Notchprompt tackles a specific but real pain point for users of MacBooks with the notch: how to display a teleprompter overlay adjacent to that notch in a way that feels native and unobtrusive. The app floats a customizable scrolling text window right next to the notch, controlled from the menu bar, with privacy features aiming to exclude it from screen sharing.
What notchprompt is and how it’s built
Notchprompt is a native macOS teleprompter app written in Swift. It’s designed specifically for MacBooks with the notch, positioning a floating overlay window right next to it. The overlay scrolls text like a classic teleprompter, with transport controls for start/pause, reset, and a quick 5-second jump-back.
The app runs as a menu bar utility, which means it stays out of the way until you need it, and its interface is minimal and focused. Under the hood, it uses NSWindow to create the floating overlay, carefully positioning it so it doesn’t interfere with the notch or the main screen content.
Users can adjust scroll speed, font size, and overlay dimensions, making it flexible for different presentation styles. There’s an optional pre-scroll countdown feature, which is handy for speakers to get ready before the text starts moving.
Distribution is via DMG files that are unsigned, which means macOS security requires users to manually bypass quarantine flags to run the app. The project builds cleanly with standard Xcode tooling (xcodebuild), reflecting a straightforward native macOS app structure.
The technical angle: floating notch-adjacent overlay with privacy mode
The standout technical aspect of notchprompt is how it manages the floating overlay window adjacent to the notch, combined with a privacy mode that attempts to exclude the overlay from screen sharing or recording.
This is achieved by leveraging NSWindow’s capabilities, specifically using NSWindow.SharingType. By setting the sharing type appropriately, the overlay can be hidden from macOS’s screen capture APIs on a best-effort basis. This is interesting because macOS doesn’t provide a guaranteed way to exclude windows from screen recording globally — the effectiveness can vary with different apps or system behaviors.
Implementing this requires a deep understanding of the macOS window server and how screen capture tools interact with windows. The app sets the overlay window’s sharing type to prevent it from appearing in common screen sharing or recording scenarios, which is a neat trick for privacy but not bulletproof.
The overlay itself is built using AppKit’s NSWindow with custom sizing and positioning logic to place it horizontally next to the notch area. This avoids interfering with the notch or the main screen content, making it feel like a natural extension of the display.
The menu bar integration is also clean, providing simple transport controls without clutter. This design favors minimalism and avoids heavier dependencies or frameworks.
The tradeoff here is that the privacy mode is “best effort” — it depends on how other apps implement screen sharing or recording. Some capture methods may still grab the overlay. Also, the unsigned distribution means users must manually override macOS’s security checks, which might deter less technical users.
Quick start
Here’s how you get started with notchprompt, directly from the README:
## Requirements
- macOS version supported by the current deployment target in
`notchprompt.xcodeproj`.
- Apple Silicon or Intel Mac.
## Install (Recommended)
1. Open GitHub Releases:
`https://github.com/saif0200/notchprompt/releases`
2. Download the latest `.dmg` release asset.
3. Open the DMG and drag `notchprompt.app` to `Applications`.
4. Launch `notchprompt.app`.
### Unsigned Build Note
This build is currently unsigned/unnotarized, so macOS may show security prompts.
If macOS shows:
- `Apple could not verify "notchprompt" is free of malware...`
- or `"notchprompt" is damaged and can’t be opened`
run:
xattr -cr /Applications/notchprompt.app
open /Applications/notchprompt.app
If it is still blocked:
1. Open `System Settings -> Privacy & Security`.
2. Click **Open Anyway** for `notchprompt`.
3. Launch again.
This installation process is typical for unsigned macOS apps distributed outside the App Store. The instructions cover the common hurdles around macOS notarization and quarantine flags.
Verdict
Notchprompt is a focused utility for MacBook users who want a native teleprompter experience integrated neatly around the notch area. Its technical approach to creating a floating overlay using NSWindow, combined with a privacy mode that tries to exclude the overlay from screen sharing, is the most distinctive feature here.
The app’s codebase is clean and straightforward, reflecting solid macOS native development practices in Swift. The tradeoff is the unsigned distribution and the limited guarantee around privacy mode effectiveness, which might limit its appeal to a broader audience.
For developers or presenters who frequently use teleprompters and want a native, notch-aware overlay, notchprompt is worth trying. It’s also a good reference for macOS developers interested in advanced window management and privacy considerations around screen capture. However, if you want a fully notarized app or guaranteed privacy exclusion, this may not fit out of the box.
Overall, notchprompt solves a niche but real problem with an elegant native approach and some interesting macOS internals under the hood.
→ GitHub Repo: saif0200/notchprompt ⭐ 759 · Swift