Kevin LabsBarNest Support

BarNest Support & User Guide

Smart Mac menu bar organizer & hider. Compatible with macOS 12.0 or later.

macOS 12.0+

Contact Support

[email protected]

Include your macOS version, BarNest version (Preferences → About), and a brief description of the issue.

Quick Start & Visual Guide

Master BarNest in minutes with these 4 essential operations:

Step 1 · Reveal & Hide Drawer

Hover cursor or press hotkey to unfold

BarNest lives directly in your menu bar. Simply hover your cursor over the nest divider arrow (< or >) to smoothly reveal hidden icons with fluid spring physics. Moving the cursor away collapses the drawer automatically. You can also press the global hotkey ⌥ ⌘ B at any time.

BarNest Hover Drawer Unfolded
Floating drawer unfolded: Integrated with All, Folded, and Always-Hidden segmented controller
Step 2 · 3-Tier Hierarchy & Shelf Tabs

Seamlessly toggle between All, Folded, and Always-Hidden

Organize apps according to your workflow into three distinct levels: Always Visible (stays on main status bar), Auto Hide / Folded (revealed on hover), and Always Hidden (tucked away into the deep drawer).

  • All (全部): Aggregates and reveals all sheltered menu bar icons in one single place;
  • Folded (折叠区): Displays your frequently accessed hidden apps;
  • Always Hidden (始终隐藏区): Opens the isolated shelf for background daemons and low-frequency utilities, also accessible via ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ B.
BarNest 3-Tier Shelf Switching Comparison
Real shelf tier switching: Tap All (20), Folded (6), or Always Hidden (14) to filter items dynamically
BarNest Preferences Icon Hierarchy
Preferences Item Management: Assign items to Visible, Fold, or Hide with instant zero-flicker updates
Step 3 · Preferences & Notch Collision Safety

Hover sensitivity, hotkeys, and screen collision safety

Right-click the menu bar divider or click the gear icon ⚙️ at the end of the drawer to open Preferences. Customize hover delays, launch at login, global shortcuts, and let BarNest automatically safeguard icons from getting lost behind MacBook camera notches.

Step 4 · Free Trial & Multi-Mac License

One-time purchase, lifetime access across all your Macs

Start a full-featured 14-day trial with the $0 trial in-app purchase in the Mac App Store. The trial does not charge you automatically. Unlock permanent access in Preferences → License. On a new Mac or after reinstalling, click Restore Purchases to restore your purchase under the same Apple ID.

BarNest License and Purchase Panel
License & Purchases Panel: 14-day unrestricted trial, one-time lifetime unlock, and seamless family/multi-Mac restoration

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is BarNest located?

BarNest lives directly in your menu bar. Look for the nest divider icon (< or >) in your status bar. Click it to expand or collapse hidden icons, or right-click to open Settings.

Does BarNest require Accessibility or special system permissions?

No. BarNest is engineered with a strict Zero-Permission architecture. It does not require macOS Accessibility permissions, Screen Recording permissions, or any sensitive system entitlements. It works instantly out of the box in the secure macOS App Sandbox.

How does the 14-day free trial and lifetime license work?

Start a full-featured 14-day trial with the $0 trial in-app purchase in the Mac App Store. The trial does not charge you automatically. Launch price: $2.99; $5.99 from 2026-12-01. One-time purchase; no recurring subscription.

How do I restore my purchase on another Mac?

Open BarNest Preferences → License and click Restore Purchases while signed into the same Apple ID. Purchases are synced across all your Macs.