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Considering a Thaw alternative?

Tuck is a fork of Thaw, so the two are close. This page says plainly what differs, when to stay on Thaw, and how to try Tuck with a rollback plan.

Updated

Short answer. Tuck and Thaw share most of their code today. Choose on release status and your macOS version, not on feature counts. Tuck needs macOS 26, has no importer, and its first build is launching soon. Switch only if the signs below match your Mac.

Signs it may be time to look

  • A beta that is not stable enough for daily use on your Mac.
  • Wanting a build that targets macOS 26 specifically.
  • Interest in the planned Tuck Pro features.

Try the built-in controls first

macOS already lets you choose which items appear in the menu bar, and you can Command-drag an item to reorder it. If that covers your needs, you can skip third-party apps. A manager helps when you want hidden sections, search or a separate bar.

Where Tuck fits, and where it does not

Tuck fits if

  • You are on macOS 26 and want the Tuck build and its planned Pro features.
  • You prefer Tuck’s distribution and update feed at tuckmenubar.com.

Stay with Thaw if

  • You are on macOS 27 and accept a beta release; Tuck support is still in development.
  • You want the upstream project and its community.
  • You do not want a Pro tier.

Switch without losing your layout

Tuck cannot read Thaw’s settings, so the switch is manual. Keep a screenshot of your existing layout to guide the change.

  1. Reveal every icon Thaw hides, then take a screenshot of the full menu bar.
  2. Write down the reveal method you use (click, hover or hotkey) and any hotkeys.
  3. Install Tuck when the first build is out, and grant Accessibility.
  4. Turn off Thaw’s hiding and launch at login, then quit it. Keep it installed for now.
  5. Open Layout in Tuck’s Settings and drag icons into Visible, Hidden and Always-Hidden to match your screenshot.
  6. Check each icon, then test after sleep and restart. Keep your original screenshot; profile export is planned for Pro.

How to roll back

Quit Tuck and open Thaw again. Nothing in Tuck deletes a menu bar item: a missing icon is usually sitting in the Hidden or Always-Hidden section, and Option-click on the Tuck icon shows the Always-Hidden section. Delete Tuck only after Thaw looks right again.

Compare the details

See the dated side-by-side table for Tuck vs Thaw, the Tuck feature list and the macOS 27 status page (support is in development).

Questions people ask

Can I import my Bartender or Ice layout?

There is no importer for other apps. Importing and exporting Tuck profiles is planned for Pro. Write down your old layout, then recreate it in Tuck by dragging items into Visible, Hidden and Always-Hidden.

Which macOS versions does Tuck support?

Tuck requires macOS 26. It does not support macOS 14 or 15. Support for macOS 27 is in development and is covered on its own page.

Will Tuck keep my icon order after a macOS update?

Tuck saves the order of your items, but no app can promise it survives every macOS or app update. Keep a screenshot of your layout before you update macOS, and check the changelog for compatibility notes.