# Does NotchStar work on a Mac without a 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.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/notch-app-on-mac-without-notch/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

Yes. On a Mac without a notch, such as an older MacBook Air, an iMac or a Mac mini, NotchStar draws a small floating pill at the top centre of the screen. It opens from the pill the same way it opens from a real notch, and all ten tools work.

## How it decides

NotchStar asks macOS whether the screen has a notch by reading the top safe area. If the screen reports one, NotchStar sizes itself to the real notch. If not, it uses a pill that is 190 points wide and 24 points tall.

## Using the pill

1. Move the pointer to the top centre of the screen. The pill opens after a short pause.
2. Pick a tool in the tab bar. Move away and it closes.
3. If you prefer clicking, set **Open notch** to **On click** in Settings. See [hover and click opening](https://www.notchstar.com/help/how-hover-opens-notchstar/).

## Limits

- The pill is an overlay, not hardware. It sits above the menu bar, so it can cover menu bar items in the centre of a very crowded bar.
- It follows the same macOS 14 requirement as the rest of the app.

Read the [guide for Macs without a notch](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/notch-apps-for-macs-without-a-notch/) for how other apps handle this. For a tool you can use right away on any Mac, try [System Stats](https://www.notchstar.com/features/system-stats/).

## Quick answers.

### Is the pill the same size as the notch?

No. It is a fixed 190 by 24 points. On a real notch NotchStar matches the notch size.

## Keep reading.

- [Notch apps for Macs without a notch](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/notch-apps-for-macs-without-a-notch/): Do notch apps work on iMac, Mac mini or older MacBooks? Yes, often as a floating pill. Here is what to expect and how NotchStar handles it.
- [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.
- [How hover opening works in NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/how-hover-opens-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.
- [CPU, memory, disk, battery and network](https://www.notchstar.com/features/system-stats/): Live CPU, memory, disk, battery and network speed gauges in your Mac notch. Sampling only runs while the tab is open, so it stays light.

## 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.
- [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.
- [How hover opening works in NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/how-hover-opens-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.