Notch Simulator for Mac

Emulate the MacBook Pro Notch on Your Screen

Notch Simulator is a free macOS utility that places a notch-shaped overlay on your display so you can preview how apps and layouts behave with the MacBook Pro notch. It recreates the visual interruption found at the top of newer MacBook displays, letting you see how menus, toolbars, and content are affected without needing the physical device.

Who benefits from this tool

This utility is especially handy for:

• UI/UX designers who need to verify visual layouts and spacing.
• Software developers testing app window behavior near the screen top.
• QA engineers and product owners validating real-world appearance.
• Content creators who want to ensure on-screen elements aren’t obscured.

Key capabilities

• Adjustable overlay: change notch size and placement to match different MacBook models.
• Simple controls: an intuitive interface that’s accessible for all experience levels.
• Realistic preview: accurately represents how content will appear around the notch.
• Multi-display support: apply the simulation to one or more monitors as needed.
• Lightweight and safe: runs without modifying system files or requiring advanced setup.

Recommended alternatives

• CheatSheet — free utility that helps discover keyboard shortcuts quickly.
• Other utilities — several small apps exist that offer similar notch overlays or UI testing helpers.

Quick setup guide

1. Download and launch the app on your Mac.
2. Choose the notch style and adjust dimensions to suit the model you’re simulating.
3. Apply the overlay to a single display or all connected screens.
4. Test your app or layout and tweak settings until the appearance matches your needs.

Why use a simulator

Using a notch simulator speeds up iterative design and testing by removing the need to borrow specific hardware. It helps catch layout issues early, ensures menu and toolbar content remains accessible, and streamlines the process of making notch-aware design decisions.