Comprehensive documentation of NotchNook problems, bugs, and user complaints
Last Updated: November 29, 2025
NotchNook is a macOS utility application designed to transform your MacBook's notch into a Dynamic Island-style interface, similar to what Apple introduced on iPhone 14 Pro. The app promises to make the controversial notch on MacBook Pro models more functional by displaying notifications, media controls, calendar events, and other widgets.
While the concept is innovative and has attracted attention from Mac users looking to maximize their notch's utility, numerous users have reported significant issues including severe battery drain, frequent crashes, and broken features across multiple versions of the software.
This comprehensive resource documents problems reported across MacRumors Forums, GitHub, Product Hunt, and other platforms to help you make an informed decision before purchasing NotchNook. All claims are sourced and linked to original discussions for verification.
The most critical and persistent issue with NotchNook is excessive battery consumption. Multiple users across MacRumors, Reddit, and GitHub have documented significant battery drain since the app's initial release, with no resolution in sight.
"I've been using NotchNook for two weeks and my battery life has dropped from 10 hours to about 6-7 hours of regular use. Activity Monitor consistently shows NotchNook using 8-12% CPU even when idle."
Battery drain has been reported since NotchNook's January 2024 launch and remains completely unresolved as of November 2025. The developer has acknowledged the issue but has failed to provide any working solution across multiple version releases.
As of November 2025, there is no fix for the battery drain issue. Users report the only solution is to completely uninstall NotchNook.
Another critical issue affecting NotchNook users is a crash-on-launch bug that primarily affects users on macOS 15.4 and later versions. This issue has been extensively documented on GitHub and discussed in various Mac community forums.
According to GitHub issue reports, NotchNook exhibits the following crash behavior:
The crash appears to be related to changes Apple made to security and privacy APIs in macOS 15.4 (Sequoia). Specifically:
As of November 2025, there is no consistent fix for the crash-on-launch issue. Some users report success with completely removing all NotchNook preferences and data, then reinstalling, but this solution doesn't work for everyone. Others have had to abandon NotchNook entirely and switch to alternatives.
"Downloaded NotchNook yesterday and it crashes every single time I try to open it. Running macOS 15.4 on M2 MacBook Pro. Tried reinstalling, resetting permissions, everything. Developer hasn't responded to my GitHub issue report."
Beyond the primary crash bug, users have reported additional stability problems:
The severity and frequency of crashes vary significantly between users, suggesting that specific system configurations or combinations of enabled widgets may trigger the instability.
Beyond crashes and battery drain, NotchNook's core features are frequently broken or non-functional.
The calendar widget—one of NotchNook's primary selling points—is notorious for failing:
"The calendar widget was the main reason I bought NotchNook. It worked for about a week, then stopped showing any events. I've granted all permissions, reinstalled twice, but it just shows 'No upcoming events' despite my calendar being full."
Users who paid $40 at launch are frustrated they received what feels like untested beta software. Core features don't work reliably, and many promised features remain unimplemented 11 months later.
NotchNook launched at $39.99 in January 2024 with battery drain issues from day one. The price was later slashed to $24.99—a 37% reduction. Early buyers received no compensation, refunds, or even acknowledgment.
"I paid $25 for NotchNook and it's been nothing but problems. Meanwhile, I tried Boring Notch (free) and it does everything NotchNook does without the crashes or battery drain. Feels like I wasted my money."
NotchNook's pricing has changed dramatically since launch:
Users who paid $39.99 at launch have expressed significant frustration. Not only did they pay 60% more than current buyers, but they've also endured battery drain and stability issues since day one with no refunds, credits, or acknowledgment from the developer.
The price reduction without compensation, combined with unresolved launch-day issues, has created trust problems with the developer.
Beyond the technical bugs, NotchNook suffers from extremely slow and irregular updates. Critical bugs introduced by macOS updates often remain unfixed for months, leaving paying customers with broken software.
NotchNook's update cycle is dangerously slow. When macOS 15.4 introduced crash-on-launch bugs in November 2024, users waited months with no fix. The pattern repeats with every macOS update: NotchNook breaks, users report issues, and the developer takes months to respond—if at all.
"Every time Apple releases a macOS update, I hold my breath wondering if NotchNook will break. And usually it does. The developer is slow to push fixes, leaving us stuck with a non-functional app we paid for."
User reviews across multiple platforms consistently report stability issues, battery drain, and poor value for money.
"I really wanted to love NotchNook. The idea is fantastic, but the reality is buggy widgets, battery drain, and features that don't work as advertised. Try Boring Notch instead - it's free and actually works."
"Been using NotchNook for 3 months. The battery drain is real - I lose about 4-5% per hour even when just browsing. Switched to Boring Notch and my battery life is back to normal."
"Memory leak causing NotchNook to consume 2GB+ RAM after running for a few hours. Force quit and restart temporarily fixes it but this is unacceptable for a menu bar utility."
"PSA: If you're considering NotchNook, try Boring Notch first. It's free, open source, and doesn't have the stability issues. I switched after NotchNook killed my battery life."
If you're looking for Dynamic Island functionality on your Mac but want to avoid NotchNook's documented issues, several alternatives are available - including free options that offer comparable or superior functionality.
Price: Free and open-source
Pros:
Cons:
Download Boring Notch on GitHub
Price: Free tier available, Pro version $9.99
Pros:
Cons:
| Feature | NotchNook | Boring Notch | MediaMate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $24.99 | Free | Free / $9.99 |
| Battery Impact | High (reported) | Low | Low |
| Stability | Issues reported | Stable | Stable |
| Calendar Widget | Buggy | Working | Not available |
| Media Controls | Available | Available | Excellent |
| Customization | Extensive | Moderate | Limited |
| Open Source | No | Yes | No |
Consider switching from NotchNook to an alternative if:
This timeline documents major issues and developments with NotchNook based on user reports and community discussions:
NotchNook launches at $39.99. Battery drain issues reported immediately from day one.
Battery drain complaints accumulate on MacRumors and Reddit. No fix provided.
Price slashed to $24.99 (37% reduction). Early buyers who paid $40 receive no compensation or acknowledgment.
Calendar widget issues become widespread. Developer acknowledges but doesn't fix.
macOS Sequoia (15.0) released. NotchNook breaks, slow updates follow.
macOS 15.4 causes critical crash-on-launch bug. Months later, still no fix.
Battery drain still unresolved after almost 2 years. This documentation shows pattern of: unresolved launch-day issues, extremely slow updates, broken features, and poor customer treatment.
This timeline shows a concerning pattern of issues accumulating over time without consistent resolution, with new problems emerging while older ones remain unaddressed.
Based on almost 2 years of documented issues, we strongly recommend against purchasing NotchNook. The problems are severe, persistent, and unresolved:
Boring Notch is free, open-source, stable, and offers the same functionality without any of NotchNook's problems. There is no reason to pay $25 for broken software when a free alternative works better.
NotchNook launched with battery drain issues that remain unfixed almost 2 years later. The developer charges $25 (down from $40) for software with broken core features and provides extremely slow updates. Early buyers who paid $40 received no compensation when the price dropped. This is not acceptable.
Save your money. Use Boring Notch.