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Home/Categories/Business & Productivity/NothingHere
icon of NothingHere

NothingHere

Open source alternative to Keyboard Maestro

A macOS utility that hides all windows, mutes sound, and opens a cover file or app with a single key press.

45 starsSwiftGPL-3.0Active recently
Visit websiteGitHub repo
image of NothingHere
Contents
  1. 01What NothingHere does
  2. 02Who NothingHere is for
  3. 03The problem it solves
  4. 04How it solves it
  5. 05Strengths and trade-offs
  6. 06Tech stack
  7. 07FAQ
  8. 08Similar open-source tools
TL;DR

NothingHere is a macOS panic-button utility that hides visible work, pauses media, and opens a cover document with one action. It is built for quick privacy in shared spaces, demos, offices, and interruption-prone environments.GPL-3.0 · Swift · 45 stars · Active recently

what it does

What NothingHere does#

NothingHere is a powerful macOS utility designed to provide instant privacy and discretion with just one key press. This tool is perfect for anyone who needs to quickly hide their screen content and mute audio in situations where privacy is paramount, such as during unexpected visits or interruptions.

Key Features:

  • Hide All Windows: Instantly minimizes or hides every visible window across all applications, ensuring your screen is clean in milliseconds.
  • Mute Sound: Silences all system audio instantly, including music, podcasts, and videos, providing a seamless experience.
  • Cover Action: Opens a designated cover file or application, such as a spreadsheet or a work-related app, to create the illusion of productivity.
  • Guard Mode: A new feature that allows the app to monitor for key presses and act instantly when armed, providing an additional layer of security.
  • App Whitelist: Users can specify certain applications to remain visible during panic triggers, ensuring essential tools like messaging apps or music players are always accessible.

Use Cases:

  • Office Environments: Quickly hide personal content when a colleague approaches your desk.
  • Public Spaces: Maintain privacy while working on sensitive information in cafes or shared workspaces.
  • Presentations: Instantly switch to a presentation mode without fumbling through multiple applications.

With its user-friendly setup and powerful features, NothingHere is the ultimate panic button for macOS users seeking privacy and control over their digital workspace.

who it's for

Who NothingHere is for#

Interruptible work environments

NothingHere fits macOS users who often need to hide private or distracting work quickly.

Skip if

You need true device security or screen-lock enforcement.

Presentations and demos

The app can help presenters avoid exposing unrelated windows or media during live work.

Skip if

You already use a dedicated presentation machine or locked-down demo profile.

the problem

The problem it solves#

People often work with sensitive tabs, internal dashboards, private chats, or unfinished creative work on screen. When someone walks up unexpectedly, manually minimizing windows and muting audio is slow and unreliable.

NothingHere handles that narrow privacy moment with a single-purpose macOS utility. It is not a security boundary, but it can reduce accidental exposure during everyday interruptions.

how NothingHere solves it

How it solves it#

One-action screen cover

NothingHere hides windows and opens a chosen cover document or app so the screen changes quickly.

Media pause and mute behavior

The utility can pause playback and silence sound, reducing awkward audio exposure during interruptions.

macOS-focused workflow

The app targets macOS users who want a small privacy utility rather than a broader productivity suite.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

  • Very clear use caseNothingHere does one thing: quickly hide distracting or sensitive work when someone interrupts.
  • Useful for shared spacesThe utility is relevant for offices, coworking spaces, classrooms, demos, and home setups where screens are visible.

Trade-offs

  • -Privacy aid, not security controlNothingHere should not be treated as encryption, access control, or compliance tooling. It only changes what is visible on screen.
tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages
Swift
frequently asked

FAQ#

What is NothingHere?

NothingHere is a macOS utility that hides windows, pauses media, and opens a cover document or app quickly.

Is NothingHere a security tool?

No. It is a privacy convenience for visible screen content, not a substitute for locking the device or protecting files.

Who is NothingHere for?

NothingHere is for macOS users who work around interruptions and want a fast way to cover their screen.

also worth a look

Similar open-source tools#

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Cross-platform open source password manager with browser plugin

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Repository

Stars
45
Forks
3
License
GPL-3.0
Latest
v1.2.0
Last commit
73 days ago
Last verified
May 13, 2026
Repo
solee0524/NothingHere ↗

Additional details

Language
Swift
Open issues
0
Contributors
1
First release
2026

Categories

Business & ProductivitySecurity & MonitoringIT Management

Tags

macOSPrivacy ToolsWorkflow AutomationPersonal Assistant