Install and update
Cortex Shelf runs on macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple silicon and Intel. On a Mac without a notch, or on an external display, it draws a notch of its own at the top of the screen.
Download
- Get the DMG from the Cortex Shelf page.
- Drag Cortex Shelf to Applications and open it.
The app is signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple.
First launch and permissions
The first launch opens the Trust Center, which explains each permission before macOS asks for it. All are optional; a feature that needs one stays off without it.
| Permission | Used for |
|---|---|
| Accessibility | Pasting from the clipboard queue and capturing the selected text into the shelf |
| Camera | The camera mirror on Home |
| Calendar | The next-meeting countdown and today's agenda |
Review it any time from Settings › Privacy › Review permissions and privacy (Trust Center).
Updates
Cortex Shelf updates itself with Sparkle. In Settings › System: Check for updates automatically, Check now, and Join the beta for early builds. After an update, What's new shows what changed.
Quitting
There is no Dock icon. Open the island, click the gear and choose Quit Cortex Shelf. Open at login is in Settings › System.
Uninstalling
Settings › Privacy has an option that removes Cortex Shelf's files, keys and preferences, then quits. After that, move the app to the Trash.