# How to quit NotchStar

> Click the star in the menu bar and choose Quit NotchStar, or press Command Q while its menu is open. Quitting clears clipboard history and the shelf.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/quit-notchstar/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

To quit NotchStar, click the star in the menu bar and choose **Quit NotchStar**. With that menu open you can also press Command Q. NotchStar has no Dock icon, so the menu bar star is the way to close it.

## Steps

1. Click the star in the menu bar.
2. Choose **Quit NotchStar**.

The notch disappears right away.

## What quitting does

- Clipboard history is cleared. It lives in memory only. See [clipboard history clears on quit](https://www.notchstar.com/help/clipboard-history-clears-on-quit/).
- The file shelf is cleared. It remembered where files were. The files themselves are not touched.
- If you turned on **Show screenshots instantly**, NotchStar puts the macOS screenshot preview back.
- Your Quick Notes, settings and license stay saved.
- The helper that reads what is playing is stopped, as of version 1.0.5.

## If the star is not visible

A crowded menu bar can hide icons behind the notch. Read [hidden menu bar icons](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/mac-menu-bar-icons-hidden-by-notch/). You can also quit from Activity Monitor: search for NotchStar and choose Quit.

## Open it again

Open NotchStar from Applications. To have it start with the Mac, use [launch at login](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-launch-at-login/).

## Why you might not want to quit

The clipboard tool only records while NotchStar runs. See the [clipboard feature](https://www.notchstar.com/features/clipboard/).

## Quick answers.

### Will quitting lose my notes?

No. Notes, settings and your license are saved. Clipboard history and the shelf are cleared.

## 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 your NotchStar clipboard history clears when you quit](https://www.notchstar.com/help/clipboard-history-clears-on-quit/): NotchStar keeps clipboard history in memory only, so quitting the app clears it. Nothing is written to disk, and password manager copies are skipped.
- [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.
- [How to uninstall NotchStar from your Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/help/uninstall-notchstar/): Quit NotchStar, deactivate the license if you want the slot back, switch off launch at login and drag the app to the Trash.

## More in Settings.

- [How to make NotchStar open on click instead of hover](https://www.notchstar.com/help/open-notchstar-on-click-instead-of-hover/): If the notch opens by accident, set Open notch to On click in Settings, General. You then click to open and click outside to close.
- [How to keep the NotchStar notch open](https://www.notchstar.com/help/pin-the-notchstar-notch-open/): Press the pin button in the notch header, labelled Keep open, and the notch stays open when the pointer leaves. Press it again to unpin.
- [How to reorder or hide tools in NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-tool-order-and-hidden-tools/): Open Settings, Tools, drag tools into your order and switch off the ones you do not use. At least one tool always stays on.
- [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.
- [How to update NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/update-notchstar/): NotchStar has no automatic updater today. Download the new disk image from this site and drag it over the old app. Your license and settings stay.
- [How to uninstall NotchStar from your Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/help/uninstall-notchstar/): Quit NotchStar, deactivate the license if you want the slot back, switch off launch at login and drag the app to the Trash.