Edited by Tejas Telkar · Published · Updated
Short answer
You cannot remove the camera notch, but you can help it blend into a black strip at the top of your wallpaper. TopNotch is a free app for that approach. Full screen can also make the notch less visible, while Apple's Scale to fit below built-in camera setting moves affected app content below it.
1. Use full screen
Use the window's full-screen control, or Control-Command-F where the app supports it. A dark area at the top can make the notch blend in, but the result depends on the app and your menu-bar settings. This approach lasts only while that app is in full screen.
2. Scale one app below the camera
When app controls or menu-bar items are blocked by the camera housing, Apple recommends a per-app display setting:
- Quit the app.
- In Finder, open Applications, select the app, and choose File > Get Info.
- Tick Scale to fit below built-in camera.
- Open the app again.
The active display area moves below the camera while the scaled app is open, including other apps sharing that space. The checkbox is not shown for apps already updated to support the camera area.
3. Use a black wallpaper strip
A wallpaper that is black along the top edge helps the camera notch blend into its background. Check the menu-bar appearance as well: current macOS has a Show menu bar background option in System Settings > Menu Bar. A dark strip does not make more room for app menus or status icons.
4. Use a notch-hiding app
TopNotch offers a free way to hide the notch against your wallpaper, with dynamic wallpaper, multiple-display and rounded-corner options. Its site lists macOS 11 or later. This changes the appearance around the camera; it does not remove the hardware or restore the pixels behind it.
5. Or make the notch useful instead
Many people who want to hide the notch really want it to stop being dead space. A notch app turns it into a Dynamic Island for your Mac: album art while music plays, a drop zone for files, a focus timer, today's meetings. The notch stays black and quiet until you hover over it.
NotchPop does this for $3.99 once, with a 7-day free trial. It also works alongside a black wallpaper, so you can hide the notch and still use it.
Sources and editorial notes
Published by NotchPop, the maker of the app. macOS instructions and third-party claims are linked to the sources below. Settings and offers can change between versions. Read our editorial approach or send a correction.
