boringBar brings a taskbar-style dock replacement to macOS

What it does

Missing the Windows taskbar? boringBar aims to fill that gap by replacing the Dock with a taskbar-style strip that organizes windows by desktop and display. It shows only the windows on the active desktop for each screen, offers instant thumbnail previews on hover, one‑click jumping between desktops, scroll-to-switch gestures, and a searchable app launcher with a configurable global shortcut. Apps can be pinned, multiple windows collapse into a single “chip” with a count badge, and unread badges and subtle attention pulses keep notifications visible without being shouty. In short: less hunting, more focus.

How it works and privacy

boringBar requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later and, it has been reported that, asks for Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions so it can observe windows, desktops, and generate thumbnails. The developer says Screen Recording is used solely to fetch window thumbnails; allegedly the purple dot in Control Center only appears while thumbnails are being fetched and not at other times. The bar can mirror across multiple monitors, hide the Dock while active (Dock returns when you quit), and shows full window titles or just app names depending on how chatty you like your UI.

Pricing and availability

You can try boringBar free for 14 days with all features unlocked. After that it’s annual: personal licenses start at $7.99/year for one device (additional devices $2/year up to five), while business licenses begin at six users with volume pricing (examples: $20.99/year for 6 users, $69.99 for 20, $144.99 for 50). Licenses are seat‑based and linked to devices — seats can’t be added onto an existing license, so growth means buying another license tier. Want to test drive a different workflow and tame your desktops? boringBar might be the little change that makes macOS feel a lot more familiar.

Sources: boringbar.app, Hacker News