Too many windows to manage? Large display? Or getting lost in multiple monitors? HazeOver is for you! ▶ TRIAL version: HazeOver.com
Turn distractions down and focus on your current task. HazeOver automatically highlights the front window by dimming background windows.
• Help yourself focus on one thing at a time. Automagically.
• Spend less time managing windows. The clutter won’t bother you anymore.
No need to minimize, close, or hide windows to keep your workspace neat and tidy.
• Easily see which window has keyboard focus.
No more typing in the wrong window due to low contrast.
• Got a bigger display? Then going full screen might make less sense.
HazeOver helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed by too many windows.
• Multiple monitors? This app shows which screen is focused, or highlights a window on each monitor.
• Power up macOS Dark Mode and reduce background glare.
• Working at night? Lower interface brightness without sacrificing the legibility or color accuracy of the front window.
Heavy multitasking kills your concentration. Web pages, emails, chat messages, and lolcats stare at you from the background — all fighting for your attention. And you only have so much of it.
Don’t drown in scores of open windows. Hiding, switching, looking for the right one, more hiding, more switching. Calm down, breathe in, breathe out, launch HazeOver — and finally concentrate on what matters.
HazeOver automatically highlights the active window or app as you switch. Less important things gently fade into the background, helping you stay focused and productive.
Customize dimming intensity and animation speed to your preference — whether it’s a soft shade to guide your attention or a bold dark background for total immersion.
• The desktop is automatically revealed when used.
• Toggle shading with a keyboard shortcut or adjust intensity with a gesture.
• Use separate dimming settings for Dark and Light appearance.
• Dragging between apps? Tap the “fn” key, and HazeOver will gracefully fade out.
• Control or schedule HazeOver with the Shortcuts app, Focus Filters, and AppleScript.
Does HazeOver really help? Check on 9to5Mac, CNET, MacWorld, Engadget, LifeHacker, and Product Hunt.
Ready to improve your workflow and eye comfort with HazeOver?
This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
Quite helpful! One minor suggestion...
stevesteele.com
HazeOver is an interestingly useful utility. I'm big on UI and color coding. HazeOver is obviously helpful in the UI department. IMO, it works best at lower settings, 33% or so. I didn't realize that I needed its abilities until i started using it. Now I don’t want to work without it.I give a lot of presentations using Zoom and on social media platforms. Anything that helps the viewer focus without my intervention and without being too "loud" helps me out a lot! Oddly, it works with the color picker, but opacity does not affect the setting. Maybe that's logical, not sure. Suggestion:The only feature that I can suggest is the ability to affect apps that use consolidated windows. Most DAWs such as, Digital Performer, Cubase and Logic Pro, use consolidated windows. When focusing on a cell (a highlighted window within a window), it would be kinda cool if HazeOver could darken the other non-highlighted cells within the app. This would be especially helpful when giving presentations. I wouldn’t have to draw imaginary circles with my mouse to get people’s attention. Overall, zero complaints. I really enjoy interesting and useful MacOS utilities, and HazeOver is quite useful and fun to use at the same time. It takes me back to the old days of System 7 and the fun utilities that were available back then.About the price. People, don't be cheap! A good utility is always worth the price, (unless it’s a subscription). So, pay for it and enjoy!
Recommended for Learning Disabilities
6942069yolo
I struggle with focusing and paying attention. I must take medication for it, but sometimes it is still a struggle. I'm in Graduate school, and I keep multiple windows up for notes, outlines, writing, Zotero for citation, and a browser to search terms. I use a 42-inch TV for my monitor because I need to spread all my work out so I can pull it all together during writing. This method causes the problem of getting distracted. I need the stuff pulled up, but I don't need it distracting me when I don't need it. This app solves that problem and makes focusing so much easier. I feel like I have taken some control of my life back. Thank you for making this app and making it affordable.
Developer Response
Thank you! I'm glad it helps.
Saved me from Big Sur!!
n9yty
Moments after booting into Big Sur after the update, I was heart brokeng with how horrible the user interface changes felt. This app doesn't fix ALL of them, but being able to more clearly change the active from inactive windows has made a phenomenal difference!! I wish I could fix the menu bar and remover translucency, and using the Acccessibility setting doesn't work for me as it affects more than just the menu bar... I found another app, but $9.95 $9.95 for updates seems to steep for a simple thing. And don't get me started on the menu bar icon spacing changes... So it is things like that which make me love this app so much becuase it does what it sets out to do and does it so extremely well, I LOVE IT.
Developer Response
Thank you. To be fair Big Sur grew on me over time, but yes, I too have trouble discerning windows without HazeOver myself.
helps you focus, focus, focus
Rumikern
So great to have an app that a) works; b) does what it says it can do; and c) what it does is so helpful.If you’re like me and you’ve got 5 apps running, and multiple documents / files open and all laying there llike a strewn deck of cards after a drunken poker game, and you’re saying “I just want to block out all that distraction, even momentarily, while I laser-like focus on this one document…” - get this. It’s a superb app, and for a pittance! And it’s NOT one of those crappy amateur apps that are more headache than solution. It sits up there in the way-top menu bar and you turn it on and off at your whim. You choose your background blockout color and even its degree of opacity. And you can bring back your chaos at will.
Developer Response
Thank you. You’ve made me smile with the poker analogy. The app looks simple in principle, but it was hard to make it account for corner cases in OS and some third-party apps.
• Updated for macOS Tahoe and Liquid Glass.
• Fixed: quitting unexpectedly when using a third-party menu bar manager.
• Improved screen reader support and keyboard navigation following Voluntary Product Accessibility Template® audit.
Version 1.9.7
The developer, Maxim Ananov, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
The developer indicated that this app supports the following accessibility features. Learn More
