Lloyd

Lloyd is a free, MIT-licensed macOS utility that brings menu-bar icons hidden behind a MacBook notch into a panel below the menu bar. The panel shows hidden icons as live images. Hovering identifies the app behind an icon or names a system extra. Open the panel from Lloyd’s menu-bar icon or with ⌃⌥L. Clicking a hidden icon moves it to a visible menu-bar slot and opens its menu; right-clicks are forwarded too. Lloyd places its own icon at the far right of the movable menu-bar area.

The utility requests Screen Recording permission to capture hidden icons and Accessibility permission to move items, forward clicks and identify app names. It is signed but not notarized, uses private APIs and is distributed directly rather than through the App Store. First launch may require right-clicking the app and choosing Open. Installation is available through a DMG download or Homebrew cask instructions. A revealed item stays visible because macOS does not let Lloyd return it to notch overflow; it can be hidden again by dragging it toward the notch.

Lloyd provides a panel for viewing and using menu-bar icons hidden behind a notch. Its permissions, direct distribution and behavior after revealing an item are important considerations.

Lloyd suits Mac users who want to view and interact with menu-bar items hidden behind a notch. It may be a fit for users comfortable granting Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions and installing software outside the App Store.

Lloyd is a free, open-source macOS utility for finding and opening menu-bar icons tucked behind a MacBook notch. It suits people who want access to those items without adopting a broader organizer. Its focused panel is useful, but its permissions and the need to hide revealed icons manually narrow its appeal.

Overview

Open Lloyd from its menu-bar icon or with ⌃⌥L to see hidden icons as live images in a panel below the menu bar. Lloyd pins its own icon to the far right of the movable menu-bar area, giving the panel a consistent place to open. Hovering over an icon identifies its app, or names the item when it is a system extra.

Clicking a hidden item moves it into a visible menu-bar slot and opens its menu; right-clicks are forwarded too. This makes Lloyd useful for reaching an item without first rearranging the bar. But once revealed, an item stays visible: macOS gives Lloyd no way to move it back into notch overflow, so users must drag it toward the notch themselves.

Key features

• Live icon panel: Live images and hover labels help distinguish hidden items before opening them.
• Forwarded clicks: Lloyd opens an item's menu after revealing it and forwards right-clicks, making the panel interactive rather than a preview alone.
• Keyboard shortcut: ⌃⌥L opens the panel without a click on Lloyd's menu-bar icon.
• Cursor handling: Lloyd hides and restores the cursor during synthetic drag-and-click gestures, avoiding a visible jump while it moves an item.
• macOS access: Screen Recording permission lets Lloyd capture hidden icons; Accessibility permission supports moving menu-bar items, forwarding clicks, and identifying app names. That access is central to the app's job, but users who prefer to avoid these permissions should look elsewhere.

Lloyd uses private CGS/SkyLight calls and synthetic gestures. It is signed but not notarized, and the maker says first launch may require right-clicking the app and choosing Open. Direct distribution keeps it outside the App Store, which will be a meaningful drawback for users who prefer App Store installation.

Pricing

Lloyd costs nothing, with no free trial because the app is free. The MIT license and open-source project make it a straightforward choice for someone who wants this narrow utility without a paid plan. There are no paid tiers, seat limits, or quotas to weigh. Lloyd does not hide menu items, rearrange or group them, or add custom menu items, so users seeking those broader controls need another tool.

Platforms

Lloyd is for macOS. The maker provides a DMG download and Homebrew cask installation instructions; the app's private API use rules out App Store distribution.

Who it's for

Choose Lloyd if a MacBook notch regularly hides menu-bar items you need to identify or open, and a live panel with click and right-click support addresses that problem. It is less suitable if you need to keep the bar organized, expect revealed icons to return automatically to overflow, or want an App Store app.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Live previews, hover identification, forwarded clicks, and a keyboard shortcut make hidden items easier to locate and use.
• Pros: Free, MIT-licensed, and distributed with both DMG and Homebrew options.
• Cons: Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions are required for its core functions.
• Cons: Revealed items remain visible until users drag them toward the notch.
• Cons: Private API use means direct distribution, and the signed app is not notarized.

Alternatives

For a different menu-bar tool, browse Menu Bar Customization Software.

• SwiftBar is a free, open-source macOS project for running plugins from a local folder; choose it if plugin-based menu-bar items suit your needs better than access to notch-hidden icons.
• Vanilla offers a free macOS plan for hiding menu-bar icons; choose it if hiding icons is your priority.
• Cornice is a free option for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 26 or later; choose it if that platform fit matters.
• Dozer is free for macOS 10.13 and later; choose it if you want an option that supports that older macOS range.
• GreatBar is free for now and supports macOS 14 or later; choose it if those terms suit your setup.
• Hidden Bar is free and supports macOS 13 Ventura or later, with support also indicated for macOS 10.13–12.x; choose it if that version range suits your Mac.
• iBar-Menubar has a free download with in-app purchases; consider it if that pricing model fits your preference.
• Ice 2 is a free, open-source macOS app; consider it if open-source menu-bar software is your priority.

Verdict

For Mac users whose notch hides menu-bar icons they need to identify and operate, Lloyd is a focused, free solution with helpful live previews and direct interaction. Its main advantage is this specific access, while its main compromises are broad system permissions and the manual work required to tuck revealed icons away again. Choose it for notch access; look elsewhere for general menu-bar organization or an App Store installation.