Taskbar 1.6.1: Start menu added (to fix the macOS 26 Launchpad removal) and custom transparency!
Hey everyone, I'm the developer of Taskbar, the app built for anyone who misses a true, productive Windows-style workflow on a Mac. I personally use it on my MacBook every single day as a complete replacement for the Dock for better multitasking. A lot of you have already switched and told me you’re never going back, which means the absolute world to me (and has helped the app maintain a 4.6/5.0 rating on MacUpdate!). Today, I just pushed Version 1.6.1, and it is a massive milestone for the app. This app is often compared to uBar and offers better stability and user experience If you have updated to macOS 26, you know Apple completely removed Launchpad and forced everyone onto Spotlight, which a lot of people consider a bad alternative. To fix that frustration, Taskbar now officially includes a built-in Start Menu. It has been in beta since last year, but it is finally polished and officially live. By default, it seamlessly replaces the Launchpad and Spotlight shortcut, though you can easily right-click to restore the old default system actions if you prefer. I have also added a highly requested feature: Custom Transparency. With macOS 26 leaning heavily into the new "liquid glass" aesthetic, this option allows Taskbar to blend beautifully into the system UI. This is an optional change and can be reverted using the app's settings. Other updates in v1.6.1: Extended Free Period: I am extending the completely free timeline for Version 1. It will now remain entirely free until September 19, 2026, with absolutely no ads and no tracking. Afterwards, it will require a one time $25 purchase. No subscription needed. UI Polish: Resolved inconsistent icon sizing and a bug where the taskbar would occasionally pop up randomly after being hidden. Bug fixes: Fixed an issue where tasks would jump all the way to the right when changing spaces or entering/exiting fullscreen. If you have ever wanted a real taskbar experience on your Mac, give it a shot and let me know what you think of the new layout. Download: https://lawand.io/taskbar/ Thanks for giving it a spin, and I would love to hear your feedback on the new Start Menu! Lawand -- Disclaimer: My name is Lawand Dalatieh and I am the developer of this application. You can find me on linkedin. The application is distributed by the registered legal entity lawand.io OU (more info about the company). Also check out the user requests repository on github (95 stars).
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Nice work and effort, and don’t get me wrong, but your app gives me PTSD 😂
I love macOS to be clear, but I just think the dock is very limited for multitasking. In any case, I know my app is not to everybody's taste but that's completely fine 👍
Cursed. I love it xD
Thank you? xD
Great work! Some here don’t understand the point of using a “Windows like” interface element on the Superior OS that is MacOS. Just because Windows is trash, doesn’t mean EVERYTHING about Windows was bad, or that Windows maybe did some things better! Windows has simple right click Cut/Paste. MacOS doesn’t. Windows has right click for creating new file types. Many, even Mac users that are former Windows users, feel Windows Explorer is a more capable file manager than Finder . MacOS used to have a Settings menu more like Windows Control Panel, now uses a crappy, unintuitive and confusing iOS like structure. Nothing wrong with users fusing what they feel are/were the best OS elements of both worlds. To each is own!
I agree, ever since I got my first M1 MacBook I can't imagine going back to Windows or Linux, I love everything about macOS except window management. If you have many windows open from the same application the Windows-style taskbar is the only obvious multitasking solution
wait WHAT?? This is amazing. Please tell me there is a Windows XP theme or a plan to add it 😃
Custom themes have been requested 👍 hopefully I get a chance to implement it at some point in the future
Definitely not your target audience, I spend more time with my hands on the keyboard than the mouse. Spotlight and iTerm are my friends. That being said, damn! I can see the time and work that went into this. Reading over the comments, it appears that you’ve found a calling too. Well done!
How much will it cost after September?
25 USD for a lifetime license, no subscription needed 👍
I'm probably not the target audience, but at least this brings back memories 🙂 Good luck with the app!
A huge fan of your app. I’ve been using it on a daily basis pretty much since the app’s early days. Windows’ taskbar (pre-11) is one of the very few things I miss about Windows after switching to Mac and your app completely solved that pain point for me. Thank you so much for creating it!!
Happy to help 👍 I hope you like the new transparency option, I think it was you who requested it originally if I remember correctly (maybe in the future I would make taskbar even more similar to the dock, with rounded corners etc.) Cheers
Great I'll cos back with feedback
Ok I need to ask, what's wrong with the apps window and spotlight? I personally like it. Sorry I'm just curious as to what I may be missing.
Hey. it's a completely fair question. If Spotlight works perfectly for your workflow, that’s awesome. For me, the need for Taskbar and the new Start Menu comes down to a few daily friction points: Spotlight is great if you always want to type. A Start Menu lets you visually scan and click, which is helpful when your hand is already on the mouse or you can't remember an app's exact name. macOS makes it easy to "lose" open windows behind one another. The Dock doesn't help unless you have exactly one window per app. Taskbar gives you persistent, constant visibility over exactly what is running across all your screens. If you are deep into navigating a complex UI, dropping down to a taskbar is often faster than moving your hands back to the keyboard to trigger a search. It ultimately comes down to muscle memory. If you ever feel like you're spending too much time "window hunting," that’s exactly the gap this bridges 😄
This looks great. Just one question - Is it possible to auto hide the taskbar? I do this on my windows machine at work and also hide the dock on my mac, so looking for something similar.
This is awesome! Would definitely check it out.
Does this link to all application folders? A few of my apps are not in the main user applications folder, but in some other location. Fusion 360 for one. The missus is asleep so I can’t share the exact location path. Thanks. It looks great btw.
Yes, the start menu shows applications that are in the /Applications folder as well as ~/Applications (which is in the home folder). If you really need to keep some applications in different folders then they will not be in the start menu however while they are running and have Windows listed in taskbar then you can write click those windows and pin to the taskbar itself, and this way they will be shown in the taskbar and not in the start menu
I’ll try it right now!
such a wonderful app
Love the way you blended windows and Mac elements it’s cool haha
im a little scared to try it out, but this looks amazing!