# How hover opening works in NotchStar > Move the pointer to the notch and NotchStar opens after a short pause of 80 milliseconds. The open panel is 660 by 296 points. Click mode is in Settings. Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/how-hover-opens-notchstar/ Last updated: 2026-11-04 Published 2026-11-04. By default, NotchStar opens when you rest the pointer on the notch. It waits 80 milliseconds first, so a pointer that only passes through does not open it. The open panel is 660 points wide and 296 points tall. When the pointer leaves, it closes. ## The two modes Open **Settings** from the star in the menu bar, or the gear in the notch header, and look under General. **Open notch** has two choices: - **On hover**: the default. Move to the notch to open it. - **On click**: click the notch to open it, and click outside to close it. ## Keep it open The pin button in the header says **Keep open**. While pinned, moving away does not close the notch. Click it again, labelled **Unpin**, and the notch closes once the pointer is elsewhere. ## What does not open it Hovering, clicking or dragging a screenshot in the strip under the notch does not open the panel. A drag that carries a file across the notch can open the shelf so you can drop it, which is how the [clipboard and shelf tools](https://www.notchstar.com/features/file-shelf/) catch files. ## Good to know NotchStar checks the real pointer position before opening or closing, because SwiftUI hover events can fire twice when the panel resizes. If it feels too eager, switch to click mode. If it does not open at all, read [why the notch does not open](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-notch-does-not-open/). ## Quick answers. ### Can I change how long it waits before opening? No. The 80 millisecond delay is fixed. You can switch between hover and click. ### How big is the open notch? 660 by 296 points. ## Keep reading. - [Clipboard history that lives in your notch](https://www.notchstar.com/features/clipboard/): Searchable clipboard history in the Mac notch: text, links, images and files. Skips password manager copies. Click any item to copy it again. - [Why the NotchStar notch does not open](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-notch-does-not-open/): If the notch does not open on hover, check the star in the menu bar, the Open notch setting, the screen it is on and whether it is pinned or stuck. - [Does NotchStar work on a Mac without a notch](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notch-app-on-mac-without-notch/): Yes. On a Mac without a notch NotchStar draws a small floating pill at the top centre of the screen and opens from there, with the same tools. - [How to make NotchStar open at login](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-launch-at-login/): Switch on Launch at login in NotchStar Settings, General. macOS may ask you to allow it in System Settings, Login Items. ## More in Getting started. - [How to install NotchStar from the disk image](https://www.notchstar.com/help/install-notchstar-from-dmg/): Download the NotchStar disk image, drag the app to Applications and open it. The star appears in the menu bar and the notch is ready. - [What happens the first time you open NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/first-launch-notchstar/): On first launch NotchStar adds a star to the menu bar, starts the 7 day trial and the notch opens when you move the pointer to it. Here is what you will see. - [How to check that NotchStar is notarized with spctl](https://www.notchstar.com/help/verify-notchstar-download-spctl/): Check the NotchStar download with spctl and a SHA256 checksum. Notarized apps report Notarized Developer ID, so macOS can verify who made it. - [Which macOS version does NotchStar need](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-macos-requirements/): NotchStar needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later and runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Here is how to check your version and what happens on older Macs. - [Does NotchStar work on a Mac without a notch](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notch-app-on-mac-without-notch/): Yes. On a Mac without a notch NotchStar draws a small floating pill at the top centre of the screen and opens from there, with the same tools. - [Where NotchStar appears with an external display](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-on-external-display/): NotchStar sits on the built in notched screen when there is one. On a Mac without a notch it uses macOS main display. Here is what to expect.