macos-menubar-swiftui

name	macos-menubar-swiftui
description	Use when building, refactoring, or debugging a macOS menu bar app with SwiftUI — MenuBarExtra vs NSStatusItem, .menu vs .window style, LSUIElement, launch at login, global shortcuts, and popover architecture.

macOS Menubar SwiftUI

Build, refactor, or debug a macOS menu bar app with SwiftUI. Prefer MenuBarExtra for modern apps and drop to NSStatusItem + NSPopover only when the SwiftUI API cannot meet a requirement.

When to use

Use this skill when building, refactoring, or debugging a macOS menu bar app with SwiftUI.

Use when the user says:

• menu bar app
• status bar app
• tray app
• background macOS utility
• app that lives in the menu bar
• MenuBarExtra
• NSStatusItem
• NSPopover
• LSUIElement
• launch at login
• hide Dock icon
• global shortcut

Core rule

Use MenuBarExtra for modern SwiftUI menu bar apps.
Use NSStatusItem + NSPopover only when MenuBarExtra is not enough.

When to use this skill

Use this skill for:

• Creating a new macOS menu bar app
• Modernizing an existing status bar utility
• Choosing between .menu and .window style
• Hiding the Dock icon
• Adding Settings
• Adding Quit
• Adding Launch at Login
• Adding a global keyboard shortcut
• Building a popover-style menu bar app
• Debugging menu bar app architecture

When not to use this skill

Do not use this skill for:

• Normal iOS apps
• Full macOS document apps with no menu bar utility behavior
• Sidebars, toolbars, inspectors, or typography as isolated UI topics
• App Intents as the main topic; use apple-app-intents

Decision tree

Need macOS 13+ only?
  yes → use MenuBarExtra
  no  → use NSStatusItem + NSPopover bridge

Need simple menu actions only?
  yes → .menuBarExtraStyle(.menu)
  no  → .menuBarExtraStyle(.window)

Need right-click status item behavior or custom status item drawing?
  yes → NSStatusItem bridge
  no  → MenuBarExtra

Default project setup

1. Create macOS App in Xcode.
2. Use SwiftUI app lifecycle.
3. Replace or supplement WindowGroup with MenuBarExtra.
4. Add Settings { SettingsView() } if the app has preferences.
5. Add LSUIElement = YES only if the app should not appear in the Dock.
6. Add a template menu bar icon asset.
7. Add a clear Quit command.
8. Add Launch at Login only if it is useful.

Minimal MenuBarExtra app

import SwiftUI

@main
struct MiniUtilityApp: App {
    var body: some Scene {
        MenuBarExtra("Mini Utility", systemImage: "bolt.circle") {
            Button("Run Action") {
                runPrimaryAction()
            }

            Divider()

            Button("Settings…") {
                NSApp.sendAction(Selector(("showSettingsWindow:")), to: nil, from: nil)
            }
            .keyboardShortcut(",", modifiers: .command)

            Divider()

            Button("Quit Mini Utility") {
                NSApplication.shared.terminate(nil)
            }
            .keyboardShortcut("q", modifiers: .command)
        }
        .menuBarExtraStyle(.menu)

        Settings {
            SettingsView()
        }
    }

    private func runPrimaryAction() {}
}

Rich popover menu bar app

Use .window style when you need custom SwiftUI views.

import SwiftUI

@main
struct PopoverUtilityApp: App {
    @State private var appState = AppState()

    var body: some Scene {
        MenuBarExtra {
            RootPopoverView()
                .environment(appState)
                .frame(width: 360, height: 480)
        } label: {
            Image(systemName: "sparkles")
        }
        .menuBarExtraStyle(.window)

        Settings {
            SettingsView()
                .environment(appState)
        }
    }
}

Menu style vs window style

Need	Use
Native dropdown with buttons	.menu
Custom SwiftUI layout	.window
Forms, lists, search, cards	.window
Standard menu commands only	.menu
Precise AppKit status item behavior	NSStatusItem

Standard menu structure

Status line, disabled if useful
────────────────────
Primary Action
Secondary Action
────────────────────
Settings…       ⌘,
────────────────────
Quit App Name   ⌘Q

Rules:

• Always include Quit.
• Use Settings if the app has preferences.
• Keep menu items short.
• Do not build a dashboard inside .menu style.
• Use .window style for custom UI.

Hide Dock icon

Use LSUIElement when the app is a background/menu bar utility.

<key>LSUIElement</key>
<true/>

Rules:

• Use only when the app should not appear in the Dock.
• Provide a Quit command because users cannot quit from Dock.
• Provide Settings from menu or popover.
• Avoid hiding the Dock icon for apps with major document/window workflows.

Settings window

Settings {
    SettingsView()
}

Open Settings:

Button("Settings…") {
    NSApp.sendAction(Selector(("showSettingsWindow:")), to: nil, from: nil)
}
.keyboardShortcut(",", modifiers: .command)

Launch at login

import ServiceManagement

func setLaunchAtLogin(_ enabled: Bool) {
    do {
        if enabled {
            try SMAppService.mainApp.register()
        } else {
            try SMAppService.mainApp.unregister()
        }
    } catch {
        print("Launch at login failed: \(error)")
    }
}

SwiftUI setting:

import SwiftUI
import ServiceManagement

struct LaunchAtLoginToggle: View {
    @State private var isEnabled = SMAppService.mainApp.status == .enabled

    var body: some View {
        Toggle("Launch at Login", isOn: $isEnabled)
            .onChange(of: isEnabled) { _, newValue in
                setLaunchAtLogin(newValue)
            }
    }
}

App state pattern

Use a single app state object for shared state.

import Observation

@Observable
final class AppState {
    var isRunning = false
    var statusText = "Ready"
    var lastUpdated: Date?
}

Fallback for older projects/toolchains:

final class AppState: ObservableObject {
    @Published var isRunning = false
    @Published var statusText = "Ready"
    @Published var lastUpdated: Date?
}

Recommended folder structure

AppName/
  App/
    AppNameApp.swift
    AppState.swift
  Views/
    RootPopoverView.swift
    SettingsView.swift
    Components/
  Services/
    LaunchAtLoginService.swift
    HotkeyService.swift
    TimerService.swift
  Models/
  Resources/
    Assets.xcassets

Menu bar icon rules

• Use a template image where possible.
• Prefer SF Symbols for simple symbols.
• Keep the icon visually simple.
• Avoid color unless it communicates state and is supported by the design.
• Avoid animated/flashing icons.
• Do not rely on the icon always being visible; macOS can hide menu extras when space is constrained.

Global shortcuts

For production apps, prefer a well-tested shortcut package or a focused AppKit service.

Possible approaches:

NSEvent monitors = simple listening, limited control
Carbon hotkeys / packages = better for global shortcuts
KeyboardShortcuts package = practical default for indie SwiftUI apps

Rules:

• Let users customize shortcuts.
• Avoid stealing common system shortcuts.
• Show shortcuts in UI where relevant.
• Make shortcuts optional.

AppKit bridge only when needed

Use AppKit bridge for:

• macOS 12 support
• Right-click status item menu
• Custom status item behavior
• Direct popover control
• Custom NSStatusItem length or drawing

Pattern:

import AppKit
import SwiftUI

final class StatusItemController: NSObject {
    private var statusItem: NSStatusItem?
    private let popover = NSPopover()

    func start() {
        statusItem = NSStatusBar.system.statusItem(withLength: NSStatusItem.variableLength)
        statusItem?.button?.image = NSImage(systemSymbolName: "bolt.circle", accessibilityDescription: "App")
        statusItem?.button?.target = self
        statusItem?.button?.action = #selector(togglePopover)

        popover.contentViewController = NSHostingController(rootView: RootPopoverView())
        popover.behavior = .transient
    }

    @objc private func togglePopover() {
        guard let button = statusItem?.button else { return }
        if popover.isShown {
            popover.performClose(nil)
        } else {
            popover.show(relativeTo: button.bounds, of: button, preferredEdge: .minY)
        }
    }
}

Design checklist

[ ] Uses MenuBarExtra unless AppKit bridge is justified
[ ] Chooses .menu or .window intentionally
[ ] Includes Quit
[ ] Includes Settings if preferences exist
[ ] Uses LSUIElement only when appropriate
[ ] Menu bar icon is simple and template-friendly
[ ] Popover size is constrained
[ ] State is centralized
[ ] Services are separated from views
[ ] Launch at Login handles errors
[ ] Global shortcuts are user-configurable
[ ] App still works if menu bar item is hidden

Common mistakes

Trying to build rich UI inside .menu style
Hiding Dock icon but forgetting Quit
Putting business logic inside views
Hardcoding global shortcuts with no settings
Using AppKit bridge when MenuBarExtra is enough
Making the popover too large
No Settings scene
No clear state model
Colorful or complex menu bar icon

Prompt template

Drop this into any coding agent (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, …) to apply the skill:

Use the macos-menubar-swiftui skill to build or improve this macOS menu bar app.

Rules:
- Prefer SwiftUI MenuBarExtra for macOS 13+.
- Use .menu style for simple menu actions.
- Use .window style for custom SwiftUI popover UI.
- Use NSStatusItem + NSPopover only when MenuBarExtra cannot meet the requirement.
- Add LSUIElement only if the app should hide from Dock.
- Always include Quit when hiding the Dock icon.
- Add Settings scene if preferences exist.
- Keep popover size constrained.
- Keep business logic in Services.
- Use centralized app state.
- Use template-friendly menu bar icon.
- Add Launch at Login with SMAppService only where useful.
- Add keyboard shortcuts carefully and make global shortcuts configurable.
- Compile in Xcode and fix availability issues.

After coding:
1. List files changed.
2. Explain MenuBarExtra style choice.
3. Explain Dock/Settings/Quit behavior.
4. Explain state and services structure.
5. Give manual test steps.