FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
What people ask before they install Thaw. If yours is not here, ask on GitHub.
Is Thaw free?
Yes. It is open source under GPL-3.0, and there is no account to make. When a new macOS comes out, the update for it is free as well.
Which macOS do I need?
macOS 14 or later. You get Thaw 3, in beta, on macOS 27, Thaw 2 on macOS 26, and Thaw 1 on macOS 14 or 15.
Do I need Homebrew or Terminal?
No. Download the disk image for your macOS from the releases page, then drag Thaw to Applications.
Why does Thaw ask for Accessibility?
To move menu bar items. That is how it hides and shows them, so without it nothing can be hidden.
Do I have to allow Screen Recording?
No. Hiding and moving items work without it. Thaw uses it for live previews of items and a tint from your wallpaper.
Does Thaw collect anything about me?
No. Thaw has no analytics and no tracking. It goes online for two things, updates and their release notes, and you can switch both off.
Can I trust a download?
You can check it. Every release is built by a hosted service and comes with a signed record of the source it was built from, which you can compare with your download.
How do I get updates?
You don’t have to do anything: Thaw updates itself. To pick an update channel, open Settings and choose About.
Something looks wrong. What do I do?
Tell us on GitHub. Open an issue and say what you saw and which Thaw you have.
How do I uninstall it?
- Turn off Launch at Login in Settings, under General.
- Quit Thaw from the menu on its icon.
- Drag Thaw from Applications to the Trash. With Homebrew, run brew uninstall thaw.
How is Thaw related to Ice?
Thaw 2 is a fork of Ice, by Jordan Baird. Thaw 3 is original work.
What is Floe?
A launcher for macOS from the people who make Thaw. It is a separate app, still early, and Thaw works without it.