What a menu bar manager should do
A good Mac menu bar manager solves the daily problem: too many status items, not enough horizontal space, and no native per-icon organization built into macOS. Apple lets you configure some Control Center and menu bar settings, but third-party utility icons still accumulate quickly.
Tuck's answer: keep the useful icons available without forcing them to stay visible all day. Push Mode hides the icons to the left of Tuck, and a second click or ⌘⇧B brings them back.
Where the menu bar is on Mac
The Mac menu bar is the horizontal strip at the top of the screen. App menus live on the left, while status icons such as Wi-Fi, battery, Control Center, and third-party utility icons live on the right.
Tuck focuses on that right-side status area: the part that gets crowded as more background utilities add permanent icons.
Core Tuck controls
Push Mode
Click once to tuck away menu bar icons. Click again to restore them in place.
Shelf Mode
On notched MacBooks, show hidden icons in a panel below the menu bar instead of fighting for notch space.
Auto-hide and hover
Pro users can automatically hide icons after a delay and peek by hovering near Tuck.
Per-icon control
Choose which icons stay visible, stay hidden, or follow the main toggle.
Can a Mac menu bar manager group icons into folders?
Some menu bar managers provide folder-style groups, but Tuck does not claim that workflow. Tuck organizes icons with Push Mode, a separate Shelf, per-icon visibility choices and custom Shelf order. If combining several items into one menu bar group is mandatory, compare that requirement before choosing an app.
Which Tuck version should you download?
Stable 1.1.7 build 87
Use the stable channel on macOS 14–27. This remains the recommended website download and receives stable Sparkle updates.
macOS 27 compatibility
One stable release for macOS 14–27. Shelf icons are sharper and more accurate, with distorted or washed-out menu-bar captures fixed and apps no longer falling back to generic icons; Notification Center opens from the clock noticeably faster without briefly revealing hidden icons, and clicking the clock while Notification Center is open now closes it. On macOS 27, core system controls remain visible and items from the same app are managed together. Screen Recording enables original menu-bar images in Shelf; without it, app icons are used. Compatibility guide
One stable release for macOS 14–27. Shelf icons are sharper and more accurate, with distorted or washed-out menu-bar captures fixed and apps no longer falling back to generic icons; Notification Center opens from the clock noticeably faster without briefly revealing hidden icons, and clicking the clock while Notification Center is open now closes it. On macOS 27, core system controls remain visible and items from the same app are managed together. Screen Recording enables original menu-bar images in Shelf; without it, app icons are used. Compatibility guide
Privacy posture
Tuck is built as a small native macOS utility. It does not include analytics or telemetry. Network access is limited to license validation and Sparkle update checks, which keeps the menu bar manager focused on the local job it performs.
Because Tuck controls visible menu bar behavior, macOS asks for Accessibility permission. Shelf display can require Screen Recording permission so Tuck can identify and present icons accurately. The permissions tutorial explains why each prompt appears.
Who Tuck is for
Tuck fits people who run many Mac utilities, use a notched MacBook, want a lightweight Bartender alternative, or prefer a one-time purchase instead of another subscription. If you are comparing this workflow with Ice, read the source-bounded Ice alternative comparison.
Start with the free tier if you only need one-click hiding and the global shortcut. Use Shelf Mode and per-icon show/hide in Free. Upgrade to Pro for hover behavior, auto-hide timing, app-specific Rules Mode, advanced reveal gestures, and custom Shelf controls.
How this guide is maintained
Quartz develops Tuck. Product behavior, permissions, pricing and version-channel statements are checked against the current app, published terms, privacy policy, release notes and signed update feeds. See the research and corrections methodology for the source boundaries.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Mac menu bar manager do?
It solves the daily problem of too many status items and not enough horizontal space. Tuck hides the icons to the left of it with one click, and a second click or ⌘⇧B brings them back, without any native macOS per-icon organization required.
Where is the menu bar on Mac?
The Mac menu bar is the horizontal strip at the top of the screen. App menus live on the left, while status icons such as Wi-Fi, battery, Control Center, and third-party utilities live on the right.
Is Tuck free?
Yes. The free tier covers Push Mode, Shelf Mode, per-icon show/hide, the ⌘⇧B global shortcut, and launch at login, with no time limit. Pro is a one-time purchase that adds auto-hide, hover reveal, app-specific Rules Mode, advanced reveal gestures, and custom Shelf controls.
Why does Tuck ask for permissions?
Because Tuck controls visible menu bar behavior, macOS asks for Accessibility permission. Shelf display can require Screen Recording permission so Tuck can identify and present icons accurately. The permissions tutorial explains each prompt.
Does Tuck collect data?
No. Tuck has no analytics or telemetry. Network access is limited to license validation and Sparkle update checks.