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boring.notch alternatives that are signed and notarized

By Ege Mert Balçık · Last updated 22 October 2026 · Disclosure: I make Ledge, one of the apps tested

Short answer: boring.notch is not notarized by Apple, which is why macOS refuses to open it until you clear the quarantine flag. If you want a notch app that opens normally, the free, open-source options that pass Gatekeeper are Atoll (macOS 14.6+, built on boring.notch's code, the closest replacement) and Ledge (macOS 26+, notched MacBooks only). Paid apps that pass are Alcove, NotchNook, Droppy and MediaMate. MewNotch and DynamicNotch, the other free ones, are in the same position as boring.notch.

Why macOS won't open boring.notch

macOS's Gatekeeper opens a downloaded app without complaint only if it is signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized, meaning Apple has scanned that exact build. boring.notch's README says the team does not "have an Apple Developer account (yet)", and its instructions tell you to run:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Boring Notch.app"

That command removes the "downloaded from the internet" flag, so Gatekeeper never checks the app. Unsigned is not the same as malicious: boring.notch is open source and widely used. But the command switches off a check, and the same habit applied to a less trustworthy download is how people get hurt. If you would rather not, pick a notarized app, or build boring.notch from source yourself in Xcode.

Which notch apps pass Gatekeeper

I downloaded the current release of each app from its official download link in October 2026 and ran Apple's own assessment, spctl -a -vv -t exec, on the app inside, without opening it. "Accepted" is what you want: the app opens on first launch after a single confirmation.

AppVersion checkedGatekeeperSigned withPriceOpen source
Atoll2.3.3AcceptedDeveloper ID, notarizedFreeGPL-3.0
Ledge1.2.2AcceptedDeveloper ID, notarizedFreeGPL-3.0
Alcove1.7.7AcceptedDeveloper ID, notarizedUS$13.99No
NotchNook1.6.11AcceptedDeveloper ID, notarizedUS$15 lifetime or US$2/mo (special price)No
Droppy16.0.1AcceptedDeveloper ID, notarizedUS$9.99No
MediaMate3.8.4AcceptedDeveloper ID, notarizedUS$6.99No
boring.notch2.7.3RejectedApple Development certificate onlyFreeGPL-3.0
MewNotch2.4.0RejectedApple Development certificate onlyFreeGPL-3.0
DynamicNotch1.6.3RejectedApple Development certificate onlyFreeGPL-3.0

An Apple Development certificate is meant for running your own builds on your own Macs; Gatekeeper does not accept it for apps downloaded from the internet. DynamicLake Pro is sold through Gumroad and I did not test it.

The two free, notarized options

Atoll

The closest thing to boring.notch with a signature. Its README calls boring.notch its "foundational codebase", so the media player, file shelf with AirDrop and calendar will feel familiar. It adds system stats (CPU, GPU, memory, network, disk), clipboard history, a colour picker, timers, lyrics, lock-screen widgets and a terminal tab. Its README still lists a notched MacBook as a requirement, but the app has settings for showing on all displays and for external and non-notch screens, and its 2.2.0 release notes include "Notchless Updates". The app itself requires macOS 14.6 or later. It installs with brew install --cask atoll.

Pick it if you liked boring.notch and want the same feel, plus more, without the workaround.

Ledge

My app, written from scratch rather than forked. It covers now playing, a timer, calendar with a camera mirror before meetings, weather, notes, Keep Awake, AirPods and the volume and brightness pop-ups. It asks for each permission only when you turn on the feature that needs it, records no audio or screen, and has no telemetry. It needs a notched MacBook on macOS 26 or later, has no file AirDrop, no stats and no clipboard history, and is far newer and smaller than Atoll.

Pick it if you are on macOS 26 and want the quietest, most privacy-minded option. See Ledge vs Atoll for the full comparison.

If you need an external display or an older Mac

Ledge only draws on a notched MacBook screen. Atoll has settings for external and non-notch displays, which makes it the one free, notarized option there; its README still describes it as notch-first, so try it on your setup. Among paid apps, Alcove, NotchNook and Droppy all support external and non-notch displays, and NotchNook states Intel support. For an Intel Mac, the free choice is boring.notch, with its workaround.

FAQ

Why does macOS say boring.notch is damaged or can't be opened?

Because the app is not notarized. boring.notch's README says the team has no Apple Developer account yet, so Gatekeeper rejects the download. The README's fix is to clear the quarantine flag with xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine.

Is it safe to run the xattr command for boring.notch?

It switches off Gatekeeper's check for that one app. boring.notch is open source and widely used, so many people accept that. If you would rather not, use a notarized app such as Atoll or Ledge, or build boring.notch from source in Xcode.

Which free notch apps are notarized?

Of the free, open-source notch apps I checked in October 2026, Atoll 2.3.3 and Ledge 1.2.2 pass Gatekeeper as notarized Developer ID apps. boring.notch 2.7.3, MewNotch 2.4.0 and DynamicNotch 1.6.3 do not.

Is there a signed boring.notch alternative that works on an external monitor?

Atoll is free, notarized and has settings for external and non-notch displays, though its README still describes it as built for the notch. The paid, notarized options are Alcove, NotchNook and Droppy.

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