Vanilla for Mac

Overview

Vanilla is a free macOS utility that helps you tidy up the menu bar by hiding and grouping icons. It’s made to keep only the apps you use most often visible, giving you a cleaner, less distracting workspace.

Key benefits

• Keeps frequently used icons easily accessible while concealing the rest
• Reduces visual clutter so you can focus on work
• Lets you rearrange menu bar items with a simple drag-and-drop motion
• No cost to download and use

How it works

• Click to reveal any icons you’ve hidden and use them on the fly
• Drag an icon into the concealed area when you want it out of sight
• Choose which icons remain visible so only the essentials stay on display
• A minimalist approach that helps improve productivity by limiting distractions

Getting started

1. Download and install the app on your Mac.
2. Drag icons into the hidden zone to remove them from the menu bar.
3. Tap the show/hide control to display hidden icons when you need them.
4. Rearrange visible icons as desired for quicker access.

Recommended alternative

• massCode (Free) — a suggested substitute if you’re looking for a different experience or additional features

Quick tips

• Keep only what you use every day visible to maximize the decluttering effect.
• Toggle hidden icons temporarily instead of keeping everything exposed to maintain a neat menu bar.