HazeOver • Distraction Dimmer™

Name: HazeOver • Distraction Dimmer™
Price: 4.99 USD
Rating: 0 (0 reviews)
Author: Maxim Ananov

Focus and reduce visual noise

Only for Mac

$4.99

Ages

4+
Years
Category

Productivity
Developer

Maxim Ananov
Language

EN
+ 31 More
Size

4.6
MB

Mac

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?

Ratings & Reviews

This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.

Quite helpful! One minor suggestion...
04/23/2024

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!
Quite helpful! One minor suggestion...
04/23/2024

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!
Worth every penny!
11/14/2017

BenRussoUSA
MacOSX doesn’t have window borders and modern style has lots of white space on everything, so if you have many open windows overlapping each other, it is hard to tell where one begins and where it ends. It is hard to know where to click the mouse to get the desired effect. I use Excel, Word, Outlook, Browsers, Calc, Terminal, etc… and I am frequently reading from one window while working in another, or copying/pasting. I have multiple monitors and many windows open for many hours every day. I love this app. It does just what I wanted it to do. See the pictures, they explain it. This app lets me know which app has focus without having to think about that question. It also removes the “clutter” and lets me focus on the app in the foreground.If, on the other hand, I just used a small laptop screen for the purpose of switching between web browser, email, itunes…. this app wouldn’t be needed for much.
Worth every penny!
11/14/2017

BenRussoUSA

MacOSX doesn’t have window borders and modern style has lots of white space on everything, so if you have many open windows overlapping each other, it is hard to tell where one begins and where it ends. It is hard to know where to click the mouse to get the desired effect. I use Excel, Word, Outlook, Browsers, Calc, Terminal, etc… and I am frequently reading from one window while working in another, or copying/pasting. I have multiple monitors and many windows open for many hours every day. I love this app. It does just what I wanted it to do. See the pictures, they explain it. This app lets me know which app has focus without having to think about that question. It also removes the “clutter” and lets me focus on the app in the foreground.If, on the other hand, I just used a small laptop screen for the purpose of switching between web browser, email, itunes…. this app wouldn’t be needed for much.
Recommended for Learning Disabilities
03/19/2022

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.
Recommended for Learning Disabilities
03/19/2022

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 03/20/2022
Thank you! I'm glad it helps.
Saved me from Big Sur!!
02/13/2021

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.
Saved me from Big Sur!!
02/13/2021

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 02/16/2021
Thank you. To be fair Big Sur grew on me over time, but yes, I too have trouble discerning windows without HazeOver myself.

Minor bug fixes and localization updates.

Version 1.9.6

07/15/2025

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

Supported Features
- Voice Control
- Dark Interface
- Differentiate Without Color Alone
- Sufficient Contrast
- Reduced Motion

Information

Seller
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Category
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Languages
Age Rating
Copyright

Developer Website

Privacy Policy

Supports

Family Sharing

Up to six family members can use this app with Family Sharing enabled.

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HazeOver • Distraction Dimmer™

Focus and reduce visual noise

Ratings & Reviews

What’s New

Version 1.9.6

App Privacy

Data Not Collected

Accessibility

Supported Features

Voice Control

Dark Interface

Differentiate Without Color Alone

Sufficient Contrast

Reduced Motion

Information

Supports

Family Sharing

Featured In