use it for apps you trust.

$ xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Notchware.app

Optional: music app permission

The first time Notchware controls Spotify or Apple Music, macOS asks for Automation permission. Allow it so play, pause, skip, and shuffle work from the notch. You can change it later in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Automation.

Uninstalling

If you have Pro, open Settings › License and click Deactivate first, so you can use your key on another Mac. Then quit Notchware and drag it from Applications to the Trash.

If you installed AI agent alerts, also remove the Notchware entries from ~/.codex/config.toml, ~/.claude/settings.json, or ~/.cursor/hooks.json.

Still stuck? Contact support and tell us your macOS version.